UML Activity Diagram. Design Elements
UML Activity Diagram is a type of Behavior Diagrams that graphically describes decomposition of the some activity on the components.
Activity Diagrams are used in modeling of business processes, technological processes, sequential and parallel computations.
UML Activity Diagram allows to show the sequence, branching and synchronization of processes.
To design UML Activity Diagrams use the following shape types:
- rounded rectangles to describe the actions;
- diamonds to describe decisions;
- bars to represent the start or end of the activities that occur at the same time;
- black circle to indicate the start of the workflow;
- encircled black circle to indicate the end of the workflow;
- arrows to represent the order in which activities happen.
Activity Diagrams were a specialized form of the State Diagrams in UML 1.x. In UML 2.x, the Activity Diagrams were reformed and now are based on Petri net-like semantics that allows to model a lot more situations.
The Rapid UML Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM contains 13 vector stencils libraries with 393 interactive shapes that you can use to design your UML diagrams.
To design an Activity Diagram use the UML Activity Diagram library.
UML Activity Diagram library contains 37 shapes:
- Object
- Data store
- Central buffer
- Expansion region
- Control flow (direct)
- Control flow (smart)
- Object flow (direct)
- Object flow (smart)
- Divider
- Decision/Merge
- Time event action
- Send signal node
- Receive signal node
- Expansion node
- Pin
- Vertical fork/join
- Horizontal fork/join
- Vertical swimlane
- Horizontal swimlane
- Connector
- Initial node
- Final node
- Flow final
- Control flow
- Condition
- Symbol { }
- Symbol << >>
- Subactivity state
- Call behavior
- Frame, fragment
- Note
- Action
- Swimlanes (vertical)
- Swimlanes (horizontal)
- UML connector (direct)
- UML connector
- Note connector
Pic.1. UML Activity Diagram Library
Pic.2. UML Activity Diagram Library Elements
ConceptDraw Rapid UML solution provides UML Activity Diagram library of vector stencils for activity diagram design elements like rounded rectangles of activities, diamonds of decisions, bars of the start (split) or end (join) of concurrent activities, black circle of the start (initial state) of the workflow, encircled black circle of the end (final state), etc.
Use UML Activity Diagram library to draw your own activity diagrams that show the business and operational stepwise workflows of components in your system.


All libraries for creating UML diagrams are available inside the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Templates and samples are located in the Rapid UML section of ConceptDraw STORE.

TEN RELATED HOW TO's:
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with ATM UML Diagrams Solution from the Software Development Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is a powerful software for representing the ATM processes, for designing and building banking system and ATMs.
Picture: Banking System
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ConceptDraw has 142 vector stencils in the 8 libraries that helps you to start using software for designing own Business Process Diagrams. Use Swimlanes library with 20 objects from BPMN.
Picture: Business Process Elements: Swimlanes
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Swimlanes are a visual mechanism of organizing and categorizing activities, in BPMN consist of two types: Pool, Lane. Use ConceptDraw Swimlanes library with 20 objects from BPMN.
Picture: Diagramming Software for Design Business Process Diagrams
The use case diagram (behavior scenarios, precedents) is the initial conceptual representation of the system during its design and development. This diagram consists of actors, use cases and relationships between them. When constructing a diagram, common notation elements can also be used: notes and extension mechanisms.
This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the UML Use Case Diagram library of the Rapid UML Solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This sample shows the types of user’s interactions with the system and is used at the registration and working with the database system.
Picture: UML Use Case Diagram Example. Registration System
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UML Package Diagram illustrates the functionality of a software system.
Picture: Diagramming Software for Design UML Package Diagrams
UML Diagrams Social Networking Sites Project. This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the UML Use Case Diagram library of the Rapid UML Solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This sample shows the Facebook Socio-health system and is used at the projection and creating of the social networking sites.
Picture: UML Use Case Diagram Example. Social Networking Sites Project
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When trying to figure out the nature of the problems occurring within a project, there are many ways to develop such understanding. One of the most common ways to document processes for further improvement is to draw a process flowchart, which depicts the activities of the process arranged in sequential order — this is business process management. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is business process mapping software with impressive range of productivity features for business process management and classic project management. This business process management software is helpful for many purposes from different payment processes, or manufacturing processes to chemical processes. Business process mapping flowcharts helps clarify the actual workflow of different people engaged in the same process. This samples were made with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM — business process mapping software for flowcharting and used as classic visio alternative because its briefly named "visio for mac" and for windows, this sort of software named the business process management tools.
This flowchart diagram shows a process flow of project management. The diagram that is presented here depicts the project life cycle that is basic for the most of project management methods. Breaking a project into phases allows to track it in the proper manner. Through separation on phases, the total workflow of a project is divided into some foreseeable components, thus making it easier to follow the project status. A project life cycle commonly includes: initiation, definition, design, development and implementation phases. Distinguished method to show parallel and interdependent processes, as well as project life cycle relationships. A flowchart diagram is often used as visual guide to project. For instance, it used by marketing project management software for visualizing stages of marketing activities or as project management workflow tools. Created with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM — business process mapping software which is flowcharting visio alternative or shortly its visio for mac, this sort of software platform often named the business process management tools.
Picture: Process Flowchart: A Step-by-Step Comprehensive Guide
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UML Interaction Overview Diagram schematically shows a control flow with nodes and a sequence of activities that can contain interaction or sequence diagrams.
Picture: Interaction Overview Diagram
Event-Driven Process chain Diagrams for improvement throughout an organisation. Best software for Process Flow Diagram. The Event-driven Process Chain (EPC) Diagrams allows managers to plan processes and resources.
Picture: Business process Flow Chart — Event-Driven Process chain (EPC) diagrams
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If you want to find a way to understand complex things in minutes, you should try to visualize data. One of the most useful tool for this is creating a flowchart, which is a diagram representing stages of some process in sequential order. There are so many possible uses of flowcharts and you can find tons of flow charts examples and predesigned templates on the Internet. Warehouse flowchart is often used for describing workflow and business process mapping. Using your imagination, you can simplify your job or daily routine with flowcharts.
Warehouse flowcharts are used to document product and information flow between sources of supply and consumers. The flowchart provides the staged guidance on how to manage each aspect of warehousing and describes such aspects as receiving of supplies; control of quality; shipment and storage and corresponding document flow. Warehouse flowchart, being actual is a good source of information. It indicates the stepwise way to complete the warehouse and inventory management process flow. Also it can be very useful for an inventory and audit procedures.
Picture: Flow Chart Example: Warehouse Flowchart
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