What is Violet UML Editor?
Easy to use. There's something very important you have to consider if you plan to use a UML editor. What will be your frequency of use? Humm... We could suppose that you will not spend your time making diagrams. Thus, if you have to re-learn how to use your editor before creating a new diagram each time you start it, it will not be very efficient. So, Violet has been developed to be very intuitive and esay to use. In fact, Violet is the acronym of Very Intuitive Object Layout Editing Tool. You can find more on the Violet UML Editor homepage. Violet is a UML editor with these benefits; Very easy to learn and use. Draws nice-looking diagrams. Completely free. Cross-platform. Violet is intended for developers, students, teachers, and authors who need to produce simple UML diagrams quickly.

Violet implements the following diagrams;
  • use-case diagram
  • class diagram
  • activity diagram
  • sequence diagram
  • state diagram
  • object diagram

Some features of Violet UML Editor;
  • can open multiple documents
  • supports direct links between diagrams
  • nice drawing with automatic grid snap
  • zoom in / zoom out
  • undo / redo
  • cut/copy/paste
  • multiple diagram elements select and drag'n drop
  • supports diagram tool change with mouse scroll button
  • maximum drawing space by hiding tools bar
  • cross format documents. Diagrams are saved in html files. So, you can share them to people who don't have Violet!
  • export diagram image to clipboard so you can paste it in your word processor
  • export diagram image to file
  • printing
  • restores workspace on startup with opened documents

System requirements
  • Version 1.6.0 (tested with version 1.6.0ga5)


Violet UML Editor on an eComStation machine with Open JDK


Installing Violet UML Editor
Download violetumleditor-2.1.0.jar. Version violetumleditor-3.0.0.jar needs Java 8.0. Make a directory/map with the name "violet" or with an other name you like. Drop the file "violetumleditor-2.1.0.jar" in it. That's about it!

The used cmd file
Violet UML Editor works with Open JDK in OS/2-eCS. I have a violet.cmd file with the following contents; 
@echo off
SET BEGINLIBPATH=[drive: java]\JAVA160ga5\bin
SET path=[drive: java]\JAVA160ga5\bin
[drive: violet]
cd [drive: violet]\violet
java -Duser.home=[drive: violet]\violet -jar violetumleditor-2.1.0.jar 2>violetumleditor-bugs.txt
I use 2 separate folders (directories), one for Java and one for Violet UML Editor with the files created by this program. The references used in the cmd file;

  • [drive: java] = drive with Java
  • [drive: violet] = drive with Violet UML Editor

should be replaced with real drive letters. Save the file and name it "violet.cmd" or use the file from the distribution. This file is copied to the "violet" directory/map. Furthermore, different paths?, adjust according to your needs.
Create a new program object. Specify the path and file name: "[drive: violet]\violet\violet.cmd". In the tabpage Session check the boxes "OS/2 window", "Running as an icon" and "Close Window to end program". In the tabpage General you can enter the name "Violet UML Editor". In the distribution below you will find a nice OS/2 icon.

Parameters / options explained
  • The statement "-Duser.home=[drive: violet]\violet" will ensure that Violet UML Editor will save all necessary files in own directory instead of saving them in the home directory.
  • The addition "2>violetumleditor-bugs.txt" ensures that errors are saved in the file "violetumleditor-bugs.txt". The 2 in "2>" is not a typo! The file stays not empty, so don't be alarmed! My guess is an incompatibility with Open JDK.

Download
In the file you can find the above command file (all drive letters are on set to C:) and an OS/2 Violet UML Editor icon: violet-ecs.zip.

revision July 24, 2019