UML Diagrams Zicomi Systems publishes some UML example diagrams online from the world famous UML dictionary. more...
Version 2.5 Released Zicomi Systems is delighted to announce that version 2.5 of Zicomi Mentor is released. With support for UML 2.0 and all thirteen UML diagrams more...
Zicomi Systems' Director speaks about the UML at Objects by Design - an informative interview more...
Partner Programme Zicom Systems is delighted to announce a new world wide partner programme, become a partner today. more...
OMG Member Zicom Systems is made a member of the OMG!
Package Contents
Package Contents can be indicated using the anchor symbol. This denotes that the packages that are attached to the non-anchor end of the relationship are contained within the anchor package. This is an alternative notation to packages being graphically contained or placed inside other packages.
Explanation
Packages are things that group UML elements including other packages. Thus a package can contain a number of elements, one or more of which could themselves be packages. These packages could also contain other packages. This hierarchy can be shown using the anchor icon and expressing this containment or relationship hierarchy as an inverted tree structure. The content of each package is represented by the anchor icon.
Important Points
When packages are nested the contained packages can see all the public elements in the enclosing package.
Packages can contain other packages down to any level of nesting. The contained package has visibility of all the other package elements with public visibility within its enclosing package.
The value of composite for the aggregation property of an association end is related to the package content "anchor" in the sense that both express the concept of containment. The composite relationship is much stronger in so far as it encompasses the concept of responsibility for the parts.
