Recommended free UML from Eclipse

the tool that I will recommended is called UML2. You can access tutorial on how to use the UML2 from the link within, and here  list some basic knowledge to get you started.

 

Tutorial and links

 

• MDT-UML2Tools documentation: http://wiki.eclipse.org/MDT-UML2Tools#Documentation
• UML with Eclipse Tutorial: http://www.vogella.com/articles/UML/article.html
• Getting Started with UML2: http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/articles/Getting_Started_with_UML2/article.html 

UML Notation reference

Below show some UML notations as the should-to-have knowledge.

 

• Model Notation http://www.sedris.org/dm_notn.htm
• UML Basics http://www.tutorialspoint.com/uml/uml_basic_notations.htm
• A nice UML class Diagram sorted http://www.wilsonmar.com/1classdi.htm
• UML Org http://www.uml.org/

Key Concepts overview

Below list some of the concept that you might encounter during your programming life.

 

 

• Class Notations
• Logical Relationships
  • Association Relationship and Multiplicity
  • Generalization Relationship
  • Aggregation Relationship
• Interface Notations
• Collaboration Notation:
• Use case Notation
• Actor Notation
• Initial/Final State Notation
• Behavior Things
  • Interaction Notation
  • State machine Notation
• Group Things:
  • Package Notation
• Addtional Things
  • Note Notation
• Relationships
  • Dependency Notation
  • Association Notation (mentioned above)

Create a UML2 project

 

First, Create a project

 

1. Select Windows | Open Perspective | Other
2. Select the resource perspective then press OK button
3. Select File | New | Project
4. Select Project wizard from General category and press the Next Button
5. Enter a project name (i.e. "Gettting Started with UML2") and press the Finish Button

 

Then you should create Models(there are also steps to create packages, Primitive type, Enumeraion, and Enumeration Literals, classes, Generalizations, Attributes, Associations..)

 

1. ) Select a project (i.e. Getting Started with UML2) in the Project Explorer view and select the File > New > Other... menu item.
2. ) Select the UML Model wizard from the Example EMF Model Creation Wizards category and press the Next > button.
3. ) Enter a file name (i.e. “ExtendedPO2.uml”) and press the Next > button.
4. ) Select Model for the model object and press the Finish button.
5. ) Select the Window > Show View > Properties menu item.
6. ) Select the element in the UML editor.
7. ) Enter a value (i.e. “epo2”) for the Name property in the Properties view.

Note

as from this article - http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4524542/eclipse-3-6-do-not-have-uml2-tools, it iseems that UML2 does not make to the Helios release.

 

The replacement has been Papyrus, 

 

 

Install Papyrus

1. Got to Help | Install New Software ...
2. Type Papyrus in the filter,
3. select all that applies
4. Click Finish to install

Use Papyrus

1. ) Select a project (i.e. Getting Started with UML2) in the Project Explorer view and select the File > New > Other... menu item.
2. ) Select the Papyrus Model wizard from the Papyrus category and press the Next > button.
3. ) Enter a file name (i.e. “ExtendedPO2.di”) and press the Next > button.
4. ) Select UML and press press the  Next  button.
5. ) Select the UML Class Diagram menu item and press Finish