PlantUML Pleasantness: Lay Out Elements With Hidden Lines

In a previous post, we learned how to use a together block to keep elements together. We can also layout elements in a different way: using hidden lines. We define our elements and by using the keyword [hidden] in our line definition the elements are laid out as if there was a line, but we don't see it. This gives us great flexibility on how we layout our elements.

In the following sample, we first have a PlantUML definition where we rely on the default layout:

@startuml
 
package "Core Components" {
    [Backend Client] as BackendClient
    [File Reader] as FileReader
    [Content Transform] as ContentTransform
    [Logging]
}
 
BackendClient ~~> ContentTransform : uses
FileReader ~~> ContentTransform: uses
 
@enduml

This definition renders the following diagram:

We want the Logging component at the bottom right corner of the Core Components. Using a visible line, we would connect the BackendClient to the Logging component. This would place the Logging component beneath the BackendClient, just like we want. So we add a connecting line and we add the [hidden] attribute on our line definition. The Logging component is placed where we want and we don't see the line supporting this:

@startuml
 
package "Core Components" {
    [Backend Client] as BackendClient
    [File Reader] as FileReader
    [Content Transform] as ContentTransform
    [Logging]
}
 
BackendClient ~~> ContentTransform : uses
FileReader ~~> ContentTransform: uses
 
' Layout Logging under BackendClient
BackendClient -[hidden]- Logging
 
@enduml

When we regenerate the diagram, we get the result we want:

Written with PlantUML 1.2017.16.