Markdown Plantuml

Posted on |



  1. See full list on pypi.org.
  2. After completing the integration, PlantUML converts plantuml blocks to an HTML image tag, with the source pointing to the PlantUML instance. The PlantUML diagram delimiters @startuml/@enduml aren’t required, as these are replaced by the plantuml block: Markdown ```.

PlantUML is a really awesome way to create diagrams by writing code instead of drawing and dragging visual elements. Markdown is a really nice documentation tool.

Here's how I combine the two, to create docs with embedded diagrams.

Step 0: Setup

PlantUML 是基于 Java 语言的开源 UML（Unified Modeling Language）图形绘制工具，因为其可以单独绘图，又可以嵌入 Markdown 以及 HTML，因而被不少开发文档采用。PlantUML 可以看作是著名绘图工具 Graphviz 的封装。相比于 Graphviz 的 Geek 风，PlantUML 的颜值更高。.

Get the command-line PlantUML from the download page or your relevant package manager.

Step 1: Create a Markdown file

Use your favorite markdown or text editor. Most (if not all) developer-oriented text editors have some kind of markdown support.

Remember that md files can contain html, and that html is passed-through to the generated html as-is.

When you want to embed a diagram, create a hidden div: <div hidden>.

Now start a code block by indenting or typing 3 backticks. The first line of the code block must be @startuml followed by a file name (with no extension). The following lines should be the actual diagram code, ending with @enduml. End the code block and close the div.

Finally, to actually show the diagram in the document, add an image in markdown:![](firstDiagram.svg). The name must be the same name as in the @startuml command, with a .svg extension.

All together now

Step 2: Run PlantUML on the Markdown file

On the command line:

Where FILENAME is the name of the markdown file.

For every PlantUML block in the file, one svg diagram is generated. When the markdown to html converter is running, the html will contain image links to the generated images.

Step 3: Convert locally to HTML or upload to GitHub

If you host the files in GitHub (or other services that convert md to html on the fly), the last step is uploading or pushing the files. Make sure to include everything: the markdown and the generated diagrams.

Otherwise, use your favorite tool for converting markdown to html - a markdown editor or a command line tool.

Rich PlantUML support for Visual Studio Code.

Donate by Paypal|Donate by AliPay|PlantUML Document

Notice 1

Some sensitive config, like java, jar, are potentially utilized by attackers. The lastest release has disabled the workspace/work folder level settings of them by default. To enable, you have to explicitly execute the command PlantUML: Toggle Workspace Trust Flag to trust the workspace.

Thanks RyotaK for the report

Notice 2

The server render is now very recommended by this extension, since it's much faster and much easier to setup, while the major weakness has been improved:

  • Enables POST method, you can now render very-large diagrams
  • The extension comes with a new include processor, you won't encounter include problems again.

To make sure you can benifit from this update, make sure your plantuml server enables POST support.

If not, like the official https://www.plantuml.com/plantuml, the extension falls back to use GET, and you may still encounter 414 URI Too Long errors. Setup your own server is recommended.

Features

  • Preview Diagram, Press Alt-D to start PlantUML preview.
    • Auto update.
    • Zoom & scroll support.
    • Multi-Page Diagram support.
    • Instant preview, if diagram's been exported.
    • From local or server.
    • Snap to Border
  • Export Diagrams
    • At cursor, in current file, in whole workspace, in workspace selected.
    • Concurrent export.
    • Generate URLs.
    • Multi-Page Diagram support.
    • From local or server.
    • Image map (cmapx) support.
  • Editing Supports
    • Format PlantUML code. (Deprecated)
    • All type syntax highlight.
    • All type snippets.
    • Basic auto completion & macro signature support
    • Symbol List support.
  • Others
    • Multi-root Workspace Support.
    • MarkDown integrating support. View Demo
    • Extracting source from images support.

Notice: If you use customize plantuml.jar, please update to the latest version to enable Multi-Page Diagram support. (Later than V1.2017.15)

Format PlantUML code is Deprecated. Don't depend on it, use it only when it works right. I had force disable it in auto-format cases (format on save).

Supported Formats

*.wsd, *.pu, *.puml, *.plantuml, *.iuml

How to install

Launch VS Code Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the following command, and press enter.

ext install plantuml

Requirements

Depend on which render you choose, plugin has diffrerent requirements.

Requirements for PlantUMLServer render

A plantuml server. See Use PlantUML Server as render.

Requirements for Local render

It's necessary to have following installed:

  • Java : Platform for PlantUML running.
  • Graphviz : PlantUML requires it to calculate positions in diagram.

Quick Install for Mac

Quick Install for Windows

For windows user, majkinetor introduced a way to install plantuml and its dependencies easily. Run cmd.exe as Administrator, and run two commands as follow

Plugin has integrated a copy of 'plantuml.jar', you are good to go now. But if you want to use your own jar (maybe a newer version, or with many dependent jars), specify the jar location with setting plantuml.jar.

If you've installed java, but still prompts 'java not installed', please add java bin path to PATH environment variable.

Typical Files Organization

  • Default extension settings works for independent Plantuml projects.
  • If Plantuml files are only part of your project (as documetation), use plantuml.diagramsRoot and plantuml.exportOutDir to setting up the organization, for example:

You'll get export results like:

Include Files Search Logic

Latest version has changed the include files search logic once again.It is possible to configure includepaths now in settings.json.

The new search order is as follows:

  1. The folder of the rendered file
  2. The includepaths as configured in settings.json
  1. The diagramsRoot

The setting includeSearch is not needed anymore, since the folder of the plantuml file and the diagramsRoot are always both in the include path.

To new projects, it's recommended not to rely on diagramsRoot and configure all required includepaths explicitly.

Thanks anotherandi for the brilliant idea and implementation!

Preview Demos

Preview page provides various zoom/pan actions and snap feature:

  • Zoom operations (since version 2.7.0):
    • Zoom to select area
    • Pinch to zoom (TouchPad)
    • Click to zoom in, alt + click to zoom out
    • Ctrl + mouse scroll to zoom in/out
    • Middle mouse button click to toggle zoom
    • Zoom in / zoom out / toggle buttons of the controls bar.
  • Pan operations (since version 2.7.0):
    • Right mouse button drag
    • Two-finger move to pan (TouchPad)
    • Mouse scroll
  • Snap to border (since v2.8.0):
    • Scroll to most bottom/right/top/left, preview will snap to that border.

    e.g. Snap to Bottom is useful while writing long activity diagrams, which helps you keep focus in the latest part in the bottom.

Plantuml

Auto update:

zoom & scroll:

Multi-Page View:

Export Demos

Export diagram:

Generate URLs

Extract Diagram Source

About Format

PlantUML formatter is disabled (since v2.8.3) if editor.formatOnSave is on.Because the formatter is not reliable enough according to user feedbacks.

About Snippets

This plugin integrates all type diagram snippets. They are splitted into 9 sections:

  • diagram: snippets for general diagrams elements.
  • activity: snippets for activity diagrams.
  • class: snippets for class diagrams.
  • component: snippets for component diagrams.
  • state: snippets for state diagrams.
  • usecase: snippets for usecase diagrams.
  • sequence: snippets for sequence diagrams.
  • ui: snippets for salt diagrams.
  • egg: snippets for some funny diagrams, like sudoku, earth.

For exsample, type acife (short version) to trigge following snippet (activity➤if・else):

About Symbol List (List diagrams of file)

Press Ctrl+Shift+O to list all diagrams in the file. You can name the diagram when diagram starts.

@startuml diagram namesudoku@enduml

About Render

Plugin supports two renders: Local and PlantUMLServer.

Local is the default and traditional way. If you care more about export speed, you should try PlantUMLServer.

Advantages and Disadvantages of PlantUMLServer Render

Advantages:

  • 15X times faster export and much quicker preview response.
  • Don't have to set local enviroments if you have a server in your team.
  • You don't need plantuml.exportConcurrency, because it's unlimited in concurrency.

Disadvantages:

  • ~~Cannot render very-large diagrams (414 URI Too Long).~~
  • ~~Cannot render diagrams with !include in it.~~
  • Less format support: png, svg, txt.
  • Some settings are not applicable: plantuml.jar, plantuml.commandArgs, plantuml.jarArgs.

Use PlantUML Server as Render

To render very-large diagrams with include support, please make sure your plantuml server enables POST support.

If not, like the official https://www.plantuml.com/plantuml, the extension falls back to use GET, and you may still encounter 414 URI Too Long errors.

Setup your own server is recommended.

  • You may already have a PlantUML server in your team, find the server address, like: http://192.168.1.100:8080.

  • If don't have one, set up following the instructions, run with Docker is recommended. Find the server address, like: http://localhost:8080, or http://192.168.1.100:8080 which is ready for sharing to your team.

  • Open user setting, and configure like:

Multiple languages support

Translations are welcome. lang.nls.json, package.nls.json

MarkDown integrating

@startuml / @enduml is still recommended, so that PlantUML code in Markdown can be managed by other function of this plugin.

Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings.

Render Select:

  • plantuml.render: Select diagram render for both export and preview.

PlantUMLServer Render Settings:

  • plantuml.server: PlantUML server to generate UML diagrams on-the-fly.

Local Render Settings:

  • plantuml.java: Java executable location.
  • plantuml.commandArgs: commandArgs allows you add command arguments to java command, such as -DPLANTUML_LIMIT_SIZE=8192.
  • plantuml.jar: Alternate plantuml.jar location. Leave it blank to use integrated jar.
  • plantuml.jarArgs: jarArgs allows you add arguments to plantuml.jar, such as -config plantuml.config.
  • plantuml.includepaths: Specifies the include paths besides source folder and the diagramsRoot.

Export Settings:

  • plantuml.diagramsRoot: Specifies where all diagram files located (relative to workspace folder).
  • plantuml.exportOutDir: Exported workspace diagrams will be organized in this directory (relative path to workspace folder).
  • plantuml.fileExtensions: File extensions that find to export. Especially in workspace settings, you may add your own extensions so as to export diagrams in source code files, like '.java'.
  • plantuml.exportFormat: format to export. default is not set, user may pick one format everytime exports. You can still set a format for it if you don't want to pick.
  • plantuml.exportSubFolder: export diagrams to a folder which has same name with host file.
  • plantuml.exportConcurrency: decides concurrency count when export multiple diagrams.
  • plantuml.exportMapFile: Determine whether export image map (.cmapx) file when export.

Preview Settings:

Vscode Markdown Plantuml

  • plantuml.previewAutoUpdate: Dedecides if automatically update the preview window.

URL Generating Settings:

  • plantuml.urlFormat: URL format. Leave it blank to pick format everytime you generate a URL.
  • plantuml.urlResult: URL result type. Simple URL or ready for MarkDown use.

Known Issues

Please post and view issues on GitHub

Thanks

Translators

Markdown Plantuml Vscode

  • Japanese: Kohei Arao, kannkyo
  • Tranditional Chinese: Alan Tsai
  • German: Fabian F.
  • French: Zepmanbc, FlorianKempenich
  • Danish: Mikkel O. Laursen

Donators

Thanks for your encouragements!

Claus Appel, 三島木​一磨, 富吉​佑季, 黒田悦成, Jared Birdsall, Suleyman Cabir Ciplak, Malcolm Learner, Сысоев Максим, Gokan Kenichi, anb0s, Lawrence Yarian, Ahmad Ragab, 山田​暁通

Markdown Mermaid

Enjoy!