Share models and exporting diagrams

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This article applies to Visual Studio 2015. If you're looking for the latest Visual Studio documentation, see Visual Studio documentation. We recommend upgrading to the latest version of Visual Studio. Download it here

In Visual Studio, you can share models and diagrams with colleagues in several ways.

To see which versions of Visual Studio support this feature, see Version support for architecture and modeling tools.

Working on a Model as a Team

Users of Visual Studio can create and edit models, layer diagrams, and directed graphs.

Different users can work at the same time on a UML model, but should work on different packages.

We recommend that you use Team Foundation version control.

For more information, see Manage models and diagrams under version control.

For suggestions about organizing models in a medium or large project, see Structure your modeling solution.

Reading and Reviewing Models

Team members using some versions of Visual Studio (which cannot create models) can read models, modeling diagrams, and directed graphs, but cannot edit them. To see which versions of Visual Studio support this feature, see Version support for architecture and modeling tools.

A UML diagram or layer diagram can be opened only within the model in which it was created. To provide access to a diagram, you must therefore provide access to all the modeling project files, or to copies of them.

For more information, see Read models and diagrams in other Visual Studio editions.

Using Diagrams in Documents and Presentations

You can copy parts of diagrams into documents or presentations. You can also print diagrams, for example to XPS files.

For more information, see Export diagrams as images.

Title Description
Manage models and diagrams under version control Visual Studio users can work on a shared model.
Structure your modeling solution Sharing models in a large or medium project.
Read models and diagrams in other Visual Studio editions Users of some versions of Visual Studio that cannot create models can read models and diagrams.
Export diagrams as images You can copy parts of diagrams into applications such as PowerPoint or Word, or print a diagram to an XPS file.
Analyzing and Modeling Architecture Overview of models and diagrams.
Customize your model with profiles and stereotypes If you use a UML profile in a model, and then send the model to someone else, they must have installed the same profile.

See Also

Create models for your app Use models in your development process