UML class diagrams connections if a class is used everywhere?

Question

So in my project, some of the classes are: Assembler, Controller, Part, StorageManager, StorageDepartment.

A Controller consists of a list of Parts. Assembler creates a list of Controllers using a list of Parts. StorageManager gives the required parts to Assembler. StorageManager gets the Parts from StorageDepartment which gets the Parts from a Supplier.

My point is that almost every class in the Project uses the Part class. How am I supposed to connect all of the classes with the Part class in a class diagram? Connecting everything, does not seem logical, and would make the diagram cluttered. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

If this is just about presentation, you have a couple of options:

1) Use attribute notation instead of association edges. From the UML 2.4.1 Superstructure spec:

Figure 7.24 shows that the attribute notation can be used for an association end owned by a class, because an association end owned by a class is also an attribute.

2) Just break it down into many small diagrams with just 3-4 classes each.

3) Compartmentalize your diagram. Many UML tools allow a class to appear in a diagram more than once. Even if you don't want many small diagrams (eg. because you want to have all the classes appear in a single diagram), you can break it down into smaller groups and thus avoid a big tangly mess of edges.