Editorial issue: change UML diagrams to SVG

[jakubklimek]

The UML diagrams in DCAT on a modern high-res monitor look terrible, because they are low-resolution bitmap graphics in PNG format.

I suggest switching to SVG vector graphics.

[kvistgaard]

Indeed, and overall using SVG is way more in the spirit of DCAT and other RDF-based standards.

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On Fri, 12 Feb 2021 at 15:24, Jakub Klímek ***@***.***> wrote: The UML diagrams in DCAT on a modern high-res monitor look terrible, because they are low-resolution bitmap graphics in PNG format. I suggest switching to SVG vector graphics. — You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1294>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABZYZ4K7TD2SSGVJN4CJMXLS6U2YNANCNFSM4XQYSVBA> .

[riccardoAlbertoni]

The UML diagrams in DCAT on a modern high-res monitor look terrible, because they are low-resolution bitmap graphics in PNG format.

I suggest switching to SVG vector graphics.

Yes, @jakubklimek, It would be great to have it. Could you suggest a free UML editor saving/exporting in SVG? I haven't come up with anything quick and easy to use so far ...

[jakubklimek]

I use https://www.diagrams.net/
It is not ideal, as it is more of a paint tool that allows you to paint UML Class Diagrams, meaning you create an image, not data representing the data model. But it gets the job done.

See a created example: Czech DCAT-AP

[kvistgaard]

Check out https://www.planttext.com

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On Fri, 12 Feb 2021 at 16:19, Jakub Klímek ***@***.***> wrote: I use https://www.diagrams.net/ It is not ideal, as it is more of a paint tool that allows you to paint UML Class Diagrams, meaning you create an image, not data representing the data model. But it gets the job done. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1294 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABZYZ4NEX5OF4U4YQAWCJTLS6VBJ5ANCNFSM4XQYSVBA> .

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[agbeltran]

I think this is a great idea and I had started work on a mermaid file, representing the class diagram in Markdown, which can be converted automatically to SVG.

See my current version in this live editor.

This means we can keep the Markdown file (see it on the left hand side of the live editor) in the folder and generate the figure automatically (we could combine it with Github actions for this to happen when the markdown file is updated).

If this is of interest, I could complete the Markdown.

[riccardoAlbertoni]

If this is of interest, I could complete the Markdown.

I think that would be great!

Just a doubt before proceed.
I wonder how configurable is the layout of the classes. We might need to force a specific layout to make the diagram readable. For example, we might want to constraint Catalog on the top left part of the diagram, Resource placed on the top right part of the diagram, etc.

@agbeltran: Do you know if that is possible on "mermaid"?

[init-dcat-ap-de]

@riccardoAlbertoni I am afraid, that is probably not possible. Maybe someone knows a program that could import Mermaid files and allows to edit their layout? The same goes for PlantUML.

I decided to use PlantUML over Mermaid because of the problems with class names: mermaid-js/mermaid#1635

[agbeltran]

Indeed, it is quite limited what can be done in terms of layout althought it looks that there are plans for enabling more configuration options according to the documentation.

Good to see the issue about colons in class names.