Comprehensive Tutorial: How to Generate UML Class Diagrams Using Visual Paradigm Online’s AI Assistant

Visual Paradigm Online (VP Online) offers a powerful free AI-powered UML Class Diagram generator that can turn a simple text description into a complete, well-structured class diagram in minutes. This step-by-step tutorial follows the exact workflow shown in the official video.

Prerequisites

• A free or paid Visual Paradigm Online account
• Access to the workspace ( Diagrams → Workspace )

Step 1: Access the AI Class Diagram Generator

1. Log in to Visual Paradigm Online.
2. In your workspace, click the big blue button Create with AI (usually located at the top-right or center of the screen).
3. In the AI assistant popup, scroll or search for “AI Assisted UML Class Diagram Generator”.
4. Click Start Now. → This opens the dedicated AI Class Diagram tool in a new tab/window.

Step 2: Define Purpose and Scope (Text Prompt)

You have two options:

Option A – Simple description (recommended for beginners) Just type a plain-English description of your system. Example:

“An online bookstore system where customers can register, browse books, add them to a shopping cart, and place orders. Admins can manage inventory and view sales reports.”

Option B – Detailed purpose and scope You can explicitly list the goal, main entities, and functionalities if you want more control.

Click AI Generate Diagram from Scope (big blue button) when you are ready.

Step 3: Review and Edit Identified Classes

The AI will first extract candidate classes.

• A list of classes (e.g., Customer, Book, Order, ShoppingCart, Admin, etc.) appears on the left panel.
• You can:
  • Add a new class → click + Add Class
  • Remove an unwanted class → click the trash icon
  • Rename a class → click the pencil icon

Click Next when satisfied.

Step 4: Review and Edit Attributes

For each class, the AI suggests attributes (fields/properties) with data types.

Example for Book class:

• title: String
• author: String
• isbn: String
• price: double
• stockQuantity: int

Actions you can take:

• Add new attribute → + Add Attribute
• Edit type or name → pencil icon
• Delete → trash icon
• Change visibility (+ public, – private, # protected, ~ package) using the dropdown

Click Next when done.

Step 5: Review and Edit Operations (Methods)

The AI also suggests common methods for each class.

Example for ShoppingCart:

• addItem(book: Book, quantity: int): void
• removeItem(book: Book): void
• getTotalPrice(): double
• checkout(): Order

Same editing capabilities as attributes (add, edit, delete, change visibility and parameters).

Click Next when finished.

Step 6: Review Relationships

The AI automatically detects and proposes relationships:

• Association (e.g., Customer 1 — * Order)
• Aggregation/Composition (hollow/filled diamond)
• Inheritance (generalization, hollow triangle)
• Dependency, etc.)

You can:

• Confirm or delete each relationship
• Change multiplicity (1..*, 0..1, etc.)
• Change relationship type using the dropdown
• Add new relationships manually

The right panel shows a textual summary of everything that will be generated.

Step 7: Quality Check (Automatic)

The tool runs a quick quality check based on common UML rules (e.g., no cyclic inheritance, valid multiplicities). Any warnings or suggestions are displayed. You can go back and fix them if needed.

Step 8: Add Notes (Optional but Recommended)

You can enrich the diagram with explanatory notes.

Two ways:

1. Manually type notes and drag them on the diagram later.
2. Click Let AI generate notes → the AI will create meaningful notes for classes and relationships.

Step 9: Generate (Render) the Diagram

1. Click Next → you will see a preview thumbnail.
2. Click the large Render Diagram button. → The AI instantly draws a clean, properly laid-out class diagram using Visual Paradigm’s standard UML notation.

Step 10: Import into Editor for Further Editing

1. On the generated diagram page, click Import to Visual Paradigm.
2. Choose the target project/folder → OK.
3. The diagram opens in the full-featured Visual Paradigm Online editor.
4. You can now:
   • Reposition classes for better layout
   • Add colors, styles, or additional shapes
   • Create packages
   • Generate code (Java, C#, etc.) or documentation, etc.

Step 11: Save

Click Save (or Ctrl+S) to store the diagram permanently in your workspace.

Tips for Best Results

• Be specific in your initial description (mention key entities and actions).
• Use real-world domain terms; the AI understands common patterns (e.g., “shopping cart,” “user authentication,” “inventory management”).
• Iterate: generate → review → go back and adjust → re-render as many times as needed (completely free).
• After importing, use Visual Paradigm’s auto-layout features (Layout → Auto Layout) for even cleaner results.

That’s it! In under 5 minutes you can go from a simple sentence to a professional, editable UML class diagram using Visual Paradigm Online’s AI tool.

Official video reference: https://youtu.be/h2xDpZix69E Tool URL (after login): https://online.visual-paradigm.com/ → Create with AI → AI Assisted UML Class Diagram Generator

Happy diagramming!

Class Diagram Resource

• AI-Assisted UML Class Diagram Generator
• Create Class Diagrams Automatically Using AI – Visual Paradigm Online Tutorial
• AI Generated Class Diagram
• UML Class Diagram: The Definitive Guide to Modeling System Structure with AI
• Smarter Diagrams. Powered by AI.