Generate a class diagram from Visual Studio

Question

I would like to generate a class diagram with relations for my visual studio project. I opened my solution, added a new ModelingProject, added a new .classdiagram file but when i want to drag my folders or my classes onto the diagram layout I get the "not available" sign.

Does anyone has any idea on how to fix this ?

Prove

[This article](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff657806.aspx) from MSDN might be helpful — Nurzhan Aitbayev, Mar 14 '14 at 04:59
Possible duplicate of [How to generate class diagram from project in Visual Studio 2013?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20873489/how-to-generate-class-diagram-from-project-in-visual-studio-2013) — Veverke, Mar 27 '17 at 09:02

Hakan Fıstık · Answer 1 · 2022-10-31T08:17:40.830

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For Visual Studio 2017, 2019 and 2022

This feature is still available, but it is NOT installed by default, you have to install it separately.

From inside Visual Studio go to Tools -> Get Tools and Features
Select the Individual components tab and search for Class Designer
Check this Component and Install it

After finish installing this component

Right-click on the project and select Add -> Add New Item A. Search for 'class' word and NOW you can see Class Diagram component

Very Important Update From the Comments below

Right-clicking on a folder and selecting Add New Item will NOT show the Class Diagram option.
You could right-click on a project.
Not every project type will support Class Diagram For example,
Right-clicking on Class Library project will DO show Class Diagram option in the Add New Item dialog.
But Right-clicking on ASP.NET project will NOT show Class Diagram option in the Add New Item dialog.

edited Oct 31 '22 at 08:17

answered Feb 20 '21 at 08:33

Hakan Fıstık

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I did install Class Designer, but the template does not appear to me. Any clues? – Guillem Poy Mar 12 '21 at 21:06
@GuillemPoy Restart Visual Studio and if available the PC – Hakan Fıstık Mar 13 '21 at 04:15
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I did find out that it was because I was not in a "project" but in a folder. – Guillem Poy Mar 14 '21 at 11:51
Yes, I have installed the Class Designer but can't find the template – yogibear Jun 09 '21 at 11:53
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Try thins: https://fmoralesdev.com/2019/05/16/generate-class-diagram-vs2019-net-core/ – yogibear Jun 09 '21 at 11:54
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@yogibear restart VS and PC and make sure to make search fo the right element in the Add Item Dialog – Hakan Fıstık Jun 09 '21 at 11:59
Thanks for the help, yes restarting and then trying the manual workaround by add .cd and editing the initial xml works. Thanks :-) – yogibear Jun 10 '21 at 12:24
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Thanks @HakanFıstık for suggesting. It was really very helpful. – Chandra Shekhar Aug 12 '21 at 16:34
this seems to do not work for me, neither 2017 and 2019 – Lotan Dec 28 '21 at 10:43
@Lotan thanks for the feedback can be more specific about why it did not work for you and did you try to restart VS? – Hakan Fıstık Dec 28 '21 at 11:45
@HakanFıstık hi Hakan, I've tried with 2017 and 2019, I can install the package, but the Diagram Class element do not show, I've tried the fake-XML approach on the link above, but it doesn't work, simply don't show the element :( I've tried to restart VS and PC and no change – Lotan Dec 28 '21 at 12:17
@Lotan Hi sorry for late response, see my update on the answer, I hope it will solve your problem – Hakan Fıstık Dec 29 '21 at 08:37
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@HakanFıstık You're right, I need to target the Assembly not the project itself, now it seems to work, thanks! ^^ – Lotan Dec 29 '21 at 11:11
It's a beautiful design ;-). If you want to add a class designer to a web project, you can add it first to a class library and then move it to your web project. – Willy Van den Driessche Aug 26 '22 at 14:18
suggesting also the Code Map feature in VS 2022! – florian.isopp Sep 09 '22 at 14:50

score 52 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

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For generating the class diagram visual studio is providing the in-built option please use that, Go to class view window of your project, RightClick -> select View -> click on View Class Diagram. This will generate class diagram for your project.

Ref:

Thanks

edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

Community

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answered Mar 11 '16 at 05:36

Jeya Suriya Muthumari

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There is no such menu option. – Triynko Mar 20 '20 at 18:06
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What is the version of your VS? – Jeya Suriya Muthumari Mar 23 '20 at 05:08
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See if this helps, https://stackoverflow.com/questions/42233831/class-diagrams-in-vs-2017 – Jeya Suriya Muthumari Mar 23 '20 at 05:09
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I found no Project's View context menu as well. Nevertheless, in Visual Studio 2019, dragging the whole project to an empty class diagram (add new item -> class diagram) will do the job. – Veverke Aug 24 '20 at 09:54
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You have to open de Visual Studio Installer -> Modify your installation of VS -> Add from individual components, the Class Diagram option. Then you will see the option. – Darkgaze Sep 01 '20 at 07:14

Generate a class diagram from Visual Studio

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