How to style a state in a PlantUML activity diagram (new syntax) for dashed or dotted outline

Question

Is it possible to use a dashed or dotted stroke to outline a state of an activity diagram using PlantUML?

Not using the new activity diagram syntax, we can do a state diagram with styled outline, ex.

state State1
state State2 ##[dashed]
State1 -[dashed]-> State2

Is there a way to style the outline of a state using the new syntax? This does not work:

:State1;
-[dashed]->
:State2; ##[dashed]

Fuhrmanator · Accepted Answer · 2024-05-04 06:46:20Z

3

State diagrams are not activity diagrams. A state is different than an activity.

That said, you can do this with the <style> feature in PlantUML (not super well documented):

@startuml
<style>
activityDiagram {
  .dashedStyle {
    LineStyle 4
  }
}
</style>
:State1;
-[dashed]->
:State2;<<dashedStyle>>
@enduml

edited May 4 at 6:46

answered Apr 22 at 18:16

Fuhrmanator

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1

Thank you, I was not aware of the << style >>! I notice that this breaks on multiline entries. Without style you can do :multi line; on two lines - I can't show it in comments - but with style, it does not work and you have to use the \n character and keep the entry on a single line.
– GaspardP
Commented May 2 at 13:56
1

@GaspardP You should provide that feedback to the developers (it's probably an easy fix). STYLE is a work in progress and this answer may even break in the future.
– Fuhrmanator
Commented May 2 at 15:39
1

Awesome, the devs answered right away github.com/plantuml/plantuml/issues/1762 If you don't mind, I'll update your accepted answer with their feedback. Essentially, the <<dashedStyle>> should be after the action rather than before.
– GaspardP
Commented May 3 at 18:08

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