Can I use the plantUML language in LaTeX?

Question

I want to create diagrams. Preferable in LaTeX. Normally, I use the PlantUML language.

Answer 1

It is possible to use the PlantUML language direcly inside LaTeX using the plantuml package.

Here is a minimal example:

\documentclass{scrartcl}
\usepackage{plantuml}
\begin{document}
\begin{plantuml}
  @startuml
  Alice -> Bob: Hello
  Alice <- Bob: Hi!
  @enduml
\end{plantuml}
\end{document}

For building LaTeX with PlantUML the PLANTUML_JAR environment variable has to be set and Java must be installed.

To build this document, run lualatex --shell-escape documentname

The result should look like this:

A more detailed example can be found here: https://koppor.github.io/plantuml/

Prerequisites

# to get tikz, install pgf
tlmgr install pgf
tlmgr install koma-script
tlmgr install xkeyval
tlmgr install adjustbox
tlmgr install collectbox
tlmgr install luacode
tlmgr install luatexbase

Answer 2

I use the website https://www.planttext.com/ to export to/download as SVG (which btw includes the plantuml code as XML comment) and after that save as PDF with inkscape. This can be used with \includegraphics

Answer 3

You could also write the plantuml diagrams localy and convert them via plantuml -teps your-file to lossless eps files. These can be directly included in latex via the \includegraphics command.

This way you do not have to go the way via inkscape.

Answer 4

I have worked out a solution that works with pdflatex as well. It produces vector graphics. I tested it with Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS and TeX Live. Should work with macOS as well.

My code requires, that you have installed:

• PlantUML (thus, also Java)
• Inkscape (converting svg to pdf)

Due to calling external commands, you have to use the -shell-escape option to compile:

pdflatex -shell-escape my-file.tex

Depending of how you installed PlantUML, you might have to call it like this:

\immediate\write18{java -jar /home/NAME/Downloads/plantuml.jar -tsvg #1.txt}

... instead of ...

\immediate\write18{plantuml -tsvg #1.txt}

Here is the full code as minimal example:

\documentclass[a4paper,12pt]{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{graphicx} % enables us to use graphics
\usepackage{fancyvrb} % enables us to write to disk
\usepackage{float}    % enables us to use [H] for figures

% Define an verbatim environment for PlantUML:
\newenvironment{plantuml}[1]{\VerbatimOut{#1.txt}}{\endVerbatimOut}

% Process a PlantUML code:
\newcommand{\process}[3]{%
    % Call PlantUML to produce a svg vector graphcis:
    \immediate\write18{plantuml -tsvg #1.txt}
    % Call Inkscape to convert the svg to a pdf (pdflatex cannot use svg):
    \immediate\write18{inkscape #1.svg --export-filename=#1.pdf}
    % Include the pdf:
    \begin{figure}[H]
        \includegraphics[width=#2]{#1.pdf}
        \caption{#3}
    \end{figure}
    % Remove all intermediate files:
    \immediate\write18{rm #1.txt #1.svg #1.pdf}
}

\begin{document}

% Note: timeline1 gets used as filename.
%       You must re-use this name for the
%       corresponding \process command!
\begin{plantuml}{timeline1}
    @startgantt
        [Prototype design] lasts 15 days
        [Test prototype] lasts 10 days
    @endgantt
\end{plantuml}
\process{timeline1}{0.8\textwidth}{The proposed timeline.}

\begin{plantuml}{activity1}
    @startuml
        :Hello world;
        :This is on defined on
        several **lines**;
    @enduml
\end{plantuml}
\process{activity1}{5cm}{An activity diagram.}

\end{document}

I hope this is helpful to someone.