ConceptDraw Smart Objects
Lesson 6. Connection points

For connecting objects ConceptDraw has its own mechanism of connecting points. You can attach connectors only to special connection points.

To view connection points in your document select View\Connection Points or press Ctrl+Alt+T.

Connection points are marked as crosses on the object sides and in the object center. Depending on the location of a connection point it has its own notation in Connect section of the object table.

The number of the top connection point is 1, of the right point - 2, and so on clockwise. The center connection point number is 5.

You can add connection points to all non-locked objects. For this use Insert\Connection Point or press Connection Point Tool on Drawing Tools toolbar.

You can define an object to which connector is attached and the type of connection by using GlueInfo section of the connector table.

ConnectObjBegin defines the ID of the object to which the connector start point is attached. If ConnectObjBegin equals -1 then the connector start point is attached to no object.

Similarly ConnectObjEnd defines the ID of the object to which the connector end is attached. If ConnectObjEnd equals -1 then the connector end is attached to no object.

ConnectTypeBegin defines the side of the object to which the connector start point is attached.

Values:

1, 2, 3, 4 - the connector start point is attached to one of the sides of the control frame.

5 - the connector start point is attached to one of the sides of the control frame so that the length of the connector is minimal.

255 - the connector start point either isn't attached to any of the sides of the control frame or attached to one of the user-added connection points.

Similarly ConnectTypeEnd defines the side of the object to which the connector end is attached.

Values:

1, 2, 3, 4 - the connector end is attached to one of the sides of the control frame.

5 - the connector end is attached to one of the sides of the control frame so that the length of the connector is minimal.

255 - the connector end either isn't attached to any of the sides of the control frame or attached to one of the user-added connection points.

Note: If you set the value with the equal sign it means that this end of the connector can't be attached to any of the sides of the control frame except the defined one.

For example, if you set this value you will be able to attach the connector start point only to the control frame so that the connector length is minimal.

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