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InSource Solutions

TN AG109 Drawing a Connector

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Description

In 2014 R2 there is a new combination of Connection Points and Connectors which provide resilient connections between graphics with simple point, click, drag and drop operations. Whenever graphics are repositioned, either in design or runtime, the Connectors adjust and move with the graphics to maintain the connections. This eliminates tedious connector redrawing and refinements when repositioning graphics.

 

  • Author: Michael Dudley
  • Published: 12/07/2015
  • Applies to: Symbol Editor 2014 R2

 

 

Details

You use the Connector tool to draw a connector between graphic elements. The Connector tool initially attempts to draw a connector with a minimum number of angles. You can change the shape of the initial connector path using control points to redraw the path if necessary.

A connector supports Symbol Wizards like any other graphic element. You can associate a connector with a Symbol Wizard layer by dragging the connector element to the layer during design time. You can also remove the connector from a layer by removing the connector from the association list. If a connector is hidden based on the Symbol Wizard’s Wizard Option configuration, the connector does not appear during run time.

 

Press the Esc key to cancel drawing a connector. Also, clicking on the Symbol Editor’s canvas takes you out of connector drawing mode.

 

To draw a connector

  1. Open a symbol in Symbol Editor that you want to add a connector.

 

  1. Click once on the Connector icon within the Tools pane to draw a single connector.

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If you want to draw multiple connectors, double click on the Connector icon.

 

  1. Move your mouse over the first graphic element that you want to add a connector.

 

The default connection points appear when you move your mouse over a graphic element.

 

  1. Place the mouse over the connection point where you want to place the connector on the graphic element.

 

-A green rectangle appears around the connection point when it is selected.

 

-A start connection point has an automatic offset, which is a perpendicular straight line segment from the start connection point to the first angle in the connector path. An automatic offset prevents the connector from following the border of the originating graphic element. No automatic offset is applied to the terminating connection point on the connected graphic element.

 

  1. Press and hold your left mouse key and drag the mouse to the second graphic element.

 

-Connection points appear when you move the mouse over the second graphic element.

 

  1. Release the mouse button when you are over a selected connection point on the second graphic element.

 

-The connector appears as a line between both graphic elements.

 

  1. If necessary, use connector control points to change the shape of the connector between the connected graphic elements.