Connectors are a type of annotation that can be added to blocks and other 2D elements to create schematic diagrams, flow charts, and other drawings. An efficient way to use them is to create and arrange the blocks or other 2D objects on the drawing first, and then add the connectors using the Connector command.
You can also modify the appearance, location, and orientation of existing connectors by selecting a connector in the drawing and making changes on the Connector command bar and on the Connector Properties dialog box.
There are four connector shape types: Line, Corner, Jump, and Step. Line and corner connectors consist of start and end handles. Jump and step connectors also contain a midpoint handle that defines the center of the step or arc.
The midpoint of the jump arc can be connected to another line, such as a wire, or to another connector segment, so that it moves with the connected element. The midpoint of the step can only be snapped to another object, not connected to it.
For more information about these shapes, see the Connector command bar Help topic.
Adding connectors
The Connector command initiates dynamic connector placement mode, in which a continuous series of connectors can be added to the drawing until you click the right mouse button, click the Select tool, or press the Esc key to exit.
Input to create a connector consists of two points. These two points can be on a block, another 2D graphic object, on a keypoint, on a grid, in free space, and even a point on another connector. The eligible points on a connector include a midpoint or start/end vertex.
Similarly, connectors can be connected to text, dimensions, leader lines, and other annotations. When you attach a jump connector to another element, both the jump and the connected element highlight to show they are connected. When the annotation moves, the connector moves with it.
Connector midpoints can be snapped to a grid during placement and editing.
Once placed, connectors are driven by the objects they are attached to. If a connected block, element, or object is moved, the connector end point moves with it, stretching the connector line segment as needed to maintain connectivity. For line and jump connectors only, if the other end of the connector is free, then the entire connector moves with the object.
You can easily align connectors using a grid and the Snap To Grid options on the Grid Options dialog box. You can snap to a point or to a line.
While modifying an existing connector, you can select a handle or the midpoint of a jump connector and drag it, and it will snap into position. When you turn off the grid, you turn off the snap-to-grid feature.
When you select a connector to edit, connector handles as well as connected elements are highlighted. It is helpful to know the default highlight color scheme, as it determines how connectors and connected elements will behave when you try to modify or move them.
The default selected connector color is purple.
The default handle highlight color for the connector start point is red. Any parent elements that the connector is connected to are displayed in the same highlight color.
The default handle highlight color for the connector end point is black.
Note:
The color scheme described above is the default color scheme. You may choose a different color scheme, which can be implemented through templates or a custom Connector style. See Connector Properties to learn where these default colors are set and can be changed.
You can easily edit an existing connector.
You can change the shape of a selected connector by pressing S on the keyboard or clicking a different connector type in the Shape list on the command bar. For example, you might change a connector shape from a line to a jump where two wires cross in a diagram.
You can change the orientation of a jump, corner or step connector by pressing F on the keyboard or clicking the Flip button on the command bar.
You can adjust the jump radius of a jump connector by typing a new value in the Jump Radius field on the command bar and pressing Enter to update the connector. You also can adjust the position of the jump by selecting the middle handle and moving it along the connector segment.
Only one jump per connector is allowed. However, you can create a string of connectors with one jump each, which behaves like a single connector with multiple jumps. Set the start/end terminators of the connectors in the middle to the "Blank" option. Do the same for the end terminator of the first connector and the start terminator of the end connector. For example:
You can create a U-shaped connector by placing a step-type connector, then selecting the connector middle handle and dragging it.
A selected connector can be cut, copied, and pasted using those commands on its shortcut menu. Press the Ctrl key while you drag the connector to both copy and move the connector.
Connector annotations can be rotated, mirrored, scaled, and moved using those commands. If you use these commands on a connected object, the connector segment will change with it. If you select the connector segment itself, only the connector will change.
To move an individual connector, it is more efficient to move the connected object. You cannot fence select connectors to move them.
To disconnect a connector from an object, select and drag the connector handle off the object.
A connector style can be applied globally to all connectors using dimension style mapping, or you can choose to customize the connectors added to the drawing by choosing a local style and then adjusting one or more connector properties.
Connector properties that can be set include those for line segment color, width, and type, as well as for independent start and end terminator styles. You also can opt to use no terminators at all.
To select and apply a connector annotation style globally, go to the Dimension Style tab of the Options dialog box, set the Dimension Style Mapping option, and select a style for the Connector annotation element.
Connectors share a line style with dimensions. You can set certain global defaults for connector line styles on the Dimension Style dialog box (choose Format→Style, select "Dimension" from the Style Type list, then click the New Modify button). Here, you can make these style changes:
Default Line Color--Select the General tab to change the default Connector line style color, which is black, for all new connectors added to the drawing.
Default Line Type and Width--Select the Annotation tab to change the default Connector Line Type and Connector Line Width.
Note:
Connector terminator options are set on the Connector command bar. These settings can be changed interactively as you place new connectors.
To set the connector edit handle colors, change these global settings on the Color tab of the Options dialog box:
Highlight: Sets the edit handle color for the start of the connector segment. This also sets the highlight color for elements connected to the connector. The default color is red.
Selected: Sets the connector line segment color for a connector that is selected. The default color is purple.
Handle: Sets the edit handle color for the end of the connector segment, as well as for middle connector handles. The default color is black.
You can override the default line segment settings for new connectors using the options on the Connector command bar and on the Connector Properties dialog box. Also, you can modify the start and end terminator styles on either the command bar or the dialog box.