Attach Methods


The attach method controls how connectors will connect to figures when you click on the figure in connect mode. You select an attach method from the Connectors menu. The attach method applies only when you are creating a connector. Once it is created, changing the method does not affect whether it remains attached or where it attaches. The following attach methods are available:

Freeform (no attach)

  With this attach method objects are ignored. The connector begins where you first click the mouse and terminates where you double-click, not becoming attached at either end. This method is helpful for free drawing such as adding an arrow pointing from one part of a diagram to another rather than from one figure to another.

Centers

  With this attach method, connectors attach to the centers of figures. The connector extends from the center of the first figure that you click on, to the center of the second figure you click on. Even though the connectors are attached to the center, they still terminate at the border of the figure for drawing purposes. When using this attach method, the CTRL key temporarily switches to freeform.

Click Point

  With this attach method, connectors attach to figures at the point where you click. A temporary connection point appears where you click. (However, “Use Connection Points” does not need to be enabled.) When clicking on a figure to initiate or terminate a connector, a form of snap gravity is used to snap to the center, the horizontal and vertical axes, and the edges. If the snap grid is enabled, click points can only occur on the grid or at a gravity point. When using this attach method, the SHIFT key temporarily switches to the Centers attach method described above.

Use Connection Points

  This option affects how connectors attach to figures independent of the attach method. Figures can have connection points either in their original definition or ones that you add. When this option is enabled, connection points are visible and enabled with any of the attach methods other than freeform (which doesn't attach anything).

For most diagramming, Centers attach mode combined with occasional use of CTRL is the most useful.