Connector Styles

A connector can be used to connect diagram elements. There are 5 connector styles that are provided in VP-UML and VP products - oblique, rectilinear curve, round oblique and round rectilinear style. You can choose any connector style that is suitable for your created diagram. This document will show you how to set the connectors into different styles and how to manipulate them to suit your needs.

You can start by creating a new use case diagram and draw the following diagram.

The Oblique style allows you to create anchor points anywhere along the connector and move them freely. This give you a clear cut look to the diagram while still maintaining some degree of flexibility.

1. Now, right-click on the connector between Schedule Delivery use case and Order Processing Clerk actor. Select Connector Style → Oblique from the pop-up menu. The selected connector style will be oblique style.
   

1. Then try to click on any part of the connector, an anchor point will be created. You can create as many anchor points as needed and you can freely move the anchor points.
   

The behavior of the Round Oblique connector is the same as that of the Oblique connector style. The only difference is the corners of the connector using Round Oblique style will appear rounded.

The rectilinear style is useful for when you need to create uniform connectors. The connector will always turn at right angles to itself, and therefore it will create it’s own anchor points. This can be useful if you have a large class diagram as it allows for easier organising of diagram elements.

1. Try the rectilinear style of the connector by right-clicking on the connector and selecting
   Connector Style → Rectilinear from the pop-up menu. The selected connector style will be rectilinear style.
   

1. Try to create the anchor points for the connector. Now you can see the difference in behavior between the oblique and rectilinear style, you cannot create your own anchor points but it will be automatically generated as you move the elements or the connectors. The connector will always be perpendicular to each other at the anchor points.
   

The behavior of Round Rectilinear connector style is the same as that of Rectilinear connector style. The only difference is the corners of the connector using Round Rectilinear style will appear rounded.

Now try the the curve style. The curve style connector is similar to the oblique style, as you can create as many anchor points and freely shape the connectors but the line created is a curve. This gives a more flowing look to the diagram and allows you complete freedom in styling your connectors to suit your diagram needs.

Right-click on the connector and select
Connector Style → Curve from the pop-up menu. The selected connector style will be curve style.

Create the anchor points for the connector and you will see the connector in the curved form.

You are allowed to set the default connector style for every connector that will be created in any diagrams.

1. Click on the Tools menu on the menu bar and select Options... An Options dialog box will be displayed.
   

1. Select Diagramming from the list and switch to the Connector tab. From there you can see that Oblique style is selected as the default connector style. You can then change the default connector style by selecting any of 5 connector style radio buttons provided there. Click on the OK button to close the window.
   

In VP-UML the Follow Diagram feature also lets you change all the diagram connectors in one go without clicking on each connector. When you right-click on a diagram you can set its default connector style from its popup menu, so that once the diagram connector style is changed, all connectors whose connector style is set to ‘Follow Diagram’ will be updated to the new style.

Right click on the diagram and select Connection Style> Rectilinear

All the diagram connectors will change to rectilinear style automatically.

• See how curve connector style is supported
  Supporting Curve Connector Style
  
  
• Learn how to reverse the connector
  Using Reverse Connector
  
  
• Get more tips on diagramming with Visual Paradigm’s Products
  Tips and Tricks on Diagramming
  
  
• Learn more about object-relational mapping
  Object-Relational Mapping

• Know more about Visual Paradigm for UML - A powerful visual UML CASE tool.
  http://www.visual-paradigm.com/product/vpuml/
  
  
• Look at the features of Visual Paradigm for UML
  http://www.visual-paradigm.com/product/vpuml/features/
  
  
• Get the Free 30 Days Trial of Visual Paradigm for UML
  http://www.visual-paradigm.com/download/
  
  
• Learn more on visual modeling feature from Visual Paradigm for UML’s online documentation [Part 1]
  http://www.visual-paradigm.com/product/vpuml/vpumluserguide.jsp
  
  
  • Chapter 2 Working with Projects - This chapter offers basis in working with VP-UML project, such as creating, exporting and merging projects.
    
    
  • Chapter 3 Working with Diagrams - This chapter shows you how to perform the visual modeling in VP-UML such as drawing diagram elements, customizing connectors and editing the diagrams etc.