Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

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Connector Properties

A connector can have a wide range of properties, with some connector types having fewer, simpler properties and others having more and more-complex properties. You edit these properties on the '<connector type> Properties' dialog. Some properties are visible on a diagram as text labels on or around the connector, and you can change these labels using the 'Label' context menu.

The properties on the dialog are presented on these tabs:

  • General
  • Advanced properties
  • Tagged Values
  • Source and Target Roles
  • Constraints

Access

Context Menu

Right-click on Connector | Properties

Other

Double-click on Connector

General Tab Options

Field/Option/Button

Action

See also

Name

(Optional) Type a representative name for the connector; this name displays on the diagram.

Notes

(Optional) Type any comments you want to record on the connector. You can format the text using the Notes toolbar at the top of the field.

These notes can be included in searches, reports and documentation, if required.

Notes Window Notes Toolbar

Connector Properties Panel

Source

Displays the name of the source element for the connector.

Target

Displays the name of the target element for the connector.

Alias

(Optional)Type an alternative name or alias for the connector.

Direction

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the appropriate direction details: from source to destination, destination to source, bi-directional, or unspecified.

Some connectors have arrow heads that depend on this setting, and some connectors are logically dependent on this (such as Inheritance).

Style

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the appropriate connection style; choose from:

  • Direct
  • Auto-Routing
  • Custom
  • Tree (Vertical, Horizontal, Lateral Vertical or Lateral Horizontal), or
  • Orthogonal (Square Corners or Rounded Corners)

Some connectors can also have the Bezier style, under which the connector follows a smooth curve.

Stereotype

(Optional) Type the name of a stereotype for the connector, or click on the button and select the stereotype from the 'Stereotype Selector' dialog.

If specified, the stereotype is displayed on the diagram and it over-rides the connector type in the report documentation.

Stereotype Selector

Virtual Inheritance

(For Generalization connectors)  Click on the drop-down arrow and select True or False to indicate if inheritance is virtual or not.

Scope

(For Generalization connectors where the child Class is C++.) Click on the drop-down arrow and select the appropriate value for the scope (used for inheritance).

Notes

  • Instead of displaying properties on tabs in the dialog, you can select the 'Property Sheets use Tree style' checkbox through the 'Start > Workspace > Visual Styles' ribbon option to display the properties on screen pages selected through a hierarchical list
  • Generalize, Realize, Associate and Template Binding connectors also have a 'Binding' tab, on which you define binding expressions and parameter substitutions for the connector

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