Draw a 'hop' when links are crossing (like Visio)

[Robert Lelieveld]

Hi,

How can I make EA draw a 'hop' when connectors/links are crossing each other?

Like so:


Drawing a big deployment diagram (or any) with a lot of links, it's easier to read when links cross or not.
Without loosing the ability to put connectors 'on top' of each other.

For example, see picture below:
- the links marked with the black circle are actually crossing
- the links without the circle all move in the same direction



How to do this?

Thanks,
Robert

[Geert Bellekens]

Robert,

I believe only the solid lines "hop".
Dotted lines can't jump (like white men )

Geert

[Robert Lelieveld]

OK, I see.

How can I make an Information Flow be drawn solid?

When right clicking on an IF connector, it doesn't seem to be available in the context menu:
- Properties...
- Advanced
- Line Style
- Visibility
- Appearance...

Can't find it in the Current Connector toolbar menu.

Still learning EA  

[qwerty]

You can't change those. They are defined to have a certain form. If you draw a realize solid it becomes a generalization.

q.

[Robert Lelieveld]

Indeed, the solid lines are drawn with this 'hop'.
I tried it with a quick ArchiMate diagram:


Would you consider this to be a feature request or a bug?

[Geert Bellekens]

I'm pretty sure it was an intended choice to only do hops on solid lines, so I guess Sparx will consider it a feature request.

Geert

[qwerty]

The best choice is of course to avoid hops at all  

q.

[Robert Lelieveld]

Fully agree with trying to avoid crossing lines!

Tried once more in Visio and it allows to choose from a range of line types (dashes, dots, etc).

As a workaround, I'll use the line thickness. While that makes (non-)crossing lines clearer, it looks a lot less attractive.

[qwerty]

Many users asked for better drawing capabilities but the wish lists still float in bottles in the Pacific. I guess the reason for dashed lines not hopping is that the rendering algorithm is harder to implement than for solid lines. You might send your bottle towards Sparx but place it carefully so it does not smash the other bottles.

q.

[Glassboy]

Fully agree with trying to avoid crossing lines!

Tried once more in Visio and it allows to choose from a range of line types (dashes, dots, etc).

As a workaround, I'll use the line thickness. While that makes (non-)crossing lines clearer, it looks a lot less attractive.

Hi there, if you use the new 12.1 beta you can virtualise end points and split large complex diagrams into more manageable parts.  It may not work for what you're doing but does help with crossing lines.

[skiwi]

but the wish lists still float in bottles in the Pacific

wot Paulo said