Book a Demo

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

Prev Next

Properties Window and Dialog for Connectors

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 either the:

  • Properties window for the connector or 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 connector properties are presented on these tabs:

  • Connector - defining General and (in the Properties window) type-specific properties
  • Advanced properties - type-specific properties on the 'Properties' dialog
  • Source and Target Roles
  • Constraints
  • Template Bindings (where appropriate)
  • Tags (Tagged Values) - On the Properties window, type-specific and metatype Tagged Values are shown on the 'Connector' tab; on the dialog all tags are shown on the 'Tags' tab

Access

Ribbon

Start > Application > Design > Common > Properties > click on connector in a diagram > Connector   (Properties window)

Design > Element > Editors > Element > Properties > click on connector in a diagram > Connector   (Properties window)

Context Menu

Right-click on Connector | Properties   ('Properties' dialog)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl+2 > Connector   (Properties window)

Other

Double-click on Connector     ('Properties' dialog)

General Options

These options are available on the 'Connector' tab and 'General' grouping of the Properties window, or the 'General > Main' tab of the 'Properties' dialog.

Option

Action

See also

Name

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

Notes

('Properties' dialog, 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.

 The Notes Window Notes Toolbar

Type

(Properties window) Displays the connector type selected when creating the connector.

Stereotype

(Optional) Type the name of a stereotype for the connector, or click on the Browse. button and select the stereotype from the 'Stereotypes for <object name>' dialog.

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

If necessary, you can add multiple stereotypes, each in a separate line of the field.

 Stereotype Selector

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

Displays the direction of the connector. For some connectors (such as an Association), you can change the 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 it (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.

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 'Properties' dialog, you can display the properties on screen pages selected through a hierarchical list; select the 'Property Sheets use Tree style' checkbox using the 'Start > Appearance > Visual Style' ribbon option
  • The 'Binding' tab is displayed for Generalize, Realize, Associate and Template Binding connectors; use this tab to define binding expressions and parameter substitutions for the connector

Learn more

Prev Next