Connectors are polyline elements with both endpoints registered to a host element. When you move a host shape or symbol, the connector endpoints follow. When you delete a host, the paired connector is removed.
Connector Tool
The Connector button on the Drawing toolbar starts the Connector Tool. Click the first endpoint on a shape or symbol, then click the second endpoint. A polyline is drawn between the two points with both ends registered as a connection.
Snap targets include:
- Shape edges on Rectangle, Ellipse, and Path elements with Allow Connections enabled.
- Node UID elements inside a symbol. Symbol authors mark terminal points using a Node UID naming convention.
Behavioral Changes in 10.1.5
The Connector Tool has three behavioral changes in FrameworX 10.1.5 that simplify authoring and prevent malformed connectors:
Auto-finalize on second click. The connector finalizes as soon as the second endpoint is clicked. No additional confirmation step is required — the polyline is committed to the display and both host references are registered immediately.
No loose-start connectors. Every connector must have both endpoints bound to a host element. The tool will not commit a connector with a free (unbound) endpoint — partial connectors are discarded when the gesture ends without a valid second target.
Endpoint thumbs visible under the Selection Tool. Selecting a connector with the Selection Tool reveals endpoint thumbs at each host registration. Drag a thumb to re-target the endpoint to a different host; the new host reference is registered and the old one is released.
Allow Connections Property
Select a shape on a display. In the Shape config panel, a Connections group contains the Allow Connections checkbox. Checking the box marks the shape as a connector target.
The checkbox is available for Rectangle, Ellipse, and Path. Polylines and gridlines are not eligible.
When enabled, the shape carries a GUID and an IsConnector=true attached property in the display XAML. Unchecking the box on a shape with active connections opens a confirmation dialog. Choosing Yes removes the connections and clears the IsConnector flag.
Working with Connected Elements
Action | Behavior |
|---|---|
Move a connected shape | Connector endpoints follow the shape. |
Delete a connected element | The paired connector is removed automatically. |
Copy and paste connected shapes | Pasted shapes receive new GUIDs. Connections between the pasted shapes are preserved. Connections to shapes outside the selection are dropped. |
Drag a connector endpoint | The endpoint snaps to the new target and the connection is re-validated. |
Undo a connector edit | The previous connection state is restored. |
Delete a connector | Both host references are cleaned up on both sides of the link. |
Upgrading Solutions
Solutions with connectors created in earlier FrameworX versions open in 10.1.5 with connector behavior active. No manual migration step is required.
In this section...