Quick links to procedures on this page:

•
 
To draw a connector line between two or more objects
•
 
To change the direction of a connection line
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To add an anchor point to an object
•
 
To move or delete an anchor point
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To set a connector line to flow around objects
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To add a text label to a connector line
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To draw a callout

Drawing connector and callout lines

You can draw connector lines between objects. Objects stay connected by these lines even when you move one or both objects. Connector lines, which are also known as “flow lines”, are used in technical drawings such as diagrams, flowcharts, and schematics. For information about drawing flowchart shapes, see Drawing predefined shapes.

There are three types of connector lines that you can draw. You can draw a straight connector line. You can also draw right-angle connector lines with a sharp corner or a rounded corner. You can edit connector lines by moving, adding, or deleting segments.

Using the controls on the property bar, you can modify the width and style of a connector line as well as apply arrowheads. For more information, see Formatting lines and outlines. You can also change the color of connector lines.

When you move objects, their connector lines remain attached.

You can draw callout lines that label and draw attention to objects.

Examples of callouts

To use connector and callout lines with precision, you need to snap them to specific nodes in objects. For more information about snapping and snapping modes, see Snapping objects.

To draw a connector line between two or more objects Back to Top
1.
 
In the toolbox, click the Straight-line connector tool button, and then click one of the following:
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Straight-line connector tool — to create a straight connector line at any angle
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Right-angle connector tool — to create a connector line containing vertical and horizontal segments at right angles
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Right-angle round connector tool — to create a connector line containing vertical and horizontal elements at rounded right angles
2.
 
Drag from a node on one object to a node on another object.

You can also
 
Move a horizontal segment in an angled connector line
Using the Shape tool , select a connector line, and drag the middle node on the segment that you want to move.
Move an end point of an angled connector line
Using the Shape tool , drag an end node along the edge of the object.
Add a segment in an angled connector line
Using the Shape tool , drag a corner node.
Delete a segment in an angled connector line
Using the Shape tool , drag a corner node over the closest corner node.

To change the direction of a connection line Back to Top
1.
 
In the toolbox, click the Edit anchor tool .
2.
 
Click the anchor point from which you want to change the connector line direction.
3.
 
On the property bar, click the Adjust anchor direction button .
4.
 
In the Adjust anchor direction box, type one of the following values:
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0 — directs the connector line to the right
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90 — directs the connector line straight up
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180 — directs the connector line to the left
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270 — directs the connector line straight down
You can change the direction of only right-angle connector lines.
To add an anchor point to an object Back to Top
1.
 
In the toolbox, click the Edit anchor tool .
2.
 
Double-click anywhere on an object to add the anchor point.
By default, anchor points that you add to an object are not available as snap points for a connector line when the object is moved around in the drawing. To make an anchor point available as a snap point, select it with the Edit anchor tool, and click the Auto anchor button on the property bar.
By default, the position of the anchor point is calculated relative to its position on the page. You can set the anchor point position relative to the object that it is attached to, which is useful if you want to set anchor points in the same relative position in multiple objects. To set the anchor point position relative to the object, select the anchor point with the Edit anchor tool . On the property bar, click the Relative to object button , and type the coordinates in the Anchor position box.
To move or delete an anchor point Back to Top

To
Do the following
Move the anchor anywhere along the perimeter of an object
Using the Edit anchor tool , drag the anchor point to another point on the perimeter.
Move the anchor to the middle of an object
Drag the anchor point to any point inside the object.
Delete an anchor
On the property bar, click the Delete anchor button .

To set a connector line to flow around objects Back to Top
1.
 
Using the Pick tool , select the object to which the connector line is attached.
2.
 
Click Window Dockers Object properties.
3.
 
In the Object properties docker, click Summary to display additional options.
4.
 
Enable the Wrap connector line check box.
To flow around an object, a connector line must be attached to the object by at least one end.
To add a text label to a connector line Back to Top
1.
 
In the toolbox, click one of the following tools.
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Straight-line connector tool
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Right-angle connector tool
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Right-angle round connector tool
2.
 
Double-click the connector line.
A text cursor appears.
3.
 
Type the text.
As you move the connector line, the text label remains attached to it.
To draw a callout Back to Top
1.
 
In the toolbox, click the 3-Point callout tool .
The 3-Point callout tool is located on the Dimension tools flyout.
2.
 
Click where you want the first callout segment to start, and drag to where you want the first segment to end.
3.
 
Click where you want the second segment to end.
A text cursor is displayed at the end of the callout line, indicating where to type a label for the object.
4.
 
Type the callout text.

You can also
 
Change the callout style
Choose a style from the Callout style box on the property bar.
Change the distance between the leader line and the callout text
Type a value in the Callout gap box.

If you want to edit the callout line and callout text, independently of each other, as a line and a text object, you first need to separate the callout line from the callout text by clicking Arrange Break callout apart.
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