Edge (horizontal and vertical connection)

Meaning

The Edge (horizontal and vertical connection) connects an entity set with a relation and shows that these entities are taking part in the relation.

This shape layouts automatically when connected with both ends. It will choose a vertical or horizontal layout and connect to the appropriate connection points.

Utilization

Control Points

A )
  • moves the position of the explaining text
  • appears only when text has been entered
  • to enter text double click the shape or start typing while the shape is selected
B ) allows to move the edge along the horizontal or vertical axis (depending on the current layout)

Context Menu

Depending on the layout, whether the Edge is horizontally or vertically, you can set the alignment. Accordingly there is always only one of the following shown in the context menu:

  Align Top - The shape will be aligned at the top end-point.
Align Center - The shape will be aligned at the center (always shown by the dotted line).
Align Bottom - The shape will be aligned at the bottom end-point.

  Align Left - The shape will be aligned at the left end-point.
Align Center - The shape will be aligned at the center (always shown by the dotted line).
Align Right - The shape will be aligned at the right end-point.

The shape can be automatically (this is the default setting) or manually layouted. To control this, use the context menu as well:

  Make Horizontal - If automatic layout is turned off, you can manually set the shape to horizontal.
Make Vertical - If automatic layout is turned off, you can manually set the shape to vertical.
Automatic Layout - The shape will layout itself either horizontally or vertically and choose appropriate connection points of the shapes it is connected to. This depends on the position of the other shapes.

See also

Edge (direct connection)
Curved Edge
Static L,S Edge (horizontal)
Static L,S Edge (vertical)