How to: Connect Applications and Systems on System Diagrams
In System Designer, you can define and configure communication pathways between applications and systems within a system definition by connecting their endpoints. For a system to be correctly and completely defined, all consumer endpoints on members of the system definition must be connected or exposed as proxy endpoints.
Note
Endpoints on members that you want to connect must already be defined. If any member requires endpoints, add them to their underlying definitions. For more information, see How to: Add Endpoints to Applications and How to: Add Proxy Endpoints to Application Systems.
On a system diagram, the rules for connecting applications and systems are similar to those for connecting application definitions on the application diagram. For more information, see Rules for Connecting Applications on Application Diagrams.
For more information about connections inside and outside a system definition, see the following topics:
To connect applications and systems on a system diagram
Select the application endpoint or system endpoint from which you want to begin the connection.
Note
Unlike connections on the application diagram, you must select an endpoint. You cannot select an application or system shape to begin a connection. If an endpoint is missing when it should exist, see Troubleshooting System Diagrams.
On the Diagram menu, choose Connect.
In the Create Connection dialog box, select the destination application or system and then a compatible endpoint on that application.
When you complete a connection, a connection line with an arrow appears, indicating the direction of communication from consumer to provider.
Note
In the Create Connection dialog box, you can choose to view all the applications and endpoints on the diagram instead of only those that are compatible. However, you will not be able to create connections to incompatible applications or endpoints.
You can also draw connections between applications and systems.
To draw connections between applications and systems within a system
In the Toolbox, select the Connection tool.
Tip
If the Toolbox is not visible, open it from the View menu by choosing Toolbox.
Drag the Connection tool from the endpoint you want to connect to the destination endpoint.
Tip
When you select the Connection tool, click it instead of dragging it from the Toolbox. To leave connection mode after selecting the Connection tool, press the ESCAPE key. You can also activate the Connection tool by moving the pointer over an endpoint, pressing the ALT key, and then dragging the Connection tool that appears. To cancel connection mode, release the ALT key.
See Also
Tasks
Walkthrough: Designing Application Systems
How to: Reroute and Redraw Connections on System Diagrams
How to: Delete Connections and Delegations from System Diagrams