How to: Connect Applications and Systems on System Diagrams
In System Designer, you can define and configure communication pathways between members of a system definition. You can accomplish this task by connecting them through their endpoints.
You can begin a connection from a member or a provider endpoint on a member. Both actions create a consumer endpoint on the starting member or destination member.
Note
If a member requires a provider endpoint, you can add a provider endpoint directly to the member or to its underlying definition. For more information, see How to: Add Endpoints to Members of 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. You must connect all consumer endpoints on members or expose them as proxy endpoints to correctly and completely define a system. 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 members of a system definition
Select a member or a provider endpoint on the member from which you want to begin the connection.
On the Diagram menu, choose Connect.
In the Create Connection dialog box, select the destination member and then a compatible endpoint on that member.
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 members and endpoints on the diagram instead of only those that are compatible. However, you will not be able to create connections to incompatible members or endpoints.
You can also draw connections between members.
To draw connections between members of a system definition
In the Toolbox, select the Connection tool.
Tip
If the Toolbox is not visible, open itfrom 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 by Using a Bottom-Up Approach
How to: Reroute and Redraw Connections on System Diagrams
How to: Delete Connections and Delegations from System Diagrams