Connection Point Behavior Query...

[artbraune]

Folks,

I have been working with Connection Points a lot lately and am seeing some behavior that I would like some insight on...

I have attached a file that has three different shapes with different Connection Points:

1. The blue shape has two Connection Points
    a. The top Connection Point (with the green circle) works without issue
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. When another shape is connecting to this specific connection point
    b. The bottom Connection Point (with the red circle) does not work properly
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. But does work when another shape is connecting to this specific connection point

2. The red shape has three Connection Points
    a. The top Connection Point (with the green circle) works without issue
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. When another shape is connecting to this specific connection point
    b. The middle Connection Point (with the green circle) works without issue
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. When another shape is connecting to this specific connection point
    c. The bottom Connection Point (with the red circle) does not work properly
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. But does work when another shape is connecting to this specific connection point

2. The black shape has four Connection Points
    a. The top Connection Point (with the green circle) works without issue
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. When another shape is connecting to this specific connection point
    b. The upper middle Connection Point (with the green circle) works without issue
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. When another shape is connecting to this specific connection point
    c. The lower middle Connection Point (with the red circle) does not work properly
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. But does work when another shape is connecting to this specific connection point
    d. The bottom Connection Point (with the red circle) does not work properly
        i. When connecting to another shape's connection points
        ii. But does work when another shape is connecting to this specific connection point

My guess is that the behavior has something to do with the distance and direction from the base shape of the Connection Points?

My next question is - how do I alter/correct the behavior to get the result I want - all Connection Points working properly? Or can I?

Thanks!
Art

[JuneTheSecond]

Hi,

I think it is a matter of active or outside connection point.
If a shape has many active connection points, it seems only one of them works as active connection point.
However, I don't know if it is a feature or a bug.

[wapperdude]

If you have a shape with multiple connection points, and you are dragging it to another shape for connection, then Visio interprets the connection point closest to where the pointer arrow grabbed the shape as the "active" connection point.  So your examples are particularly difficult because all of the connection points are well removed from the actual shape.  Thus, depending upon their spacing, it may be difficult to drag one of your shapes and have the furthermost connection point become active.  All of the connection points should be happy to "receive" another shape.

HTH
Wapperdude

[artbraune]

WD - JTS - Thanks for confirming my suspicions on this subject.