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Node Linking
Essential Diagram comes with built-in shapes that let you link your diagram nodes and illustrate the work flow.
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Links or Connectors are special nodes that are used to connect one or more nodes to illustrate a logical flow or connection between nodes in a diagram.
The head and tail port let you connect each end of the connectors with a specific node. Setting up such a connection will keep the connectors docked to the nodes when nodes get moved around.
Flow Chart with Links
Besides straight line connectors, there is also built-in support for orthogonal and polyline connectors.
Manual Lines
You can also choose to render lines between nodes as straight lines, polylines, spline or bezier curves. However, such lines will not stay in sync with the "connected" nodes when they move around.
Flow Chart with Lines
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In Essential Diagram, a Port is an object used to establish connections between a node and a connector.
Circle Node with Center Port
The following three types of ports are offered by the DiagramControl.
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IncomingOutgoing-allows links to and from port
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Outgoing-allows links only from port
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Incoming-allows links only to port
Port Appearance
The appearance of the port while selecting a node can be customized with various styles as listed below:
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Circle Port
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X Port
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Triangle Port
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Square Port
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Rhomb Port
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Custom
Different Port Styles
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End Point Decorators can be provided for all line nodes and connectors iin Essential Diagram. There are a number of shapes available for head and tail decorators. They have been illustrated below:
End Point Decorators
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Essential Diagram offers built-in support for automatic Line Routing and Line Bridging of links. The Line Routing functionality uses a highly optimized routing strategy to automatically route orthgonal links around existing diagram nodes. The Line Bridging feature creates a bridge for links to smartly cross over other links at points of intersection. Bridge styles such as arc and square are also available for connectors in a diagram.
Diagram with Line Routing and Line Bridging
When a link is created between two nodes and line routing is enabled, the line router determines the optimal path with fewest obstacles and generates the link. Custom routing strategies can also be implemented.
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