A Connector specifies a link that enables communication between two or more instances. This link can be an instance of an association, or it can represent the possibility of the instances being able to communicate because their identities are known by virtue of being passed on as parameters, held in variables or slots, or because the communicating instances are the same instance.
The link can be realized by something as simple as a pointer or by something as complex as a network connection. In contrast to the associations, which specify the links between any instance of the associated classifiers, the connectors specify the links between instances playing the connected parts only.
Each connector can be attached to two or more connectable elements, each representing a set of instances.
You can specify connector and connector end properties in the connector and connector end Specification window. In the same window, you can find the description of each property. Descriptions are presented in the description area of the Specification window.
A Connector has at least two ends, each representing the participation of instances of the classifiers typing the connectable elements attached to the end. The set of Connector ends is ordered. The connector end information can be displayed on the diagram.
To select a Port automatically when drawing a Connector from a Port to a Part
On the smart manipulator toolbar, click and select Part shape. The Select Port menu appears.
The menu appears if a new Port can be created on the Part or the Part has hidden Ports. |
You can draw a connector to a Port too and the menu appears. As a result, the nested Port is created. |
You can hide the type name of the represented Connector on the diagram pane.
To hide the type name of Connector