About Logical Connections

Between two logical components, you can create a logical connection, i.e. a link between two logical ports displayed in 2D and materializing the exchange of the ports. The creation of the connections can be done automatically or manually.

This page discusses:

Ports Directions Compatibilities

In the case of a connection between two elements from the same level, the following ports can be linked together:

  • Two ports of opposite directions, In and Out (to specify an exchange from one logical component to another)

  • Single In port to the single In/Out port

  • Single In/Out port to the single Out port

  • Two ports of same direction In/Out (exchange bi-directional between two logical components)

  • Two ports No Direction (mathematical equality between exposed variables). A port emission to a consumption of the same port.

In the case of a connection between a logical component and one of its subcomponents (parent-child case), the following ports can be linked together:

  • Two ports of same direction In or Out or In/Out or No Direction

  • Single In port to the single In/Out port

  • Single In/Out port to the single Out port.

Automatic Connections

You can connect automatically interfaces, logical or functional ports, subflows or subtypes that are still not connected, provided that they have identical types and compatible directions, using Autoconnect.

Those elements can be automatically connected with:

  • Sibling elements from the same level
  • A function or logical component and one of its subcomponents (parent-child case): If one function or logical component is in the substructure (i.e. a child), interfaces/ports and parent-child connections are created to connect all the levels between the two selected function or logical components. The direction from/to drives the type of flow/system type created for intermediate interfaces.
  • Elements of the parent reference (function, logical component or MUX/DEMUX)

Managing Connectors Creation

In Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling Systems Architecture > Functional & Logical Design > General, the Default Mode for Connectors option enables you to:

  • Create a connector type according to the option you choose (port or interface).
  • Create a port or an interface when you launch a creation command from the context menu or from the Edition section of the action bar.

For more information, see Native Apps Preferences Guide: General.

Manual Connections

You can create a logical connection using Create Logical Connection .

The order of the selection drives the type of flow created for intermediate interface, whatever the from/to direction.

Those elements can be automatically connected with:

  • Logical components from the same level (sibling case)
  • A logical component and one of its subcomponents (parent-child case): If one logical component is in a substructure, ports and parent-child connections are created to connect all the levels between the two selected logical components.
  • Two logical components from different branches or levels: If the two logical components are in two different branches, the required parent-child and sibling logical connections are created.
    Note: The logical components to be connected must be located in the same Logical tree.

Important: If not already done so, set up your environment using Me > Preferences > App Preferences > Social and Collaborative > Global Design Management > Collaborative Lifecycle > Identification. If the default environment does not include a logical customization in authoring mode, the Create New Logical Connection command results in error. For more information, see Native Apps Preferences Guide: Identification.