Creating Functional Connections

The exchange of a flow between two functions is called a functional connection.

This task shows you how to:

Create Functional Connections with Functions Selection

You can create a functional connection by selecting the emitter and consumer function. When creating a new functional connection, you can also associate it to a new or existing flow.

  1. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Create Functional Connection .

    Tip: This command is also available from the context menu.

  2. In the 2D graph, select the first function (the emitter function).
    A connection line follows your pointer.
  3. Select the second function (the consumer function).

    Tip: If the functions you want to connect already have flows associated to/from (emitted/consumed), select the emitted flow of the first function and then the consumed flow of the other function.

  4. In the Flow Association dialog box, select one of these options:
  5. For the purpose of this scenario, select Associate New Flow then click Next.
  6. In Functional Connection dialog box, enter the necessary information and click OK.

    The two functions are connected.

    The functional connection is displayed in the tree and the 2D graph.



Create Functional/Logical Connections with Flows/System Types Selection

If the functions you want to connect already have flows associated to/from (emitted/consumed), you can create a functional connection by selecting their flows. You can also create a logical connection by selecting system types.

  1. Select the emitted flow/system type of the first function/logical component.
  2. For the second function/logical component, you can select one of the following elements:
    • For the function, the consumed flow or consumer function.
    • For the logical component, the system type .

    Note: You can also select a function/logical component first, and then select a compatible flow/system type interface on target instance.

  3. In the Connection Creation dialog box, select one of the following options:
    • OK: an existing flow/system type interface is used.
    • Cancel: a new flow/system type interface is created

    Notes: If a function/logical component is selected in Step 2 and that there are intermediate instances, the choice of creation of flow/system type interfaces is applicable to all intermediate instances:
    • If you click OK, all intermediate instance's existing interfaces are used, if there are no existing interface, new interfaces are created.
    • If you click Cancel, new interfaces are created on all intermediate instances irrespective to some instances having compatible interfaces.

  4. If you have selected Cancel, enter the necessary information and click OK.

    The two functions/logical components are connected.

    Notes:
    • When a functional/logical connection is created using the subflow/subtype of a mainflow/system type from source instance and that the subflow/subtype is present on the target instance, you can use to use it or create a new subflow/subtype on the target instance.
    • When a functional connection is created using the the subflow/subtype of a mainflow/system type from a source instance and that the mainflow/system type is present on the target instance, you can use the mainflow/system type (for its subflow/subtype) or create a new subflow/subtype on target instance.

    The functional/logical connection is displayed in the tree and in the 2D graph.