This topic contains the following subtopics:
You can use the Create Connection entry in the contextual menu of the mapping routine area to create four kinds of connections, depending on which types of elements (source element, target element, or transform) you select as the beginning point and the ending point of the connection:
A connection from a source element to a target element:
In this case the mapping editor creates not just a connection but an entire new one-to-one mapping between the selected source element and the selected target element (see Creating a one-to-one mapping).
The new mapping includes: the source element, a connection from the source element to a new transform, the new transform itself, a connection from the new transform to the target element, and the target element (see Source elements, target elements).
The mapping editor also sets the new transform to the appropriate default transform type (see Default transform type).
A connection from a source element to a transform:
In this case the mapping editor creates a connection between the selected source element and the selected transform (see Source elements, target elements).
You can use this type of connection in the following situations:
To add a source connection to a existing transform that currently is part of a one-sided mapping. This action converts the one-sided mapping to a one-to-one mapping.
To add another source connection to an existing transform in a one-to-one mapping. If the transform previously had only 1 transform, then this action converts the one-to-one mapping to a many-to-one mapping.
If the current transform type of the transform is invalid in the new context, then the mapping editor also sets the transform to a new default transform type (see Default transform type).
A connection from a target element to a transform:
This case is exactly like the previous case, except that you select a target element as the source element for the mapping.
A connection from a transform to a target element:
In this case the mapping editor creates a connection between the selected transform and the selected target element (see Source elements, target elements).
(See Default transform type.)
In the mapping routine area of the mapping editor, you can create any of the four types of connections described in the previous subtopic by dragging the first element of the connection to the second element. Alternatively, you can use the contextual menu to perform the same operation.
To a create a connection between two elements by dragging (including any of the four types of connections described in the previous subtopic):
The connection is created. But the full results of the operation depend on the type of connection that you created (see Part 1: Types of connections).
You can also use the contextual menu to create a connection:
In the mapping routine area, right-click the first element -- the element from which you want to create a connection.
Select Create Connection. The mapping editor displays a wire that has one end anchored to the element that you selected and the other end unanchored.
The mapping editor creates the connection in the same way that it does when you drag the first element to the second element.