Add, move, or delete connection points
A connection point is a special point on a shape that you can “glue” connectors and other shapes to. It looks like a blue x (

). When you glue a connector or shape to a connection point, they stay connected, even if one of the shapes is moved. Use connection points when you want connectors or shapes to stay connected to specific points on a shape.
NOTE Connection points are not the only places you can glue connectors and lines. You can also glue connectors and lines to shape vertices, shape handles, and shape geometry. For information on how to glue to these shape features, see
Add and glue connectors with the Connector tool.
A shape with four connection points.
Add connection points
If the shape you want to glue a connector or shape to doesn’t have a connection point where you want it, it’s easy to add one.
If connection points are not visible, on the View menu, click Connection Points.
Select the shape.
NOTE If you don’t select the shape first, you can’t add a connection point to it. The shape is selected shape if it has a green, dashed border around it.
Click the
Connection Point tool

.
If you don’t see the
Connection Point tool, click the down arrow next to the
Connector tool

, and then click the
Connection Point tool

.
Press CTRL and click where you want to add a connection point.
If you want an outward or inward & outward connection point, right-click the connection point and clickInward, Outward, or Inward & Outward.
Most of the time, you want an inward connection point. An inward connection point “attracts” the endpoints on connectors and the outward and inward & outward connection points on two-dimensional (2-D) shapes.
If you have a 2-D shape that you want to glue to another shape, you want an outward connection point. An outward connection point is “attracted to” inward connection points.
If you have a shape and you don’t know how you want it to be glued to other shapes, you want aninward & outward connection point.
Click the
Pointer tool

to return to normal editing.
Add text next to a connection point
Unfortunately, you can’t add text directly to a connection point. You can, however, add text to the shape and then move the text next to the connection point.
Select the shape.
Start typing. The text you type appears in the shape.
Click the
Text Block tool

.
If you don’t see the
Text Block tool, click the down arrow next to the
Text tool

, and then click the
Text Block tool

.
Drag your text.
TIP If the shape has a control handle

, you might be able drag it to move shape text quickly.
Move connection points
If you’re not happy with where a connection point is located, you can move it.
Select the shape.
NOTE If you don’t select the shape first, you can’t move the connection point. The shape is selected shape if it has a green, dashed border around it.
Click the
Connection Point tool

.
If you don’t see the
Connection Point tool, click the down arrow next to the
Connector tool

, and then click the
Connection Point tool

.
Drag the connection point you want to move.
If you don’t see any connection points, on the View menu, click Connection Points.
Click the
Pointer tool

to return to normal editing.
If you’re having a hard time moving the connection point to exactly where you want it, try different snap settings:
On the Tools menu, click Snap & Glue, and then on the General tab, under Snap to, select the options you want.
Delete or hide connection points
Sometimes connection points can get in the way. When they do, you have two choices: delete them or hide them.
Delete a connection point
Select the shape.
NOTE If you don’t select the shape first, you can’t delete the connection point. The shape is selected shape if it has a green, dashed border around it.
Click the
Connection Point tool

.
If you don’t see the
Connection Point tool, click the down arrow next to the
Connector tool

, and then click the
Connection Point tool

.
Click the connection point you want to delete. The connection point turns magenta.
If you don’t see any connection points, on the View menu, click Connection Points.
Press DELETE.
Click the
Pointer tool

to return to normal editing.