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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-05-12 · Official documentation · View source

Set shape connector properties in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization

Configure the relationship type or visual style of a connector between shapes in an enterprise modeling diagram.

Before you begin

Role required: sn_apm.apm_user

Procedure

  1. Navigate to Workspaces > Enterprise Architecture Workspace.

  2. Open the Modeling page by selecting the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization icon (

Image omitted: icon-modeling-logo.png
Enterprise Modeling and Visualization icon.\).
  1. Select a diagram from the Diagrams page or create a diagram.

  2. Select a connector between two shapes.

    A toolbar appears above the connector.

  3. In the toolbar, configure the connector based on the notation of the connected shapes.

    • For ArchiMate connectors (both shapes are ArchiMate shapes), open the Link type drop-down and select a relationship type.
Image omitted: connector-line-archimate-drop-down.png
Drop-down list showing ArchiMate relationship types, including Access, Serving, Association, Triggering, Influence, and other relationship variants.
-   For non-ArchiMate and mixed connectors \(at least one shape is non-ArchiMate\), set the connector line properties using the toolbar controls.
|Control|Option|
|-------|------|
|**Line style**|Solid|
|Dashed|
|Dotted|
|**Start arrow** and **End arrow**|None|
|Arrow|
|Open arrow|
|Open diamond|
|Circle|
|Bar|
|**Icon**|None|
|Initiating message flow|
|Non-initiating message flow|
Image omitted: connector-line-non-archimate.png
Non-ArchiMate connector toolbar showing line style, start arrow, Flip, end arrow, icon, and T+ controls above a connector linking two shapes.
|Number|Control|Description|
|------|-------|-----------|
|1|**Line style**|Sets the connector line to solid, dashed, or dotted.|
|2|**Start arrow**|Sets the arrowhead style at the starting end of the connector.|
|3|**Swap direction**|Reverses the connector orientation, switching the left and right sides.|
|4|**End arrow**|Sets the arrowhead style at the ending end of the connector.|
|5|**Icon**|Adds a BPMN message flow decorator icon to the connector.|
|6|**T+**|Adds a text label to the connector.|
  1. To reverse the connector direction, select Swap direction.

  2. To add a text label to the connector, select T+.

    For details, see Add labels to connector lines between shapes in a diagram.

Parent Topic:Working with Enterprise Modeling and Visualization

Related topics

Create a blank diagram using modeling in the EA Workspace

Shape connector properties in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization

Add labels to connector lines between shapes in a diagram

Working with ArchiMate Shapes

Exploring Enterprise Modeling and Visualization in the EA Workspace