Connectors are lines that link different flowchart shapes (or any shapes you place within your Microsoft Office documents). They are different from conventional lines because connectors, as the name implies, stay connected to the shapes they are linked to. Move any "connected" shape, and the connectors move and reorient with the shapes automatically. We will explore this further in this tutorial.
Tip: Want to know the basics of flowcharting in Microsoft Office? Look at our Flowchart Symbols and Create a Basic Flowchart in Office 2011 for Mac tutorials.
Remember: Draw your connectors only after the shapes they are going to link are placed. You'll need at least two flowchart shapes to start with. If you draw your connector before the shapes are in place, your connector will end up being a mere line with no "connects".
Follow these steps to connect two flowchart shapes:
- Insert two flowchart shapes, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Text that makes you happy?- Now, access the Insert | Shape menu option to bring up a Media browser window, with the Shapes tab active, as shown in Figure 2. Choose the Lines and Connectors category from the Shape category drop-down list (highlighted in red within Figure 2). Now select the Arrow shape, which is the second shape from the top left, as shown in Figure 2, below. This shape is a connector that has an arrowhead at one end.
Figure 2: Choose a connector with an arrowhead- We need the arrowhead end of the connector to be “connected” to your Decision shape, and the non-arrowhead end will emanate from the Terminator shape.
- When you select the required connector, the cursor changes into a crosshair. Notice that as you move the cursor near to the Terminator shape, you'll find several red square handles highlighted on the shape (see top shape in Figure 3). Click on any of these red handles to establish one end (the end without an arrowhead) of your connector.
Figure 3: Red square handles highlighted on the Terminator shape- Move the cursor (don't drag) toward the shape you want to connect (the Decision shape shown in Figure 4). Click again on any of the red square handles on the second shape to create the connector between two shapes. Note that the arrowhead of the connector will show on this end.
Figure 4: Connect to other shape- This creates a connector, as shown in Figure 5. Select any shape, and click on the arrow keys on your keyboard to nudge the shape. You will find that the connector reorients according to the new position of the shape.
Figure 5: Connector connected to both the shapes
Figure 6: Connectors may or may not be linked properly- Save your presentation often.
Note: In Figure 1, the first oval shape with the Start text is a Terminator in flowchart parlance whereas the second diamond shape with the Are you happy? text is a Decision shape. Learn more about flowchart terminology in our Flowchart Symbols: What They Represent? tutorial.
Note: If your connector is indeed linked to a shape, the end of the connector line that is connected to the shape displays a red circle (see top shape in Figure 6). If it does not get linked, you will see a bluish white circle (see the arrow head of the connector in Figure 6) when you select the connector. It is important to understand that mere "touching" of a connector's end to a shape or slide object does not indicate that it has been linked to that shape or slide object. When you see a red circle on both the ends of the connector, only then you can be assured that the ends are connected.
See Also:
Advanced Flowchart Techniques: Using Flowchart and Connector Shapes Together (Glossary Page)
Using Flowchart and Connector Shapes Together in PowerPoint for Windows