Computer method and apparatus for connection creation in a software modeling system

摘要

A user interface for creating relationships between visual modeling (e.g., UML) elements on a diagram is disclosed. The user interface utilizes two connector handles that represent "source to target" and "target to source" relationships. The connector handles are consistent across all shapes/elements in the diagram and are made to appear on the edge of an element shape nearest to the cursor. The source to target connector handle is used for gestures involving outgoing connections. The target to source connector handle is used for gestures involving incoming connections. The user creates a new relationship between a source and a target by selecting one of the connector handles on the source shape and dragging to the target context (element shape or blank area). Next the user is prompted to qualify the gesture by selecting from a menu the type of relationship desired to be created. A connection or edges in the diagram of the type representative of the user's selections is produced.