Flowcharts and diagrams play an essential role in the improvement of processes. When designing and planning a process, a visual representation of the sequence helps viewers understand the connections between steps and identify decisions needed to perform a function.
MURAL’s connectors help to visualize ideas within your team and showcase the bigger picture of a process.
Contents
Add a connector
Link your ideas together smoothly and logically using connectors. A connector will attach to an object (e.g., shape, sticky notes, or image). The connector will stay connected to the object, even when the object is moved.
There are three ways to add connectors: drag and drop, click and drag, and by keyboard shortcut.
To add connector by drag and drop:
Click the Shapes and connectors button on the left sidebar of your mural.
Drag and drop a connector to your desired location.
To add a connector by click and drag:
Click the Shapes and connectors button on the left sidebar of your mural.
Click the connector you want to use.
On the canvas, click where you want the connector to begin.
Drag to where you want the connector to end.
To add a connector by keyboard shortcut:
Press and hold the C key on your keyboard. The cursor will become a + symbol and you can click and drag to connect two objects.
When creating a connector, you can automatically attach it to an object by dragging the connector to the object. When your cursor approaches the object, a connector point appears. Drag your cursor to the connector point to "snap" the connector in place.
*Note: If you press and hold the C key on your keyboard, MURAL will prompt you to choose the next shape when you release a new connector. In this way, you can work with your flowcharts faster! 😎 |
Connector toolbar
Click on a connector or select multiple connectors to display the connector toolbar.
Use the connector toolbar to:
Move the connector(s).
Zoom to the connector(s).
Arrange connectors (for multiple connectors).
Align connectors (for multiple connectors).
Change color.
Change stroke style.
Change tip.
Change direction.
Change stroke width.
Switch connector type.
Add a label.
Connector contextual menu
When you right-click on a connector (or Control + click with a touchpad), a context menu is displayed.
With this menu, you can do the following for the connector:
|
Enable connector points
Quickly show a jump from one object to another with connector points.
To enable connector points:
Click the Shapes and connectors button on the left sidebar of your mural.
Toggle Enable connector points to on.
Click on any object in your mural to show its connector points.
Hover over a connector point, and you’re prompted to create the same object with a connector.
Click the suggestion to add the new object.
Alternatively, when you drag a connector, MURAL will ask if you want to add an object of the same type or a new type of object. Click on either option to place the new object.
Add labels on connectors
Adding labels on connectors helps clarify associations between objects. Labels can help when building UML (Unified Modeling Language) diagrams, too.
There are two ways to add a label to a connector, by double-click and by the connector toolbar.
To add a connector by double-click:
Double-click on a connector.
Type the label and adjust the font size, modify the text format, or change the font color as needed.
To add a connector by the connector toolbar:
Click a connector in your mural that you'd like to label.
Click Add a label in the connector toolbar.
Type the label and adjust the font size, modify the text format, or change the font color as needed.
*Note: You can drag and drop the label to place it between, above, or below the connector. If you move the connector, its label will stay attached to it. |
Switch between different types of connectors
Easily change the appearance of your connectors with the connector toolbar.
To switch between different types of connectors:
Click a connector in your mural.
Click the Switch type button on the toolbar.
Choose the type of connector you want.
Select multiple connectors
Want to select multiple connectors and edit them at once? MURAL can do the magic. 🪄
To select multiple connectors:
Hold down Shift + click and drag to select multiple connectors.
Click Filter by type in the toolbar.
Choose Connectors to unselect any other objects.
Move the selected multiple connectors, arrange, and change the alignment or the appearance as needed.