Use AutoConnect to Quickly Build Diagrams

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About this lesson

In this module, you will learn how to activate and use the AutoConnect feature, which allows you to build your diagram more quickly.

Quick reference

Instructions

To turn on the Autoconnect feature: 

  • Click on the Insert Menu, then check the box next to Autoconnect.
    Now, when you add a new shape, or if you move your mouse to a shape, you will see the arrows near that shape, which will quickly allow you to add another new shape.
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  • 00:04 Let's see how we can use AutoConnect to build the diagram even quicker.
  • 00:09 When I move my mouse to this shape, notice how those arrows appear.
  • 00:13 So if I move the mouse to that down arrow,
  • 00:16 then I can quickly add different shapes that are part of that stencil.
  • 00:20 So I'll pick on another process.
  • 00:23 And then there's how those arrow below that one,
  • 00:25 and maybe I need another process, and so on.
  • 00:28 So, instead of having to drag the shapes in, well,
  • 00:32 I was just able to move the mouse to that shape.
  • 00:34 And then click on one of the arrows, and quickly add a new shape pretty easily.
  • 00:41 The reason that that happens is a feature that's called AutoConnect.
  • 00:45 So if that is not happening for you, or
  • 00:49 if you want to turn that feature off, then we can pick on the View menu.
  • 00:54 Right now I have the AutoConnect on.
  • 00:57 So if that is not happening for you, then make sure you pick on the View menu and
  • 01:01 you make sure the AutoConnect is on.
  • 01:04 Now, if that's grayed out, so
  • 01:05 you can't even click on it, then you might have to enable it.
  • 01:09 So in this case, I'm going to pick on the File menu, and I'll pick on options.
  • 01:14 And then what we'll do is we'll pick on the Advanced Options, and
  • 01:18 then we're going to say, Enable AutoConnect.
  • 01:21 So you check that one, and then the AutoConnect should be available for you.
  • 01:25 So I'm going to click on OK.
  • 01:27 Then you should be able to pick on the View menu now, and
  • 01:30 then click on AutoConnect.
  • 01:31 That'll turn it on.
  • 01:33 If you don't want that to happen anymore, then I can uncheck AutoConnect.
  • 01:37 I'm going to uncheck it.
  • 01:39 Now notice when I move the mouse to the shapes, those arrows do not pop up.
  • 01:44 Well, I kind of like that feature.
  • 01:45 So I'm going to turn the AutoConnect back on again.
  • 01:49 And then if I move the mouse to this shape,
  • 01:51 then you can see how the arrows come out.
  • 01:53 We can use the AutoConnect to build our diagram a little bit quicker.

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