Drawing Lines¶
Lines connect shapes and show relationships, flows, or connections between components in your diagram.
Line Types¶
Solid Line¶
A continuous line used for: - Primary connections - Main power or process flows - Direct relationships between components
Dotted Line¶
A dashed line used for: - Secondary or auxiliary connections - Optional or conditional relationships - Control signals or communication links
Arrow Line¶
A line with an arrowhead used for: - Directional flow indication - Process flow direction - Signal or power direction
Adding Lines¶
- Click the Lines dropdown in the toolbar
- Select the line type you want to draw (Solid, Dotted, or Arrow)
- The selected type is highlighted to indicate it's active
- Click on the canvas to place the line
- The line appears with default start and end points
Positioning Lines¶
Lines have two control points - a start point and an end point.
To adjust a line: 1. Click and drag near one end of the line 2. The nearest endpoint will be selected for movement 3. Drag to position the endpoint 4. Release to set the new position
Tip: The system automatically detects which endpoint you're closer to when you start dragging.
Line Context Menu¶
Right-click on any line to open its context menu:
Line Type¶
Change the line type after placement: - Switch between Solid, Dotted, and Arrow styles - The line updates immediately when you select a new type
Stroke Width¶
Adjust the thickness of the line: - Range: Thin to thick lines - Use thicker lines for main connections - Use thinner lines for secondary connections
Arrow Toggle¶
For arrow lines, you can toggle the arrowhead on or off.
Delete¶
Click Delete to remove the line from the canvas.
Best Practices¶
Connection Clarity¶
- Use straight lines where possible for cleaner diagrams
- Position endpoints close to the shapes they connect
- Avoid overlapping lines when possible
Visual Hierarchy¶
- Use thicker lines for primary connections (main power, main process)
- Use thinner lines for secondary connections
- Use dotted lines to differentiate control signals from power/process
Flow Direction¶
- Use arrow lines consistently to show direction
- Maintain consistent flow direction (e.g., left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
- Position arrowheads pointing toward the receiving component
Common Patterns¶
Power Distribution¶
[Source] -----> [Main Breaker] -----> [Distribution Panel]
|
+-------------------+-------------------+
| | |
v v v
[Load 1] [Load 2] [Load 3]
Process Flow¶
Use arrow lines to show material or product flow through your system, with the arrows indicating the direction of movement.