Feature proposal: custom connection point method

[Michael Ross <michael e ross gmail com>]

Salutations,

I had a discussion with Cedar about a new feature. Cedar asked me to try to describe it to the forum. 

It is a recurring theme of sorts where people want shapes to have connections points (CP) that were not placed in the shapes by the author.   It would be nice to have a way to add connection points to any shape.  I think of this as an on the fly option - you do it on a whim.  

I imagine calling up the Properties, the pick the new Custom Connection Point (CCP) button and a new dialog pops up (like a color picker or line style picker) It has a window and you pick around in it to set CP locations.  Close the window, exit properties and there is now a new pattern of CPs available for attaching lines -maybe in the code background Dia could have an overlay of CPs it associates with the existing shape, and it can be copied with the shape on the workspace, or perhaps made default. Perhaps grouped with it.  I am not saying I understand how this might be practical - just trying to sell the idea.

I have a laborious work around that I came up with.  I create a polygon and arrange the points and valleys where I want connections, then I turn the polygon line color to the background color.  All that remains visible then is the CPs.  This polygon can be grouped with any shape to provide additional CP locations.  Or I can develop the polygon over top of the shape I am enhancing.

This is better than my previous overuse of the annoying CP in the Electric sheet.

Regards to you all,

Mike

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Michael E. Ross

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