Connecting existing objects

Basics

To construct a cycle, objects have to be combined. That is why most objects have connection points, which enable them to be connected with a connection point of another object.

Objects with connection points are:

• Components
• Pipelines
• Value Crosses

Objects of other types cannot be connected.

A connection points appears as a little square displayed at the connector’s position.

Inlet connection points appear as white squares, outlet connection points as black squares.

Connect objects

A component can be connected to another component by pipelines only.

To connect objects, just select the (unconnected) connection point of one object by double-clicking it with the left mouse button. Drag the cross-hair cursor in the direction of the connection point of the other object. Simply click the right mouse button to decide the direction of the pipeline and fix the connection with the connection point of the other object by a double-click.

A connection is established only if the characteristics of the points to be connected match. Therefore, the following rules must be obeyed:

• A pipeline may only be connected to a component connector or to another pipeline.
• A pipeline may be connected to a component of the same liquid type only.
• A pipeline may be connected to a pipeline of the same liquid type only.
• A component can be connected to another component by pipelines only.
• A pipeline cannot connect an inlet point of a component with an inlet point of any component.
• A pipeline cannot connect an outlet point of a component with an outlet point of any component..
• Value crosses may be connected to all points of a pipeline or to the central (invisible) connector of each component.
• Logical components (numbers 33, 45, 46) are connected in a special mode: They can be positioned over any pipeline. A logical component is connected with a pipeline, if its little central square disappears and the shape of its body changes to a square.

If a connection of a component and a pipeline is established, the appearance of the endings of the pipeline changes. The pipeline endings now show the inlet / outlet appearance of the connection point of the object it is connected to. Pipelines, which do not show the inlet / outlet appearance of the connection point wanted, are not connected!

Disconnect objects

To disconnect a pipeline from a component,

• Position the mouse directly over the connected pipeline.
• Press the left mouse button (the pipe is selected, if it is not already) and keep it pressed.
• Move the mouse while the pipeline moves too. You have to leave the sensitive area of the components connector, before the pipeline gets disconnected.
• Release the mouse button to end the movement.

If an ending of the pipeline snaps back to the connection point it was connected to, you did not move far enough to leave the sensitive area of this point.

In the same way you can disconnect a value cross from a pipeline or a component.