Components in the Wiring diagram are not necessarily connected directly to fibers. They can have matching connectors, referred to as mated connectors, with ports for routing fibers. To automate the process of instancing the correct connector on a component, a parameter is used. You must choose the parameter to use when you set up your catalog. For example, you can use the model_name, partname, or partno parameters. You specify the parameter chosen in the Creo Schematics Options dialog box.

When you select a component to mate a connector, the application uses the values of the component’s mates_with parameter to search for matching connectors. All connectors with a dataset where the chosen parameter value is a match, is a potential mate. Available matches appear in the Select shape dialog box.

Since the parameter value is set by a dataset, you can use the num_of_pins parameter to set the number of pins in the variable connector. When you place the connector, the number of pins sets the number of ports in the connector.

When you move, rotate, or mirror a component that has a mated connector, the connector follows the component. When you delete a component that has a mated connector you are also prompted to delete the connector.