Linking items on a diagram
Linking items on a diagram using the diagram ribbon tab
1. On the diagram’s ribbon tab, click the button for the required link type.
2. On the diagram, click the item from which the link starts.
3. Click the destination item.
Linking items on a diagram using Quick Create
With Quick Create, you can create links and linked symbols. Hover the mouse cursor to the edges of a diagram symbol to display the quick create 
icon. Using this icon, you can quickly create links and nodes in the following ways:
icon. Using this icon, you can quickly create links and nodes in the following ways:• Click the Quick Create icon on a symbol and then, click the destination symbol you want to link to. A popup menu appears from which you can select the type of link you want to create between the two symbols.
• Click the Quick Create icon on a symbol and then double-click on a blank area on the diagram. A popup menu appears using which you can create the new symbol and select the type of link you want to create with the new symbol.
The Quick Create icon appears on symbols in the following diagrams:
• Class diagrams and their specializations, such as, requirement diagrams and block definition diagrams
• Use case diagrams and their specializations, such as, OV-1d use case diagrams
• Variant diagrams
Using Automatic Link Routing
You can configure Windchill Modeler to automatically reroute links in diagrams. With automatic rerouting (autorouting), the links that you create or the connected nodes that you move do not cross over other nodes but go around existing nodes and jump over existing links. This also makes your diagram look more presentable.
To enable automatic link rerouting:
1. On the Model tab, click Options.
2. On the Diagrams entry, select the Route links automatically check box.
When using link autorouting, a preview of the link route is shown that gives you an understanding of how the link would look before the link is created. Existing links can be rerouted after they have been created. Right-click on a link and select Reroute Link, or right-click on a symbol that has links and select Reroute Link(s).
If a link has no waypoints, it is considered a “direct” link and therefore does not use orthogonal autorouting. To make a link direct, right-click on the link and select Cancel Waypoints. To autoroute the link, right-click on the link and select Reroute Link(s).
Link autorouting also works when creating new links using Modeler’s Quick Create features as described above in the Linking items on a diagram using Quick Create section.
To enable link autorouting even when connected symbols are moved or resized, you can select the Reroute links when connected object is moved check box located in > > dialog.
Disable autorouting
If you press ALT while creating links, automatic routing for the current link is disabled. This allows you to create “direct” links that take the shortest path possible.
Controlling the start and end location of the links
• If you press SHIFT when clicking on the border of the starting symbol, Modeler uses that exact location for the starting point of the link. If you do not press SHIFT, Modeler selects an optimal location for the link start point on the symbol border.
• If you press SHIFT when clicking on the border of the end symbol, Modeler uses that exact location for the end point of the link. If you do not press SHIFT, Modeler selects an optimal location for the link end point on the symbol border.