# Connect Element

Represents a connection between two shapes in a drawing, such as a line and a box in an organization chart.

## Syntax

    <Connect
        FromSheet
        FromCell
        [FromPart]
        [ToSheet]
        [ToCell]
        [ToPart]>
    </Connect>

## Attributes

FromSheet

Required int. The ID of the shape from which a connection or connections originate.

ToSheet

Required int. The ID of the shape to which one or more connections are made.

FromCell

Optional string. The cell from which a connection originates.

Note The FromCell and FromPart attributes are optional; however, one must be present in the Connect element.

FromPart

Optional int. The part of a shape from which a connection originates.

Note The FromCell and FromPart attributes are optional; however, one must be present in the Connect element.

Value | Description
--- | ---
0 | None
1 | Left edge
2 | Center edge
3 | Right edge
4 | Bottom edge
5 | Middle edge
6 | Top edge
7 | BeginX cell
8 | BeginY cell
9 | BeginX/BeginY point
10 | EndX cell
11 | EndY cell
12 | EndX/EndY point
100 + zero-based index of control point | Control point

ToCell

Optional string. The cell to which a connection is made.

Note The ToCell and ToPart attributes are optional; however, one must be present in the Connect element.

ToPart

Optional int. The part of a shape to which a connection is made.

Note The ToCell and ToPart attributes are optional; however, one must be present in the Connect element.

Value | Description
--- | ---
0 | None
1 | GuideX
2 | GuideY
3 | Whole shape
4 | Guide intersection
7 | To Angle
100 + index of connection point | Connection point

## Element properties

Property | Value
--- | ---
Name | Connect
Minimum Occurrences | 0
Maximum Occurrences | Unbounded

## Element information

Parent elements

Connects

Child elements

None

## Remarks

Connect elements are always emitted for a DatadiagramML file. However, the Connect elements in a trusted DatadiagramML file are ignored when the file is opened by Microsoft Office Visio.

In untrusted XML files, when Visio opens the file, it uses the Connect elements to set glue formulas for shapes, similar to the GlueTo method in Automation. However, geometry will not be updated, so connectors may need to be manually rerouted.

For more information on trusted DatadiagramML files, see A DatadiagramML overview.

## Example

    <Connects>
      <Connect FromSheet="3" FromCell="BeginX" FromPart="9" ToSheet="1" ToCell="Connections.X4" ToPart="103" />
      <Connect FromSheet="3" FromCell="EndX" FromPart="12" ToSheet="2" ToCell="Connections.X6" ToPart="105" />
      <Connect FromSheet="6" FromCell="BeginX" FromPart="9" ToSheet="2" ToCell="Connections.X5" ToPart="104" />
      <Connect FromSheet="6" FromCell="EndX" FromPart="12" ToSheet="5" ToCell="Connections.X3" ToPart="102" />
    </Connects>

## See also

Connect object

GlueTo method

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