---
title: Connection Points
description: Set how many connection points a shape offers and where lines can attach, from the Design tab.
---

[Skip to content](https://support.smartdraw.com/connection-points#main-content)

English - United States

Show submenu for translations

[Submit a Request](https://support.smartdraw.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en-us)

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/smartdraw-logo-2022.svg)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English - United States
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [Submit a Request](https://support.smartdraw.com/kb-tickets/new)

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [SmartDraw Knowledge Base](https://support.smartdraw.com/?hsLang=en-us)
2. [Reference](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us)
3. [Symbols](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#symbols)

# Connection Points

Adjust the connection points on a shape by **selecting the shape** from your workspace*,* then clicking **Connection Points** on the **Design** tab.

There are three options: default, continuous, and custom.

### Default

In the default setting, shapes have 16 fixed connection points, four at the corners of the shape, four in the center of the sides, and one between each these points. Fixed connection points make it easy to connect a line exactly in the center of a side and are the best choice for simple flowcharts.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18214767169684-3.png)

Connecting a line to your shape with the default connection points:

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18214733457684-3.png)

 

### Continuous

With continuous connection points, lines can connect to any point on the perimeter of the shape. This allows you to connect many lines to the same side of a shape.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18211249141268-3.png)

Connecting a line to your shape when it's set to continuous:

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18214757003540-3.png)

### Custom

The custom option allows you to add 16 custom connection points to a shape at locations of your own choosing. You can even move connection points to an interior portion of a shape, away from the perimeter.

To add a connection point, hold down the **Ctrl** key and click to add a new connection point.

To select an existing Connection Point so you can move it, hold down the **Ctrl** key to select it. The selected connection point will be highlighted in **red**. You can now use the **Arrow** keys to move the point.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18214761479956-3.png)

For example, you can move one of your selection points into the middle of globe and then when you connect a line you can connect there:

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18214793575316-3.png)

 

Check the **Use Snaps** option to line up the connection points to the green grid. This can help you position connection points on opposing sides of a shape and keep them lined up. Without snaps, you have more freedom to move the points, but there's a chance that lines will appear kinked when connected to your shape.

 

- [The Basics](https://support.smartdraw.com/the-basics?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Getting Started](https://support.smartdraw.com/the-basics?hsLang=en-us#getting-started)
    - [Selection](https://support.smartdraw.com/the-basics?hsLang=en-us#selection)
    - [Moving & Sizing](https://support.smartdraw.com/the-basics?hsLang=en-us#moving-sizing)
    - [Text Entry](https://support.smartdraw.com/the-basics?hsLang=en-us#text-entry)
    - [File Saving](https://support.smartdraw.com/the-basics?hsLang=en-us#file-saving)
- [How to Draw Anything](https://support.smartdraw.com/how-to-draw-anything?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Getting Started](https://support.smartdraw.com/how-to-draw-anything?hsLang=en-us#getting-started)
    - [Popular Diagrams](https://support.smartdraw.com/how-to-draw-anything?hsLang=en-us#popular-diagrams)
    - [Other Diagrams](https://support.smartdraw.com/how-to-draw-anything?hsLang=en-us#other-diagrams)
- [FAQ](https://support.smartdraw.com/faq?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Ordering Questions](https://support.smartdraw.com/faq?hsLang=en-us#ordering-questions)
    - [Trials](https://support.smartdraw.com/faq?hsLang=en-us#trials)
    - [Subscriptions](https://support.smartdraw.com/faq?hsLang=en-us#subscriptions)
    - [Printing](https://support.smartdraw.com/faq?hsLang=en-us#printing)
- [My Account](https://support.smartdraw.com/my-account?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [All Users](https://support.smartdraw.com/my-account?hsLang=en-us#all-users)
    - [Multi-Seat and Enterprise](https://support.smartdraw.com/my-account?hsLang=en-us#multi-seat-and-enterprise)
    - [Enterprise](https://support.smartdraw.com/my-account?hsLang=en-us#enterprise)
- [Templates & Documents](https://support.smartdraw.com/templates-documents?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Templates](https://support.smartdraw.com/templates-documents?hsLang=en-us#templates)
    - [My Documents](https://support.smartdraw.com/templates-documents?hsLang=en-us#my-documents)
    - [File Storage](https://support.smartdraw.com/templates-documents?hsLang=en-us#file-storage)
- [Videos](https://support.smartdraw.com/videos?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Diagramming Basics and Tips](https://support.smartdraw.com/videos?hsLang=en-us#diagramming-basics-and-tips)
    - [How to Draw Every Type of Diagram](https://support.smartdraw.com/videos?hsLang=en-us#how-to-draw-every-type-of-diagram)
    - [Advanced Diagramming with Data](https://support.smartdraw.com/videos?hsLang=en-us#advanced-diagramming-with-data)
    - [Sharing and Integrations](https://support.smartdraw.com/videos?hsLang=en-us#sharing-and-integrations)
    - [Managing Your License, Users, and Account](https://support.smartdraw.com/videos?hsLang=en-us#managing-your-license-users-and-account)
- [SmartDraw AI](https://support.smartdraw.com/smartdraw-ai?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [AI Diagramming](https://support.smartdraw.com/smartdraw-ai?hsLang=en-us#ai-diagramming)
    - [MCP Server](https://support.smartdraw.com/smartdraw-ai?hsLang=en-us#mcp-server)
    - [Managing AI Access](https://support.smartdraw.com/smartdraw-ai?hsLang=en-us#managing-ai-access)
- [Collaboration](https://support.smartdraw.com/collaboration?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Collaboration](https://support.smartdraw.com/collaboration?hsLang=en-us#collaboration)
    - [Export](https://support.smartdraw.com/collaboration?hsLang=en-us#export)
    - [Whiteboarding](https://support.smartdraw.com/collaboration?hsLang=en-us#whiteboarding)
- [Integrations](https://support.smartdraw.com/integrations?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Storage](https://support.smartdraw.com/integrations?hsLang=en-us#storage)
    - [Apps](https://support.smartdraw.com/integrations?hsLang=en-us#apps)
    - [Visualizers](https://support.smartdraw.com/integrations?hsLang=en-us#visualizers)
- [Diagrams from Data](https://support.smartdraw.com/diagrams-from-data?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Data Visualizers](https://support.smartdraw.com/diagrams-from-data?hsLang=en-us#data-visualizers)
    - [Charts, Graphs, and Gauges](https://support.smartdraw.com/diagrams-from-data?hsLang=en-us#charts-graphs-and-gauges)
    - [Shape Data](https://support.smartdraw.com/diagrams-from-data?hsLang=en-us#shape-data)
    - [Custom Visualization](https://support.smartdraw.com/diagrams-from-data?hsLang=en-us#custom-visualization)
- [Reference](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Symbols](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#symbols)
    - [Connectors](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#connectors)
    - [Lines](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#lines)
    - [Arranging Shapes](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#arranging-shapes)
    - [Colors & Styles](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#colors-styles)
    - [Dimensions](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#dimensions)
    - [Floor Planning Tips](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#floor-planning-tips)
    - [Enhancing Shapes](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#enhancing-shapes)
    - [Workspace](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#workspace)
    - [Layers](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#layers)
    - [Grouping](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#grouping)
    - [Tables](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#tables)
    - [Containers](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#containers)
- [Printing](https://support.smartdraw.com/printing?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Printing](https://support.smartdraw.com/printing?hsLang=en-us#printing)

[![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/smartdraw-logo-2022.svg)](https://www.smartdraw.com/)

Copyright © 1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartdraw-software-llc/> <https://www.youtube.com/smartdraw> <https://www.facebook.com/SmartDraw> <https://twitter.com/smartdraw> <https://www.instagram.com/smartdrawvisuals/> <http://tiktok.com/@smartdrawapp>

 