How to maintain ajoining lines between objects?

[MojoTojo]

hi guys,

I do a lot of diagram designs and I was wondering if there was a way to keep the lines joining objects connected so that when i drag an object the line simply adjusts, like diagram softwares..

for example

 

say i have this drawn

 

 

 

Then when i move one box like this, the line breaks...

 

 

 

The desired effect should be that the line follows, like this:

 

 

 

is this possible in Affinity? Or if not, what's the best way to go about achieving this same effect?

 

PS

I know there are DIAGRAM software out there but most diagram software is very limited in terms of design, and with a free form design tool like affinity, it's much better, but i just have these line problems. i have to constantly reconnect and redaw them :(

 

 

[firstdefence]

No this is not possible, there is no intelligent relationship between lines and shapes that is automatically updated when moving shapes about the screen, you would have to modify or redraw the line in order to maintain the illusion of connectedness.

By all means put a request in for this feature here: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/52-feature-requests-feedback/

See JimmyJack's Magic post below 

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, firstdefence said:

By all means put a request in for this feature here: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/52-feature-requests-feedback/

I think there already have been a few requests for something like this, but I suspect we won't see anything as full featured as in some other apps, not at least until we get arrowhead shape options for lines, & maybe not until version 2 will there be anything with features comparable to what those other apps offer.

[firstdefence]

11 minutes ago, R C-R said:

I think there already have been a few requests for something like this, but I suspect we won't see anything as full featured as in some other apps, not at least until we get arrowhead shape options for lines, & maybe not until version 2 will there be anything with features comparable to what those other apps offer.

Would love to have a crystal ball to see how Affinity develops.

[R C-R]

1 hour ago, firstdefence said:

Would love to have a crystal ball to see how Affinity develops.

If I had to pick just the one feature I would most like to see implemented, it has to be arrowheads for lines, including all the end styles that are available with the current arrow shape tool, but for lines rather than shapes. Second on the list would probably be a scissors or knife tool  for Designer.

[JimmyJack]

12 hours ago, MojoTojo said:

is this possible in Affinity? Or if not, what's the best way to go about achieving this same effect?

Yes, you can do this.... if your box is converted to a curve.

Just use the Node tool and select everything you want to move.

[MojoTojo]

12 hours ago, JimmyJack said:

Yes, you can do this.... if your box is converted to a curve.

Just use the Node tool and select everything you want to move.

Holy sh*T.. this actually works!

This will do for now. im loving affinity more and more!

Thanks to all other replies, yes if affinity could add this feature natively, that would be a banging advantage.

These diagram tools (eg. smart draw) are so overpriced. Designer (and other vector graphics tool) has all the stuffs one needs, except for the "line connection" side of things

 

[firstdefence]

13 hours ago, JimmyJack said:

Yes, you can do this.... if your box is converted to a curve.

Just use the Node tool and select everything you want to move.

Very Clever, neat little trick. 

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, firstdefence said:

Very Clever, neat little trick. 

It is indeed, but it requires extra steps to emulate the 'smart connector' feature of some apps that automatically confine all the connector path changes to right angle bends. So for instance, for the lower box & its connector in JJ's  example, moving the box upward or downward would automatically create two nodes somewhere on its attached connector & align them vertically so the connector has two right angle bends, like the end result for his top box.

My ancient & much loved Deneba Canvas 3 app for the old 'classic' Mac OS had this feature.