Bend points give you manual control over connector paths. Add, move, or remove points along a connector to route it exactly where you want, overriding automatic routing.

What Are Bend Points?

Bend points are nodes along a connector where the path changes direction. While Smart Connectors calculate paths automatically, bend points let you take manual control.

Bend Points Diagram

Adding Bend Points

Double-Click Method

  1. Select a connector
  2. Double-click anywhere along the connector path
  3. A new bend point appears at that location
  4. The connector path adjusts to include the new point

Drag Method (Smart Orthogonal Only)

For connectors using Smart Orthogonal routing:

  1. Click and drag any segment of the connector
  2. The connector creates bend points automatically as you drag
  3. Release to set the new path

Moving Bend Points

Once you've added bend points:

  1. Click the connector to make bend points visible
  2. Click and drag any bend point to a new position
  3. The connector path updates in real-time
  4. Release to finalize the new position

Constraint behavior:

  • Orthogonal connectors: Bend points snap to horizontal/vertical alignments
  • Straight connectors: Points move freely in any direction
  • Hold Shift: Constrain movement to horizontal or vertical only

Moving Bend Points

Removing Bend Points

To delete a bend point:

Method 1: Direct Delete

  1. Click the bend point to select it
  2. Press Delete or Backspace
  3. The connector path simplifies, removing that point

Method 2: Drag Away For orthogonal connectors:

  1. Drag a bend point toward the adjacent segment
  2. When it gets close enough, it automatically merges/removes

Tip: You cannot remove the start or end points—only intermediate bend points.

Bend Points vs. Routing Modes

Bend point behavior depends on the connector's routing mode:

Straight Line Mode

  • Bend points create polyline segments
  • Each segment is a straight line
  • Points can be placed anywhere
  • Useful for custom angular paths

Orthogonal Mode

  • Bend points maintain 90-degree angles
  • Segments remain horizontal or vertical
  • Points snap to grid (if enabled)
  • Perfect for flowcharts and circuit diagrams

Smart Orthogonal Mode

  • Manual bend points override automatic routing
  • The connector routes automatically, except through your manual points
  • Hybrid approach: automatic where you don't specify, manual where you do
  • Best of both worlds

Routing Modes with Bend Points

Use Cases

Avoiding Congestion

Add bend points to route connectors around crowded areas:

Shape A → bend → bend → Shape B
             ↓
         [avoid this crowded area]

Instead of letting smart routing decide, you specify the exact path through clear space.

Emphasizing Flow Direction

Use bend points to make flow direction visually clear:

  • Route important paths through the center
  • Route secondary paths around the edges
  • Create visual hierarchy through routing

Matching Diagram Conventions

Follow specific diagramming standards:

  • BPMN: Specific routing patterns
  • UML: Standard message slopes
  • Electrical: Right-angle routing only

Aesthetic Control

Fine-tune connector appearance:

  • Align multiple connectors in parallel
  • Create symmetric routing patterns
  • Match human-drawn diagram styles

Bend Point Use Cases

Working with Multiple Connectors

When routing multiple connectors between the same shapes:

  1. Add bend points to create parallel paths
  2. Space bend points evenly for uniform appearance
  3. Use Align commands on bend points for perfect alignment
  4. Copy one connector's path to others by matching bend point positions

Bend Points and Smart Routing

You can combine manual and automatic routing:

  1. Start with Smart Orthogonal routing
  2. Add manual bend points only where needed
  3. The connector routes automatically elsewhere
  4. Update bend points as your diagram evolves

When smart routing recalculates:

  • Moving attached shapes may adjust automatic segments
  • Manual bend points remain fixed
  • Best of both: automation + control

Tips

  1. Use sparingly - Only add bend points when automatic routing fails
  2. Fewer is better - Keep connector paths simple for clarity
  3. Align bend points - Use grid snapping or align tools for neat paths
  4. Test movement - After adding bend points, move shapes to ensure paths still work
  5. Document complex routing - If you need many bend points, consider if your layout could be simpler

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Double-click connector - Add bend point
  • Delete - Remove selected bend point
  • Arrow keys - Nudge selected bend point (1 pixel)
  • Shift+Arrow keys - Nudge bend point (10 pixels)
  • Cmd+Z - Undo bend point changes

Limitations

  • Bend points work only on connectors (not shapes)
  • You cannot add bend points to connectors attached to sticky spots in some cases
  • Very complex paths (20+ bend points) may be slow to render

Resetting to Automatic Routing

To remove all manual bend points and return to automatic routing:

  1. Select the connector
  2. Right-click and choose Reset Path (or similar command)
  3. All bend points are removed
  4. Smart routing takes over again

Alternatively, change the routing mode away and back again to force recalculation.