Modify terminal connections

When a device or junction object has terminals defined, they need to be accounted for when managing junction-edge connectivity. If a network only has one rule that supports junction-edge connectivity between a line feature or edge object and terminals on a device feature or junction object, the network will automatically establish connectivity using that rule. If there is more than one rule, you need to set the terminal connection. The process of setting a terminal connection identifies the terminal on the device feature or junction object to which the feature is connected.

You can use the Modify Terminal Connections pane or snap chip to set a terminal connection between a line feature and a terminal on a device feature. The Modify Terminal Connections pane is also used to list existing terminal connections for a selected line feature, change the terminal to which the line is connected, or disconnect a line from a device terminal. This updates the values for the From device terminal and To device terminal attributes on the Line classes. When working with junction and edge objects, use the Modify Associations pane to set or modify a terminal connection between a device feature or edge object and the terminal on a junction object through a connectivity association. Terminal connectivity is enforced using network rules.

Note:

The From device terminal and To device terminal attributes refer to the device at the first vertex and last vertex of the line respectively and are not related to the direction in which resources flow in the network. For example, in an electric system, you connect the high-side terminal of a distribution transformer to a line with medium voltage, and the low-side terminal to a line with low voltage. If the low voltage line was digitized from the service to the transformer, the To device terminal on the line would correspond with the low-side terminal on the transformer.

While possible, it is not recommended to edit these attribute fields on the line feature directly because the attribute editor does not have the same intelligent editing behaviors available using other methods.

Learn more about geometric coincident-based connectivity and terminal management.

Requirements

The following are requirements for modifying terminal connections using the Modify Terminal Connections pane :

• The utility network must be from one of the following data sources:
  • A utility network service
  • A file or mobile geodatabase
  • A database connection in which the dataset is unregistered as versioned
• The line feature is from the Line class and the point feature is from the Device class.
• The point feature is geometrically coincident with one of the endpoints of the line.
• The point feature must include an asset type that has a terminal configuration assigned.
• One or more junction-edge rules must exist that correspond to the asset type of the point and the line.

Create connectivity between a line and device terminal

It is recommended to use the Modify Terminal Connections pane or the snap chip to establish junction-edge connectivity between a line and a device feature with multiple terminals. Establishing terminal connections is necessary when there are multiple junction-edge connectivity rules that support connectivity between the line and the different terminals on the device.

To create connectivity between a line and a device terminal using the Modify Terminal Connections pane, complete the following steps:

1. Ensure that a utility network is available in an active map view and click the Utility Network tab.

   The Utility Network tab is activated.

2. In the Network Topology group, click Terminal Connections.

   The Modify Terminal Connections pane appears with the Select a line feature tool active. If existing line features are listed in the pane, use the Change line selection tool.

3. On the map, click a feature from the line feature class.

   The line feature appears in the Modify Terminal Connections pane along with all device features with terminals that are coincident with the endpoints of the line.

   Device features that require a terminal to be set are displayed with an asterisk. If existing terminal connections are set, the device feature and terminal are listed.

   Note:

   The From and To options presented for terminal connections refer to the device at the first vertex and last vertex of the line respectively and are not related to the direction in which resources flow in the network.

4. In the pane, choose a terminal from the Terminal drop-down menu.

   Only terminals with rules appear in this list. If a terminal does not appear in the drop-down menu, there is no rule to allow the type of line selected to connect to a device feature using that terminal and the drop-down will reference invalid connectivity.

   Tip:

   You can click a device feature in the pane to flash it on the map. You can also use the context menu to display and navigate to the feature on the map.

5. Click Apply.
The specified line and terminal are connected. The To device terminal or From device terminal attribute on the line feature is populated with the terminal ID of the device feature to which it is connected.
Validate the network topology to reflect the change. Once the network topology is valid, appropriate traces can travels through these features. If the feature belongfs to a subnetwork you should also update the subnetwork to reflect changes made to connectivity.

Alternatively, you can use the snap chip to establish junction-edge connectivity between a line and a device feature with multiple terminals when editing line features.

The Snap Chip button is a drawing aid that appears near a clicked location and displays a pop-up window that allows you to snap to a feature that shares the same location with other coincident feature geometry. You can turn it on and off on the status bar and on the Edit ribbon tab.

Learn more about how to use the snap chip

Modify or remove connectivity between a line and a device terminal

If a line feature has existing terminal connections defined, you can use the Modify Terminal Connections pane to make changes or remove the terminal connections.

To modify or remove existing terminal connections between a line and device feature, complete the following steps:

1. Ensure that a utility network is available in an active map view and click the Utility Network tab.

   The Utility Network tab is activated.

2. In the Network Topology group, click Terminal Connections.

   The Modify Terminal Connections pane appears.

3. In the Modify Terminal Connections pane, ensure that the Select a line feature tool is active.

   If existing line features are listed in the pane, use the Change line selection tool.

4. On the map, click a feature from the Line class to add it to the pane.

   Device features already connected to the line are added to the pane.

5. In the pane, make the necessary edits to reflect the terminal connectivity between the line and device features.
   1. Use the Terminal drop-down list to make changes to connectivity.
   2. Click Delete next to the device with the terminal connection to remove connectivity.

      The device appears with a strikethrough, indicating that it will be deleted.

6. Click Apply.
The specified line and device feature are updated based on the terminal connectivity changes made. The To device terminal or From device terminal attribute on the Line class is updated to reflect the edits.
Validate the network topology to reflect the change. Update the subnetwork if connectivity was changed for a feature in the subnetwork.