Building Process Flow Diagrams

Connecting Nodes in a Diagram

You connect nodes in the Diagram Workspace to create a logical process flow. When you create a process flow, you should follow the Sample, Explore, Modify, Model, and Assess (SEMMA) data mining methodology. Information flows from node to node in the direction that the connecting arrows point.

[Enterprise Miner window showing nodes being connected in the Diagram Workspace.]

There are three editing modes available in the Diagram Workspace. You can right-click on a node to access these modes.

Connect items -- Create connections between nodes. In this editing mode, the nodes are fixed in location, so that you can more easily make connections.
Move items -- Move nodes from one location to another within the Diagram Workspace. In this editing mode, you cannot make connections.
Move and connect -- Move and Connect is the default mode for moving and connecting items.

As an exercise in connecting nodes, connect the Input Data Source node to the Sampling node. If the Input Data Source node is located to the left of the Sampling node, the steps to create a connection are

Move the mouse pointer to the right edge of the Input Data Source icon. The mouse pointer changes from an arrow to a cross.
Select and hold the left mouse button down, drag the mouse pointer to the left edge of the Sampling node icon, and release the mouse button. A successful connection results in a line segment that joins the two nodes.

Note that if the Input Data Source icon moves (instead of making a connection), then you should right-click on the node icon and select the Connect items pop-up menu item. You can also move the mouse pointer away from the icons and single-click the left mouse button, and then attempt to make the connection.
Move the mouse pointer away from the node icons, and click a blank area. The line segment that connects the tool icon becomes an arrow, coming from the Input Data Source node icon and pointing at the Sampling node icon. The direction of the arrow is important because it indicates the direction of the information flow from one node to the next. In this example, the Input Data Source node is the predecessor node, and the Sampling node is the successor node in the process flow.

You use this same technique to connect additional nodes. Most nodes can have multiple predecessor and successor nodes. See Usage Rules for Nodes for more information.

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