Network connectivity rules constrain the type of network features that may be connected to one another and the number of features of any particular type that can be connected to features of another type. By establishing these rules, you can maintain the integrity of the network connectivity in the database.

The Geometric Network Properties dialog box provides information about feature classes participating in the network and a list of the network weights. You can also add, delete, and modify connectivity rules using this dialog box.

To create a new connectivity rule, first click the Connectivity tab.

This tab lets you add and modify connectivity rules for the geometric network. You will first create a new edge– junction rule, which states that hydrants can connect to hydrant laterals; it also indicates that when a hydrant lateral is created, a hydrant junction feature should be placed at its free end.

The next step is to choose the feature class, and if it has them, the subtype that this rule will be applied to. In this example, the feature class is Laterals, and the subtype is Hydrant laterals.

The next step is to choose the types of junctions that the hydrant laterals can connect to in the network. For simplicity in this example, hydrant laterals can only connect to hydrants, you check Hydrants in the list of subtypes in the network.

You can also specify that when you create a hydrant lateral, if an end of the lateral is not connected to another edge or junction, then a hydrant is placed at that end. To do so, click the plus sign to expand Hydrants, right-click Hydrants under it, then click Set as Default. A blue D will appear next to the hydrant subtype, indicating that it is the default junction for this edge subtype.

Next you will see how to create a new edge–edge rule that states that hydrant laterals can connect to distribution mains through taps, tees, and saddles. The default junction for connections between hydrant laterals and distribution mains will be taps.

To create the edge-edge rule, in the network subtypes list, click the plus sign to expand Distribmains and check Distribmains under it. Because you have checked an edge in the network subtypes list, the list of junction subtypes in the network becomes active. In this list, you can specify which junction types hydrant laterals and distribution mains can connect through.

To set the junction types at which these features may connect, in the Junction subtypes list, click the plus sign to expand Fittings and check Tap, Tee, and Saddle in that order. After you check Tap the junction has a blue D next to it; this means that Tap is the default junction. Check WaterNet_Junctions, which is the generic, or default, network junction type to allow connection through this type of junction as well.

You have see how to add behavior to your geodatabase by defining connectivity rules. You would normally define many more connectivity rules for a network. However, for this example you saw a reduced set of connectivity rules. In the next part of the tutorial, you will see how to create feature-linked annotation for your new hydrant lateral feature class.