A cable connection associates a connector pin with a cable conductor and, optionally, a connector pin at the other end. WireViz Online compiles these relationships from WireViz YAML; drawn lines are a view of that result.
Wait until the harness is Up to date before using model-based connection controls. They are disabled while source edits are being compiled or the document has errors.
Connect a complete path
- Add two connectors and a cable, or select existing components.
- Open the right Pins tab, or press C for Connect pins.
- Choose From and its Pin.
- Choose the Cable and Wire.
- Choose To and its Pin, then select Connect.
The pin choices display actual IDs and labels from the compiled components. A shield appears as conductor s when present.
For example, this source connects two lanes through one cable:
connectors:
X1: {pincount: 2}
X2: {pincount: 2}
cables:
W1:
wirecount: 2
colors: [RD, BK]
connections:
- - X1: [1, 2]
- W1: [1, 2]
- X2: [1, 2]
The entries at the same list position form one lane. WireViz also accepts inclusive numeric ranges, so [1-2] can express these two positions.
Connect using handles
On the editable canvas, drag between a connector pin handle and a cable conductor handle. This adds one endpoint relationship. Repeat at the other end for a complete cable path. Direct connector-to-connector and cable-to-cable handle links are not the normal cable connection operation; use YAML for mating arrows and other advanced structures.
The Connect pins tool also exposes the pin workflow in the inspector. It does not require you to draw a cable's geometric routing: conductor relationships define the schematic, and WireViz arranges its output.
Inspect or disconnect one conductor
Click a drawn conductor to inspect its endpoints and cable in the right panel. The context menu can focus the participating components or disconnect the conductor when the source relationship is unambiguous. Delete or Backspace invokes the same operation for a selected connection.
A supported disconnection removes one source lane, including both of its endpoints when present. Other lanes in that set remain. If it was the set's only lane, the set is removed.
The editor refuses to guess when a drawn connection cannot be safely matched to one editable lane. Common cases include generated template instances, loops, mating arrows, long multi-component chains, parallel component lists, ambiguous duplicate references and shared source structures. The message explains why and directs you to the connection set in YAML.
Edit source connection sets
The Connection sets section displays each YAML set with an explicit Apply action. You can add or remove a whole set. Removing a set can remove several conductor paths at once; inspect the preview after applying the change.
Use the full YAML editor when a set references an anchor defined elsewhere. An individual structured field can only resolve anchors contained inside that field. Editing the entire source also gives access to named instances, connector loops, mating arrows, pin labels, color-based wire references and more complex chains supported by WireViz.
Branches, splices and shields
Several cable paths can meet at a connector or simple splice. Start with Three-way splice or Branching harness in Components to see the structure. The Shielded cable + BOM example demonstrates shield: true and a one-ended W1: s connection.
Compilation checks WireViz's document and reference rules. It does not prove electrical continuity requirements, current capacity, correct connector mating or a manufacturable pinout. Review the actual part data and your requirements separately. See Checks and troubleshooting.