You may want to maintain a record of your service pipes / links (minor connections to properties for example) as well as recording the mains network. However, you probably do not want to split your mains pipes into numerous small links to connect these service pipes directly into the network.
You can connect service pipes / links to your network as a lateral inflow using a Node or a Connection Node.
The characteristics of a lateral connection are:
- the lateral node maintains a record of the pipe / link to which it is connected
- the pipe / link maintains a list of all lateral nodes connected to it, including length along the pipe / link, and position round the pipe / link circumference
- lateral nodes appear on long sections, but the long section creation tool will not traverse along laterals
- when using tracing tools, if you trace through a lateral, the main pipe / link will be partially selected in the correct manner
- Lateral Nodes do not always move automatically when you move a pipe / link. This is because there is a danger of the network updating itself forever if there is a looped set of links between pipes
- there is a new tool to snap selected lateral nodes back onto their pipes / links. See Moving Pipes with Lateral Inflows.
To add a lateral connection to an existing pipe / link:
- Select the type of object to be created from the New Object Type dropdown list
on the GeoPlan Tools Toolbar. - Click the
button on the toolbar and select Node in the
to turn on Add Nodes mode. The cursor changes
to the Add Node cursor 
. - Click on an existing pipe / link on the GeoPlan in the position where you want the new lateral connection. The Create New Node Dialog is displayed.
- Enter a unique node name and select the appropriate type.
- Check the Add Lateral Node check box. The pipe / link with which the new node is associated is shown in the Pipe list. You can change the pipe / link on this list if necessary
- Click OK. The new node is created and displayed on the GeoPlan. The property sheet for the node is displayed.
- You can enter additional properties on the Property Sheet now or later. If you change any node properties, click OK to save them. You can click Cancel to exit the property sheet without making any changes. The new node will not be removed.