Anchors and lines
=================

Every shape has named connection points called *anchors*. The eight compass
names cover the edges and corners: ``.n``, ``.ne``, ``.e``, ``.se``, ``.s``,
``.sw``, ``.w``, ``.nw``. Draw a ``line``
between two anchors to join shapes exactly where you want:

.. sheeptext-example::
   :label: Compass anchors
   :alt: Two boxes joined corner to corner by a line from the first box south-east anchor to the second box north-west anchor

   A: box "A"
   B: box "B"
   A.se -- B.nw

Position something a fraction of the way between two shapes with ``between``.
Here a caption sits at the midpoint (``1/2``) of the gap:

.. sheeptext-example::
   :label: Between positioning
   :alt: A caption reading syncs with centred between two connected boxes

   A: box "left" with .nw at (20, 60)
   B: box "right" with .nw at (320, 60)
   text "syncs with" align center textsize 12 at between(A, B, 1/2)

Putting anchors to work, here is a three-tier chain wired edge to edge:

.. sheeptext-example::
   :label: Anchored chain
   :alt: Three boxes web app and db connected left to right at their east and west anchors

   Web: box "web"
   App: box "app"
   DB: box "db"
   Web.e -- App.w
   App.e -- DB.w

Next: let SheepText place shapes with :doc:`layout`, then see authored route
paths in the :doc:`reference`.