The components in a discipline can have inputs and outputs, and these are shown as connection boxes. The boxes on the left of a component are for inputs and those on the right are for outputs.



Entities from other disciplines are loaded into a component's input so that the artists can do their work. For example, in the following image, the "Layout Assets" component has an input that can receive published files from the "Full Rig" component in another discipline.


Two disciplines, a component in one discipline has a connection line drawn to a component in another discipline.


You make the connection between one component's output and another component's input by drawing a connection line (see Connect components on a discipline flowchart).


A single component can have multiple inputs, in which case, they get extra input connections. The extra inputs are numbered, to show a hierarchy, where the highest number is loaded first. If there is no publication from that input, SimpleCloud looks for the next highest number, and this process continues until it reaches an input that does have a publication ready.


Discipline shows a component that has two inputs. There are two connection boxes, numbered and 2.

Next to each number is an up arrow and/or a down arrow. Select these to move the input up and down in the priority hierarchy.


Component has arrow icons to change the priority order.


The third connection box is white with an orange outline. This shows where the input connection box would be if you added another connection, and is just to act as a guideline. It does not have an input until you make it a real connection box.


You'll also notice that the component has icons in the top-right corner. These are, from left to right:

  • Edit

    Use to display the component's properties, ready for editing (see Change a component's settings on a discipline flowchart).

  • Copy

    Use to copy the component to memory. This is useful when you want to use the component again, elsewhere on the flowchart.
  • Paste

    Use to paste a copied component from memory. 
  • Delete

    Use to remove a component completely.



With the output connections, you can either:

  • Leave the connection box disconnected. This means that the component will create a published output, but it will not be used as an input by another discipline.

  • Draw a connection line from the output to an input. In most cases, you would draw the line to the input of a component in another discipline, but you can draw it to any input, if needed. This includes the inputs of other components in the same discipline. Also, you can connect a component's output to its own input, so that its published output is received as an input, which can be useful for reviewing the changes.

    If you connect a component's output to its own input, there is no connection line. Instead, two arrows are shown on the input icon.

    Component that outputs back into itself has arrow icon.


To learn more about connecting inputs to outputs to create the workflow, see Connect components on a discipline flowchart.