Business Intelligence, Data Integration, and Data Modeling resource types contain endpoints. For example, in a PowerCenter resource, a Source Qualifier port is an endpoint because it can have a cross-resource relationship to a table column in a database management resource. In a PowerCenter resource, a Filter port is not an endpoint because it cannot have a relationship to an object in another resource.

When you link another resource to a Business Intelligence, Data Integration, or Data Modeling resource, you usually link to endpoints. However, you can link to a non-endpoint object in these resources. The rule syntax required to link endpoints differs from the syntax required to link non-endpoints.

Custom, SAP R/3, database management, and business glossary resource types do not contain endpoints. When you use linking rules to link objects in a custom resource to an object in these resource types, use non-endpoint links.