Steven Zahm@ Tibor
Right, Connections is not a custom post type. Connections is actually much older than that feature. I contemplated converting it over but the post schema for the database just doesn’t fit well with a database schema designed for directories. I know there have been several other directory plugins that have popped up in the last couple years that do use custom post types. This does allow them to more rapidly expand their feature set because they can leverage many more of the available WordPress APIs for custom post types where as I do have to build from the the ground up. But I think in the end might be limiting, maybe.
I do admit Connections is screaming for the need of a TinyMCE button or better yet metafield where a user can simply check the entries they want to be displayed on the page. Actually, that would not be too difficult to do. But, unfortunately, using the shortcode with the ID is the only way to do this right now. Sorry.