Replacing the wax ring on a toilet

[rdt1]

My question is does the flang that holds the bolts that secure the toilet to the floor have to be secured to the drain pipe? When I went to clean off the old wax from the toilet and flang I noticed that the flang was not connected to the drain pipe. Does the wax ring hold the flang and flang bolts in place when thighting down the nuts to seat the toilet to the floor? I would think as the nuts are tightened they would pull the bolts and flang up and away from the drain pipe.

[DIY Guy]

I am not a plumber, so I'm not sure of code. But I just remodeled a bathroom and the flange was slipped over the waste line, but it was not permanently attached. However, the flange was screwed into the floor and joists. That fastening keeps the toilet from shifting around.

I can say I would have had a much more difficult job if the flange had been permanently connected to the waste line. So I am glad the last guy left it that way. The last guy may or may not have been a plumber.