yEd Q&A - Recent questions without answers

Is there a "group" function that isn't visual, and locks objects together?

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:28:55 +0000

Is there a way to "Group" objects like in Visio such that:

a) the group is transparent visually (as soon as the group is created, not after having to go and adjust lots of properties on a group)

b) it is not possible to select one item from the group afterwards individually, i.e. the object act as a single overall object

Yed Error when opening a document

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:57:23 +0000

I am getting an error when opening an external file. The FAQ says to fix it by hand. Is there a way to tell the line number of the file that yED thinks there is a problem? excel can open the file. Thank you.

Selection box inside a node

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:46:24 +0000

I find it quite annoying that it seems not to be possible to draw a selection box around nodes that lie within another node (visually speaking). As I see it, a selection box always has to begin on an empty canvas... Hope my point is clear.

Default printout frame

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:42:47 +0000

Hi,

I am facing the problem that - by default - yEd produces a thin light gray frame around the graph itself. How can that frame be disabled?

Edit: SOLVED, I accidently misinterpreted yEd's markings for the page's margins in the print preview as a framing that would actually be printed - which it is not.

Lars

Could we have the function of upgrade by Data import ?

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:51:04 +0000

We need some time to add new Data changes (upgrades/or Data Adds)

Icon of the "select language" function

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:17:12 +0000

Just curious: Why did you choose the flag of Burundi as icon for that function? :)

Shouldn't the iteration setting be the same in both open and closed state of the process?

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:48:40 +0000

The iteration state for a process can be different depending on its state (open or closed). Shouldn't that be changed consistently regardless of the state of the process?

How to create a org chart using xls file

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:41:05 +0000

Dear yEd experts

I have network marketin business. I want to create a organisational chart using data from xls file.

I tried many times to import the xls file using open. I am not able to understand how to select the data so that it automatically creates a org chart.

I have to 2 columns in excel file

Name And their sponsor

For Eg

Robert

Peter Robert

John Peter

top of the chart is Robert then Peter and then John and so on/.

I am getting so confused between nodes and edges and how to use this fantastic tool to create org chart showing the entire.

I will really appreciate if someone can guide me to import it correctly by using the correct options while importing xls file.

Regards

Jay

error in importing GEDCOM file

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:55:43 +0000

i tried to import a GEDCOM file generated by GenoPro, but i get this error:

java.io.IOException

at B.A.A.B.Q.Ă(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.B.Q.ā(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.J.A.ā(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.J.D.ă(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.J.D.Ă(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.A.C.ā(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.A.O.ā(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.P.A$A.drop(Unknown Source)

at y.I.l$J.drop(Unknown Source)

at java.awt.dnd.DropTarget.drop(DropTarget.java:434)

at sun.awt.dnd.SunDropTargetContextPeer.processDropMessage(SunDropTargetContextPeer.java:519)

at sun.awt.dnd.SunDropTargetContextPeer$EventDispatcher.dispatchDropEvent(SunDropTargetContextPeer.java:832)

at sun.awt.dnd.SunDropTargetContextPeer$EventDispatcher.dispatchEvent(SunDropTargetContextPeer.java:756)

at sun.awt.dnd.SunDropTargetEvent.dispatch(SunDropTargetEvent.java:30)

at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.java:4594)

at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2141)

at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4565)

at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent(Container.java:4619)

at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processDropTargetEvent(Container.java:4354)

at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Container.java:4205)

at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2127)

at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2482)

at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4565)

at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:684)

at java.awt.EventQueue.access$000(EventQueue.java:85)

at java.awt.EventQueue$1.run(EventQueue.java:643)

at java.awt.EventQueue$1.run(EventQueue.java:641)

at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)

at java.security.AccessControlContext$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(AccessControlContext.java:87)

at java.security.AccessControlContext$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(AccessControlContext.java:98)

at java.awt.EventQueue$2.run(EventQueue.java:657)

at java.awt.EventQueue$2.run(EventQueue.java:655)

at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)

at java.security.AccessControlContext$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(AccessControlContext.java:87)

at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:654)

at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:296)

at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:211)

at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:201)

at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:196)

at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:188)

at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:122)

Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException

at D.B.A.A.C.ā(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.B.G.X$1.ā(Unknown Source)

at D.B.A.A.D$B.ā(Unknown Source)

at D.B.A.A.D.ā(Unknown Source)

at D.B.A.A.B.ā(Unknown Source)

at y.H.I.ā(Unknown Source)

at y.B.A.M.ď(Unknown Source)

at B.A.A.B.G.H.ď(Unknown Source)

at y.B.J.Č(Unknown Source)

at y.B.J.ā(Unknown Source)

at y.B.J.ă(Unknown Source)

... 44 more

but i can import the file in yEd 3.7.0.2 but it dosn't support unicode

Can we force yEd to stop the processing?

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:29:05 +0000

When the calculation/processing takes too long, can we stop it?

Custom Export format

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:36:48 +0000

I've been looking for a tool like this for some time. The feature I'm looking for is a custom output format where I can design the class names, output directories, and property/method syntax for a specific language in order to create the classes in the language I work in. Being able to use this tool for the code generation would greatly assist me in outputting the large amounts of classes and tests I need to write as the application develops.

Automatic-layout with different results on the same starting position

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:39:45 +0000

Hello!

I have a BPMN with three subprocesses which are functional completely equal. Only the data sources used are different (named).

When I use the automatic layout for BPMN in the modus "Complete Layout"/"Left to Right" the two of the three subprocesses are modeled the same and the other subprocess look very different then the others.

By the way: If I use the modus "Use drawing as scetch"/"Left to Right" all subprocesses look pretty the same.

Why uses the layout engine different models to draw the subprocesses?

In the attached ZIP you can find two GRAPHML files: "automatic_layout_problem_01.graphml" shows the starting position and "automatic_layout_problem_02.graphml" shows the result after automatic layout in "Complete Layout"/"Left to Right" mode.

http://yed.yworks.com/support/qa/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=17349974190368466163

Thanks for help!

Rene

Can the default settings for the export be saved?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:42:30 +0000

I would like the ability to change and set my own defaults for an export so that I do not have to go through the setup each time. I export the drawings to pdf regularly so that it can be distributed. The settings don't change for the session once I have made all of my selections. However, the next time I open up a drawing, the pdf format is selected but the other settings have reverted to the original defaults.

How do I show flow to a C-code subroutine or function?

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:25:51 +0000

I am a total newbie. I am trying to diagram C-code. How do I show the flow going off and returning from a subroutine or a function?

Default setting for bitmap export and clipboard copy

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:27:41 +0000

I would like to have a setting for default resolution when doing a copy to clipboard or export as bitmap. The export can be set when doing the save, usually I put this (resolution + quality) really high for inclusion in word documents. It would be very handy if this was presettable and also applied for the copy to clipboard.

Thanks

Relative links to local files

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:28:50 +0000

I work with different graphml files which link to each other. They will also be exported to html. Could there be an option to have relative links in the files rather than absolute ones?

That would exporting and working with colleagues much easier.

Thanks for yed!

Strict grid snapping

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:15:15 +0000

Macintosh User here on Mac Min, OS 10.6.8; Also a new user. Also new user but I think this belongs here.

In the Macintosh world ... when the a snap grid is activated it holds and holds FIRMLY, When I look at yEd ... I see a soft snap grid and I find this irritating. Even laying diagram blocks in place is a guess as to even if ALL four courneres are on the grid. lines are bit easier but still after a group move all the lines have to again be reset to the grid.

The grid issue becomes even MORE irratating when I move a group of objects to a slightly different position and the movement across the grid becomes a slide with no attachment to the Grid underneath

And little more ... ... If I set a line down and I inidcate I want 90 degree angles on the connecting lines - the program ought to be able to generate such a line If I click box A and Box B. Lines laid ought to be able to adjust for all x sides (and x corners) of the object being connected to.

And little more ... It would be nice to have line adjucts where one lays connecting lines from a line to a object.

So far the program looks good ... the grid and snap grid needs to be reworked so that it is tighter with better response.

Peter Kelley, St. Paul, MN USA

Hyperlink to another node in the same diagram

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:05:51 +0000

To avoid very long edges within a flowchart-diagram, you can use the shape "on-page reference" as a connector.

Is it possible, to link the two connectors, so that I can "jump" from one connector to the other?

Cause-Effect Fishbone / Ishikawa Diagramm

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:18:24 +0000

Could you please add a feature for creating Fishbone diagramms?

Enhance Excel import with grouping function

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:32:27 +0000

Could you enhance import so, that i could import grouping information as well?
I.e. no edges as such, but functions A, B, C belong inside group CRM and D,E into Email, F, G, H, I belong to eCommerce platform etc. So, i want to map things like tasks to applications, business processes to applications or corporate functions etc

Import from excel to UML

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:29:27 +0000

	Please, enhance import data from excel so that it would map to Class UML / attributes?

	I.e. I would have a node/class called customer with uml attributes of name, address, phone etc. I could have simple excel with 4 columns, class, connected class, connection label, class attribute.

	I would create UML class models by simply filling excel sheets like described below

	Customer | Order | Has   | Name

	Customer | Order | Has   | Address

	Customer | Order | Has   | Phone

	....

	Order    | Item  | Has   | Order number

	Order    | Item  | Has   | Order date

...

	Item     |       |       | Item name  

	Item     |       |       | Item description     

How to keep fixed relative positions for the nodes inside a group in case of rearrangement of layout?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:30:18 +0000

It would be nice to have possibility to create Function Block - like diagrams with "User Data Types".

I mean, to create kind of super-Node including input nodes always left and output nodes always on right side of group.

It possible to arrange it manually, but automatique arrangement change internal group representation.

Simple "keep position" inside the group is missing.

Support of CAD grafic formats: DXF, etc.

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:38:54 +0000

Could be new horizon for yEd!

I would like to edit one graph (one graphml file) in several tabs

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:21:29 +0000

I have a large and complex graph with many groups. Sometimes I am working in several groups at the same time. It would be nice to be able to have several groups opened in different tabs. It seems that it is possible to split a graph into multiple files and then have them open in different tabs, but I would like multiple tabs for one graph in one file.

Internal navigation and linking

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:48:36 +0000

At export process dialog, add a feature in the viewer tab to activate internal navigation and internal link.

I mean by internal navigation the way to follow nodes edges after edges (and so provide a choose system if multiple edges) - as windows/context view/neighborhood works for example

I mean by internal link the way to link a node to another one (and even more in a anchor of the label as label could be html !)

The internal link feature could be usefull for example to link particular node to a note legend and so create more interactive map.

Regards

& thank's to the whole yWorks team!

add import of file system folder structure

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:27:21 +0000

It would be great to be able to import a windows folder structure (similar to Freemind:File>Impor>Folder Structure...) where folders become group nodes and files become simple nodes. The structure would then look very much like the folder structure in e.g. windows explorer.

Filename parameter gets currupted when loading yEd from command line

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:38:13 +0000

Hello,

the filename parameter

C:\temp\foldername\subfoldername\testexport.graphml

is somehow changed to

C:\Programme\yWorks\yEd\subfoldername\testexport.graphml

when loading yEd via command line, leading to an java.io.FileNotFoundException.

Exclude groups from layout function

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:45:42 +0000

If have some groups that I would just like to use to have the items organized in the structure view. I want to exclude that groups from being considered by the automatic layout function.

Save Printing Title for each different form

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:16:13 +0000

I have many Yed file and when printing a file I have to retype the title each time since the title is common to all form and not current one.

BTW, this is an amazing product.

Sylvain Larche

Can you add a spell check tool

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:59:27 +0000

Would it be possible to add a spell checker as a tool? Preferrably with many languages, maybe all languages installed for MS Word or OpenOffice.

Allow more than one property/field to be displayed as tooltip

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:50:37 +0000

At present only one property/field can be displayed by mouseover

If I by mistake map more than one property to tooltip, the most recent displaces the older one

It would be better if more than one property/field could be simultaneously displayed as tooltip i.e. on consecutive lines. This is possible in some other network diagram visualisation software e.g Visualyzer

Allow palette to serve as a factory for subgraphs

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:19:59 +0000

For fast drawing of graphs we often copy and paste. It would be helpful if some macro like concept can be added to the palette to be able to serve as a factory of subgraphs. It can copy the content out of the clip board and form a new entry in the user defined palette.

Allow skripting/fast editing of UML classes

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:27:32 +0000

It would be really nice, if there would be a feature allowing to quickly edit uml classes. This could look like a editor-view where you can enter:

Classname

----

Attributes

---

Methods

Example:

Customer

---

id

name

---

getID()

getName()

I hope this is something more people find useful.

Thanks

prefer male first should avoid crossing edges

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:17:44 +0000

I observerd in a family tree of ancestors the options prefer/force male first only influenced remarried individuals. It would be great if prefer male first would avoid crossing lines in case if inbreed. That would imply you might have to swap spouses that share ancestors.

Pan with middle mouse button option

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:06:17 +0000

I would like a feature that let's me pan around the workspace by holding down the middle mouse botton and then dragging the cursor. This would be like the AutoCAD functionality. Right now, the right mouse button is used, but many drafters prefer the middle button, because it is what we are used to.

Optional anchorage points in shapes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:30:30 +0000

Both top figures show some printings I did by hand in yEd. Having an optional connection pattern, like the one below, would make the design process easier. Maybe with the possibility of defining the number of anchorage points on each side of the shape.

Find&replace

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:37:11 +0000

I propose a find&replace function

How can I lay out nodes according to edge value AND length (i.e. minimise total sum of edge value x length)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:47:37 +0000

I wish to form groups of survey question-items (nodes) based on their correlation coefficients (edge values. I can read these into yEd from Excel, no problem, but seem to be limited to node layout prioritised by number of connections to node (and not their value).

This is very similar to the machine layout problem in industrial facility layout.

Many thanks.

Allow nodes to belong to more than one group

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:46:39 +0000

I would like to be able to have nodes belong to more than one group. This would allow automatic Venn diagram creation

Right now, I can only make nodes appear to belong to more than one group. The automatic layout tools produce something like this right now:

Nodes 4 and 5 should belong to multiple groups.

How to copy & paste with custom properties, between different files?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:58:44 +0000

Thanks.

In 3.9 custom properties of edges are copied only around one file.

It woul be nice to add such feature to copy&paste betweene different files.

I have forgotten to add same propperties to the other file.

Option to auto text-align labels when dragging them

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:01:06 +0000

This one could be implemented as a toggle in the preferences:

If it's active, then when you drag a label to reposition it West(left side) a node, then the label text should be Right-aligned.

If you drag it to the East (right side), then it becomes Left Aligned.

An additional sub-toggle option could be to have text become Center-Aligned when the label is North or South of the node.

Organic (Radial) Layout based on Center Node

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:27:45 +0000

Is it possible to generate a Radial Layout based on a selected Center node?

For example:

http://graphexploration.cond.org/look.html#applets
An applet with the interpreter
Wait for it to load....( you'll have to give permissions for applet to load)
In the Interpreter at the bottom, type: radialLauyout(v178)
System generates a Radial Layout centered on node v178.
1. You could center(v178) to get a better look
2. Try centering on a Neighbour with radialLauyout(v357)

Regards,
Steven

Why not an open source license?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:45:32 +0000

yEd looks like great software! I would love to use it for my personnal use and in our work place (koumbit.org, a non-profit dedicated to free software and helping other non-profits with technology), but unfortunately, the license of yEd is too restrictive for us. We are worried that the license may not allow us to freely use the software for multiple users and thus threaten the perrenity of our documentation.

Furthermore, as a Debian developper, I would see yEd as a great addition to Debian, and therefore Ubuntu. However, the non-free (as in speech) license doesn't allow yEd to be shipped with other distributions.

I do not see the point in using that special license for this software: users are allowed to download and run the application anyways, why not provide the source code so that contributions from the community could be added to your program?

I also feel it's too bad that you make use of other free software but do not contribute your own back to the community.

Hoping you will make the right choice eventually, which could consist of having a dual license (current license and GPL-2 or similar)...

Adding a way to view / modify custom properties in a single sheet

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:24:35 +0000

Instead of having to oopen properties node by node, could it be possible to add a view that would list all nodes with theu custom properties and where we could modify them

For instance, it could be interesting to add columns in the structure view with the customp properties

Add importer for Freemind

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:43:26 +0000

The Mindmapper Freemind (freeware, http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) uses XML for fileformat. It would be nice if there where an import-function into yEd.

Regards

Peter

In structure view, optionally show node description instead of label

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:06:28 +0000

When nodes in a graph exploit HTML markup in their label to display sophisticated content, the text shown for the node in the Structure View may be hard to interpret.

I suggest that you give the option for Structure View to show the node's Description value instead. Or at least make the Description appear as a tip when the mouse hovers over the node's entry in the structure view tree.

Display node and edge descriptions as tooltip in context views

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:54:31 +0000

When the mouse hovers over a node or edge in the main diagram window the item's Description value is usefully shown as a tooltip.

Please add this feature to the diagrams that appear in the Predecessors, Successors and Neighborhood context views. Doing this will make these views easier to use for navigation.

Can we apply a Bridge Style to edges other than polyline?

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:46:38 +0000

Hi

I would like to apply a bridge crossing style (just the simple skipping style: — / —) to curved edges, but currently yEd only seems to apply it to straight (polyline) edges.

Is it not supported yet?

Thanks

Lowering and raising groups is not persisted

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:51:40 +0000

Hi, really liking yEd so far.

I found some issues though (yEd 3.8):

Create a rectangle

Create a group inside the rectangle (e.g. by dragging a group node from the palette onto the rectangle)

The group is now below the rectangle (i.e. invisible)

Lower the rectangle so the group is visible again

Save, close and reopen the model

The group is below the rectangle again (which is wrong)

Also: lowering and raising does not change the dirty state of the model

And last but not least: it would be nice to have a more convenient way to stack multiple nodes along the z-axis (not just the selected node completely to back/front)

Color of handles

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:49:37 +0000

Hello,

I'll want colorize the handles of the nodes, 'coz if the background is dark, you can't see the handles.

I want say again : great software, very innovative.

Daniel