This is a versatile and powerful layout algorithm that can route the edges of a diagram using only vertical and horizontal line segments, while keeping the positions of the nodes in the diagram fixed. The routed edges will usually not cross through any nodes and not overlap any other edges.
The abilities of this router make it a perfect layouter for interactive or incremental scenarios where
Layout Settings
Path Finding Algorithm
Determines which layout algorithm will route the edges initially, before they are distributed in their channel.
- High Quality Edge Routing
- Routes the defined edges using a shortest path algorithm, which will take a longer time, but will end up in better routing results.
- High Performance Edge Routing
- Routes the defined edges using a pattern algorithm. This algorithm chooses the best pattern out of a set of patterns to route the edges. This algorithm will be faster, than using the shortest path algorithm, but might end up in more node overlaps, depending on the given graphs.
Scope
Determines the set of edges that the router should process.
- All Edges
- Routes all edges in the graph
- Selected Edges
- Routes only the selected edges in the graph
- Edges at Selected Nodes
- Routes only the edges connected to selected nodes
Minimum Distance
Determines the distance between any two edge segments. The edge router adheres to the set value as possible, but reduces the distance value selectively, i.e. only for a currently processed edge, when there is too little space to find a path with the proper value.
Enable Grid Routing
If set, then all edge paths will be routed on grid lines from a predefined grid. If not set, then “free” routing will be applied to the edge paths.
Grid Spacing
Determines the spacing of the grid lines where all edge paths will be routed upon. Grid spacing plays the same role for routing on grid lines as minimum distance between any two edge segments does for “free” routing. The edge router adheres to the set value as possible, but reduces the spacing value selectively, i.e. only for a currently processed edge, when there is too little space to find a path with the proper value.
Costs
When using the high performance path finding strategy, one can define costs to influence which path patterns are chosen.
Bend Cost
Defines the costs every bend of an edge will cause.
Edge Crossing Costs
Defines the costs an edge crossing will cause.
Node Overlap Costs
Defines the costs an edge path will cause, that overlaps a node.