Selection (Partial Layout)

Partial layout supports arranging and placing the selected parts of a diagram without
affecting the remaining non-selected part.
No overlaps with each other or with the non-selected remainder of the diagram are
introduced by placing these parts.

This layout strategy is a perfect fit for any interactive or incremental scenarios
where

– distinct parts of a diagram should be re-arranged using another layout style,
for example, or

– subsequently added parts should be arranged so that they fit an existing
diagram without destroying the diagram’s layout.

General Tab

Scope

Determines whether both nodes and edges of selected parts should be processed or
only edges shall be routed.

Edge Routing Style

Determines the edge routing style that shall be used for routing of

all selected edges
edges that connect to at least one selected node

Auto Detect: Tries to determine whether the edge routing style in the non-selected remainder
of the diagram is orthogonal or not.
If so, edge paths will be routed orthogonally, otherwise straight-line.
Straight-Line: Edge paths will be routed as a straight line connecting the start node and end
node.
Polyline: Edge paths will be routed with one or more straight-line segments, either orthogonal
or not.

If Layout for Units is set to Hierarchical,
the Polyline edge routing style of hierarchical layout will be used.
Orthogonal: Edge paths will be routed in an orthogonal style, i.e. only vertical and horizontal
line segments will be used.
Organic: Edge paths will be routed as a straight line or a curved line.

Placement Strategy

Determines how “units” shall be formed from the selected parts of a diagram.
For each unit a layout is calculated and it is then placed according to the other
settings.

Connected Nodes as a Unit: Selected nodes that are connected to each other are treated as a unit.
Each Node Separately: Each selected node is treated as a unit of its own.
All Nodes as a Unit: All selected nodes are treated as a single unit.

Layout for Units

Selects the layout algorithm that shall be used for arranging the contents of each
unit.

Hierarchical: Hierarchical layout.
The Layout Orientation is taken into account.
Organic: Organic layout.
Circular: Circular layout.
Orthogonal: Orthogonal layout.
As Is: No layout is applied.

Preferred Placement

Determines how to place each unit after layout calculation.
Units are placed such that they do not overlap with each other or with the non-selected
remainder of the diagram.

When Align Nodes is enabled, the resulting placement
is further refined.

Close to Neighbors: Each unit is placed as near as possible to its non-selected neighbor nodes.
This yields short edges between a unit and the non-selected remainder of the diagram.
Close to Initial Position: Each unit is placed as near as possible to its original position.
If space permits, this allows in-place re-arranging of units, for example.

Minimal Node Distance

Determines the minimal distance between adjacent nodes in a unit.
The value is used by the layout algorithm that arranges the contents of the unit.

It also determines the minimal distance between the non-selected remainder of the
diagram and where the unit gets placed.

Layout Orientation

Determines the main layout orientation when placing each unit relative to

where it connects to the non-selected remainder of the diagram, if Preferred Placement
is set to Close to Neighbors
its initial position, if Close to Initial Position is set

Also determines the main layout orientation for each unit, if Layout for Units
is set to Hierarchical.

Auto Detect: Tries to find the layout orientation in the non-selected remainder of the diagram.

If the layout orientation cannot be detected (organic, circular, and orthogonal
layout have no notion of a layout orientation), then no layout orientation is
preferred.
Units are placed where they fit best with respect to the other settings.
Top to Bottom: If possible, each unit is placed below its neighbors/initial position.
Left to Right: If possible, each unit is placed to the right of its neighbors/initial position.
Bottom to Top: If possible, each unit is placed above of its neighbors/initial position.
Right to Left: If possible, each unit is placed to the left of its neighbors/initial position.
None: No layout orientation is preferred.
Each unit is placed where it fits best with respect to the other settings.

Align Nodes

Tries to place each unit such that selected nodes are aligned with nodes in the
non-selected remainder of the diagram.

When enabled, the Preferred Placement for a unit
is taken as the starting point for finding possible alignments.