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How can I move a node instead of starting an edge?

0 votes
When I left-drag from a node,  yEd will sometimes move the node and sometimes start an edge.  It is not clear to me when it does what.  Right now,  it always starts an edge,  and I cannot figure out how to move the node.

When does yEd start an edge,  and when does it move the node?

Also,  sometimes I can move the whole diagram by dragging with the right mouse button,  and sometimes the right mouse button pops up a context menu,  and I have no clue when it does what.

Are there two (or more) editing modes?  If so,  what are they and how do they get activated?

BTW: I am currently using the online editor.
in Help by

1 Answer

0 votes

Open yEd Live's hamburger menu, go to "Settings" and check if option "Move Unselected Nodes" in section "Interaction" is enabled or not.

With "Move Unselected Nodes" enabled:

You move a node if the mouse is inside the node but not over any port candidate and you press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse.

You may move multiple nodes if you select the nodes you want to move, move the mouse inside one of the selected nodes but not over any port candidate and again press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse.

You create an edge, if you move the mouse over a port candidate press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse.

The green dots are port candidates.

With "Move Unselected Nodes" disabled:

You may move one or more nodes if you select the nodes you want to move (even if it is just one), move the mouse inside one of the selected nodes and press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse.

You create an edge, if you move the mouse inside a node that is not selected and press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse again.

Personally, I prefer to have "Move Unselected Nodes" disabled, because you need to be less exact with your mouse placement for moving nodes or creating edges.

Open context menu vs move the viewport

A right-click will open the context menu appropriate for the clicked item. ("Click" means press a mouse button and release it again within a short amount of time and without moving the mouse in between press and release.)

Pressing and holding the right mouse button and moving the mouse will move the viewport of the editor. Moving the viewport is also called "panning". Moreover, pressing and holding the CTRL key, then pressing and holding the left mouse button and moving the mouse (all while still holding CTRL) will also move the editor's viewport.

by [yWorks] (160k points)
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