Lines with more than 2 nodes

Question

First, thanks for this great multi-platform software. Since we work with Windows, Mac and Linux, it's really usefull for us.

One feature missing that I think would be useful is to be able to draw a line associated with more than 2 nodes so with also mid-nodes instead of only a start and end node. Right now, with the node by node working model, when using complex schema, it's hard to follow a link that must goes through several nodes.

First option is to make a line between each node in serie but, on a complex schema, it's hard to see the line from start to end since, for the software, it's multiple lines and clicking on it will only highlit between 2 nodes.

The other option is to the line through / over / under nodes without them beeing associated to the line but it's harder to work (moving nodes yon't move line, etc.).

If we could draw a line through several node or merge or associate several lines, that would be usefull. Exemple of why it would be usefull:

On a layer 2 network, a VLAN can go through several device and we could easily select a line representing a VLAN and see exactly through wich devices it's goes through in a single click.

On a layer 3 network, we could use it for the same, by whuch devices the data pass through to through from edgerouter to customers.

On a phone cables schema for a building, a wire pass by which patch pannels, which pipes, etc. Same on a fiber shema, a fiber pass by which jackets, loose tubes, fusion boxs, pipes, etc. It would be nice to click on it and highlit wire from end to end through all elements (nodes) since those kind of schema can be really confusing.

Answer 1

One possible solution is to put labels on the edges (lines) and use the Tools-->Select Elements function to select all edges with the same label or text within a label.

Make edges between each node in series to represent the circuit, and put the same label on each of the edges to show that they belong to the same circuit.  You can even list several together in one label, separated by commas, to aggregate circuits into trunks without having to show separate lines for each circuit in the trunk.  Perhaps also show the trunk as a thicker line to visually represent the combined circuits.

Then, go to Tools-->Select Elements and choose the Edges tab.  Check "Use These Criteria", Select Label, enter the text of the circuit you want to focus on, and then choose the Match Type.  Use Match Type "Complete" to simply match the label text.  Use "Infix Match" to match substrings such as with several circuit names listed together for a trunk circuit.  Click OK.  The matched edges will be selected to show the full path of the circuit.