yEd Q&A - Recent questions

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Mon, 04 May 2026 15:36:54 +0000

Is it possible to replace a node with a node and edge to multiple nodes simultaneously?

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:30:34 +0000

Hello

I am wondering if this is possible.

I need to make a modification to a specific node with a unique label, which occurs multiple times. I want to add a new node via a specific edge.

I do not want to disturb the remainder of the connections to the original node.

I am wondering if it is possible to replace the current node with a paste of the new node combination.

wie importiere ich daten aus excel?

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:08:17 +0000

Easily select all edges between specific node combinations to change arrow type

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:01:46 +0000

Hello

I have a map with many different nodes and edges.

I only want to change the two edges between three specific nodes that exist in that combination multiple times in the map. They currently exist as a filled arrow and I need to change those into unfilled arrows.

Is it possible to do that?

Search by node shape

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:06:30 +0000

Hello

I am trying to find an easy way to search and jump to every node that is a specific shape.

I need to add information/node to a specific shaped node in my diagram.

Any suggestions?

where are the examples stored

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 14:21:45 +0000

Interface text not respecting OS-level display scaling.

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:32:12 +0000

System information: Framework 16 (AMD, integrated graphics) - native resolution is 2560x1600 at 150% UI scaling.

yEd information: version 3.25.1, JRE 23.0.1

Recently tried using yEd on my laptop, but the UI text is far too small to read. Some of the interface scales correctly (top menu text, icons) but most of it is not. (I would attach a more helpful screenshot, but it seems too low-resolution to really show the problem.)

Why do I see only one square when opening a GraphML file?

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:42:13 +0000

After opening a GraphML file that was not created with yEd, I see only a single square in yEd's editor area:

Why does yEd not show all the items from my graph?

System.AccessViolationException occurs when exporting very large diagrams with yFiles WPF.

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 04:49:45 +0000

We are using yFiles WPF to render and export diagrams.

When exporting small or medium-sized diagrams, the export works correctly.

However, when exporting very large diagrams, we encounter a

System.AccessViolationException (HResult: 0x80004003).

The issue appears during bitmap-based export (e.g., PNG).

In the failing cases, the resulting bitmap size exceeds approximately

700 million pixels.

There is no managed stack trace available for the exception.

The problem does not occur with smaller diagrams and seems to be related

to the size of the generated bitmap.

We suspect this may be caused by bitmap or rendering limitations

(e.g., GDI+/WPF limits on bitmap dimensions or memory usage).

Questions:

- Is there a documented or recommended upper limit for bitmap-based export in yFiles WPF?

- Are there recommended approaches for exporting very large diagrams

(e.g., tiling, poster export, or vector-based export such as XPS/SVG)?

- Is this a known limitation or known issue in yFiles WPF?

Latest yEd on Mac not showing any editor panes

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 07:46:54 +0000

Running yEd 3.25.1 on my MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) with macOS Tahoe 26.2

No panes are shown in yEd - they're just blank. Did uninstall and reinstall, but to no avail.

Thanks for any help
pasquale

Why does the layout 'tree-like' / 'directed' not work any more on my machine (as it did earlier)?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:10:02 +0000

I have a simple (14 lines) tgf file:

Balbo_Baggins Balbo_Baggins
Berylla_Boffin Berylla_Boffin
Mungo_Baggins Mungo_Baggins
Laura_Grubb Laura_Grubb
Bungo_Baggins Bungo_Baggins
Belladonna_Took Belladonna_Took
Bilbo_Baggins Bilbo_Baggins
#
Balbo_Baggins Mungo_Baggins
Berylla_Boffin Mungo_Baggins
Mungo_Baggins Bungo_Baggins
Laura_Grubb Bungo_Baggins
Bungo_Baggins Bilbo_Baggins
Belladonna_Took Bilbo_Baggins

I can open the file. But when I try to give it a tree-like, directed layout (executing the respective Menu item) *NOTHING* happens. The tree-like / ballon layout still works. Layout tree-like / directed *WORKED* earlier. Maybe this behavior comes from: I have tried to include additionally in the tgf file some 'comment nodes' (ordinary nodes with no edge participation but with very long labels with about 60 characters without any blanks); after these experiments (after loading the mutated tgf files), the tree-like layout did not work any more. I have installed the latest yEd version (my version was a bit outdated), but this does not help. It seems to be not a matter of the yEd installation, but the matter seems to be due to my profile.

I am an ABSOLUTE yEd fan! yEd is FIRST CLASS software!

Behavior on return: execute “Apply” function instead of “OK”

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:06:52 +0000

Dear yEd Team,

it would be helpful if the “Return” action in the settings did not trigger ‘OK’ and implementation, but instead triggered the “Apply” function (optional).

Reason: When you click “OK,” the “Settings” window closes and you have to reopen it when you need it again.

Thank you for this great tool!

export to svg

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:51:38 +0000

Hi,

is it possible to initialize and configure an export of a yED diagram to SVG format without having to start and click through the yED's editor GUI? I could imagine to see a command line action for this, like:

yED.exe export --transparency test.svg

If this is not possible, maybe, you could tell me, on which application (maybe an opensource one) yED's export feature has been based on?

Thanks.

Radial Layout questions

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:52:44 +0000

1. How can we bridge the gap between generations?

2. How to make a husband stick to his wife?

3. How can I remove these dots next to the cards and connect the lines directly?

How to create a compact tree while preserving generation levels?

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 21:59:00 +0000

Is it possible to build such a tree?

https://s1.hostingkartinok.com/uploads/images/2025/11/e086748527e9eaa3c830e24bbb7dbe20.jpg

how to end a line when using the mouse

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 14:14:57 +0000

Comparing multiple files to find most recent version

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 15:39:48 +0000

Hello

Is there a way to compare the actual data in the graphs, similar to how some apps can compare Word or PDF documents, and identify the deletions and additions?

I ended up in a situation where I worked on the same file on different computers (long story) and now have 3 files that look very similar and I can't remember which was the last one I worked on.

I can't rely on the file properties in the file explorer as one of the file's dates are based on when I transferred it from another computer. But it is possible I may have also worked on it that same day.

I am trying to figure out which is the last modified version so I can properly back it up and continue editing.

Existing yED file cannot be opened by yED app on my MacBook

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:33:23 +0000

I can not open my existing yEd file which i have made it a couple of days ago. It shows only a white page.

Custom Properties are not preserved?

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 18:55:28 +0000

We need a .xgml as file type.
We have custom properties that are included in a .xgml.

Opening them with Yed does not make them show up in the properties view even if they are well formatted
(<attribute id="NewAttribute" type="string">NewValue</attribute>).
They should be at minimum in the data section. Yed should not interpret anything unless told otherwise.

These are raw data values that should be attached and not be interpreted by the program.

- Saving them as .xgml again will not preserve them and will delete them without any warning.
- Adding the custom properties manually through the menuing will just create new ones instead of linking the existing data. This solution will not even persist onto the saved file, which is kind of annoying and very confusing how this should be preserved easily by the simple use of tag language.
- Having a .cnfg is not really useful and should not be needed for such a simple process (it is literally very simple tag language)
- Making it a .graphml is not what we need for our use.

Could we please have Yed preserve custom properties even if they are not to be interpreted? I am genuinely surprised this is not default behavior. It seems like having to use multiple files or other extensions is both overhead and unecessary.

How to export a graph into excel for easier editing using excel tools

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 23:05:04 +0000

How can you export the contents of a graph to excel for easier manipulation of the graph elements in excel for a re-import?

Problem with virtual objects in yEd Live for Neo4j

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:52:56 +0000

Hello yWorks Team,

when creating virtual objects (nodes and relations) with a Neo4j Cypher script in yEd Live for Neo4j I receive the following error message: "Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'join')"

This only happens when as well apoc.create.vNode and apoc.create.vRelationship is used in combination. When mixing virtual objects with stored objects virtual generations are still possible. In a former version of the Neo4j Data Explorer it was possible to generate pure virtual structures based in Cypher queries was possible. Is this problem known? And if yes is there a workaround?

Mac Sequoia 15.6.1 completely broke yEd

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 22:19:20 +0000

Hi all,

Macbook recently updated to Sequoia 15.6.1, yEd now *totally inoperative*. White screen.

As instructed from previous message with similar symptoms, from a terminal window I deleted the whole yWorks folder:
$ cd ~/Library
$ rm -rf yWorks
Deleted application. Since I'm using Intel hardware, downloaded latest AMD version of .dmg and reinstalled yEd. Unfortunately no change in behavior.

Any other suggestions?

Curved Pathstyle performance

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:10:28 +0000

Is there any drastic effect on the performance on a graph when the path style is Curved compared to Polyline path style?

yEd so much potential but let down by the basics in linux

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 14:36:14 +0000

Hi,

I tried this 3 years ago and gave up.
Tried it today and many problems still there !

If I copy an image and want to paste it into a group node, it does not paste it pastes the previous image I copied

To clear it i have to paste the image anywhere into yEd (but must not be pasted into the the group node) then cut then it and then it can be pasted correctly into the group node

Also another bigger problem, I have a group node correctly set with a large image, with a single wire to the top of it.

If i open it and then on closing the group node, the wire connection has moved to the bottom of the node and a long straight wire is added ?

Hopefully these problems will be fixed, thanks

Mac application

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 15:29:41 +0000

When I install the application for Mac, the tool with the edit view sections cannot be displayed. Can you help me?

how to built automaticly a networkdiagram?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:38:24 +0000

yED drawings can not be opened anymore from my MacBook

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:59:14 +0000

yED opens only a white page from my MacBook even the drawings which I've made them a couple of days ago.

how can i delete recent documents from file tag

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:15:28 +0000

Any ability to highlight edges when selecting a node in desktop version?

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:08:01 +0000

Hello

My graph can become a bit complex and having the ability to select a node and highlight all the edges can help me better trace the paths to determine how to rearrange everything.

An added bonus would be to also highlight the other nodes connected to the edges.

I know the neighbourhood graph shows this but it is isolated from the whole graph. I will still find it useful to be able to see the entire layout with the nodes and edges highlighted.

Is there a way to configure the settings to get this visualisation?

I need to restructure a GEDCOM file for yEd to import the FILE tag information. How do I do this (which tool)?

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:04:56 +0000

Thank for your clear answer ... So I have to restructure the Gedcom in accordance to yEd ...

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:02:53 +0000

Unable to maintain label word wrap created in desktop when in live version

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:46:24 +0000

Hello

I realise the live and desktop version use different formats.

Is there a way to get the word wrap used in the desktop to maintain in the live version?

Gedcom V 5.5.1, a tag is missing, why ?

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 19:58:13 +0000

Part of a Gedcom from Heredis

0 HEAD
1 SOUR Heredis PC2023
2 VERS 2023
2 NAME Heredis PC
2 CORP Heredis SCOP
3 WWW www.heredis.com
1 DATE 6 JUN 2025
1 GEDC
2 VERS 5.5.1
2 FORM LINEAGE-LINKED
1 CHAR UTF-8
1 _GUID 07A3FB20-C9E3-4D98-9D9A-17C3236EEB33
………
0 @O3723@ OBJE
1 TITL SPaul.JPG
1 FILE C:/Desktop/TES-Medias/SPaul.JPG
2 FORM JPG
0 @O1980@ OBJE
………
After opening the Gedcom with Yedgraph …..
the tag "file" doesn't appear in the data
Question 1 : How to import the tag file ?
Question 2 : What is the reg expression to extract the tag "File" for a label icon?
Thanks in advance
Regards

Importation of gedcom

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:00:41 +0000

Is it possible to have a log of the iportation of a gedcom in Yed in order to know where are the errors of importation
Thanks in advance
Regards

providing "modification date" attribute for each node element

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 11:55:50 +0000

Hi,

I was wondering if it was possible to update a "modification date" attribute whenever a node element or its children gets modified by actions performed within the editor (new element, change text of label, change color of background, ...).

I don't know if this attribute already exists and might be activated via settings?

If not, I would like to be able to use it e.g. when trying to find updated differences by checking the "modification date" of identified nodes.

Thanks.

wie kann ich zu einem knoten ein foto einfügen

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:03:43 +0000

Will YWorks fix current yED 3.25.1 to run on MacOS 15.4.1? How to download prior yEd version?

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:55:27 +0000

How to show printer page lines on main screen to draw within borders

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 01:30:03 +0000

Hello

I'm new to yEd but beginning to love it the more I get familiar with it.

Is there a way to view the printer page lines on the main drawing screen?

I am hoping to use this as a guide so I know when my diagram is getting too large for one page and needs a "connecting node" to split the drawing and continue on another page. This will help me better manage the drawing design and size.

Apple XDR Display P3-1500 Nits

Sun, 11 May 2025 17:43:14 +0000

I'm experiencing an issue with yEd on my Mac. When my display is set to use the Apple XDR Display P3-1500 nits color profile, yEd does not function properly — the entire application window appears completely blank (white screen), and nothing is visible.

However, when I switch to a different color profile (like the default sRGB or Display P3), yEd works normally again.

This suggests that there might be a compatibility issue between yEd and the Apple XDR P3-1500 nits color profile. Please let me know if there's a workaround or if this can be addressed in a future update.

Thanks in advance for your support.

yED version 3.25.1 not working on macos Sequoia 15.4.1

Fri, 09 May 2025 20:59:34 +0000

I used yED successfully, but after update to yED 3.25.1, I see white screen. I've read your recommendation in this forum, but it does not help me. Can you get me any advice how to install yED 3.25.1 correctly. I have a lot of diagramms in old ver. If I not be able to work with your new ver., can I download old ver again?

Align Nodes Menu Items On Toolbar

Fri, 09 May 2025 10:21:51 +0000

Can we get these menu items on the toolbar as well? I can never remember all the keyboard shortcuts and it's annoying to have to go into the menu every time.

Edit Label On Create Group

Fri, 09 May 2025 10:16:04 +0000

Most of the time, when I drag a node onto a graph, I don't need to edit it's label.

But every time I create a group, I DO need to edit it's label.

At the moment, these two are linked - a single checkbox for "Edit Label On Create Node" in Preferences.

Can you separate them out into groups and nodes please?

Label Icon Fit To Dimensions Of Label

Wed, 07 May 2025 16:01:05 +0000

At the moment we have to set a fixed size for icons inside a label. I'd love to be able to have it just use the dimensions of the label itself, so if the label gets longer, the icon gets longer too.

The use case is using the icon to put a fancy background shape/frame around the label rather than just a rectangle.

It would even better if it would actually resize vector shapes properly rather than just stretch them, too (at the moment if you do Convert To Label on a shape node, then go into the label's icon properties and change the size, it stretches it, meaning the border changes width and radiuses become elliptic etc. There are numerous reasons why having to do Convert To Node -> resize manually -> Convert To Label again is irritating and a bad workaround).

Edge Label Position - Default To Top Of Edge

Wed, 07 May 2025 11:12:49 +0000

So I have a load of edge styles in my palette, all of which have the label on top of the edge, but when I use these in a new graph, the label always appears below the edge.

How can I get it to default to above the edge when using that edge style in a new graph?

Placement is set to Smart Free: Anywhere at the moment. I'd like to avoid the 'slider' placements if possible because I like the flexibility of moving the label anywhere along the edge.

Edge Label Rotate - Follow Edge Direction

Wed, 07 May 2025 11:06:58 +0000

Is there a way to get the edge label to follow the direction of the edge itself? This is mainly for when the label is on a vertical section of an edge - when I draw an edge from A to B, I want the label to rotate so it follows the direction of A -> B.

Auto Rotate With Edge doesn't quite do this. I currently have to manually toggle Auto-Flip on edges that go from top to bottom (the bottom to top is fine) every time, which gets tedious.

How to achieve this style of Layout / Routing?

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:38:20 +0000

So far I've been manually routing all my edges by hand, but on more complex diagrams this gets very tedious.

I tried quite a few of the built-in layout algorithms but none of the ones I tried gave as good a layout as doing it by hand.

I'm trying to achieve something like the attached image; compactness is important, as this gets printed to an A4 sheet of paper, so if it isn't compact, the text becomes unreadable.

Can someone reccomend how to achieve this sort of edge routing automagically? Or am I asking too much of yEd here?

A node into a multiple group ?

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:55:41 +0000

Hello

Is it a way to have a node into different group ?

For the moment, I've this data

Node ID	Group Node ID
P1	G1
P1	G2
P1	G3
P2	G2
P2	G3
P3	G4

I want show the node P1 into group G1/G2/G3

With this data, P1 will be only on G3

Best regards

How to draw jump lines

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:48:23 +0000

yEd does not work under Mac M4 Pro 15.4.1 / yEd 3.25.1

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:40:06 +0000

Hello everyone,

since the update to yEd 3.25.1, only one file can be opened and when saving or opening a second file, the program hangs up and refuses to work.

can you help here? all suggestions and fixes from the forum have already been applied, but do not solve the problem.

Best regards
Stefan

group into group from excel ?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:11:12 +0000

Hello

Is it possible to put one group into another from excel ?

For exemple

Bigger group name	Group name	Node Name
Big1	GP1	P1
Big1	GP1	P2
Big1	GP1	P3
Big1	GP2	P4
Big2	GP3	P5

Best regards

Alex