Task of a Layout Algorithm
A layout algorithm is responsible for automatic arrangement of graph elements. Following certain rules, it computes both node positions and edge paths in such a way that a clear and aesthetically pleasing result is achieved.
The rules can be of quite varying nature, which is why there exist diverse layout styles.
Creating a Graph
To compute the layout for a graph, there has to be a graph first. A graph can be created using several ways, e.g.,
- manually (see also “Creating a Graph”),
- loaded from a file (see menu ‘File’, item ‘Open…’),
-
using one of the tools to automatically create a graph (see menu ‘Tools’,
item ‘Create Graph’).
Starting a Layout Algorithm
Menu ‘Layout’ provides a variety of powerful layout algorithms that compute appealing results already with their default settings.
Note: Not every algorithm is a perfect match for each graph. For example, a tree layout algorithm by default expects a graph with a tree-like structure.