Incremental Grid-like Layout Using Soft and Hard Constraints

TL;DR

This paper presents a flexible force-directed graph layout method that integrates grid-like conventions with constraints, producing high-quality, axis-aligned layouts suitable for complex notations and interactive systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining soft and hard constraints to improve grid-like graph layouts, accommodating user constraints and interactions.

Findings

Produces high-quality, axis-aligned graph layouts

Supports complex notation conventions like SBGN

Adapts to user constraints and online interactions

Abstract

We explore various techniques to incorporate grid-like layout conventions into a force-directed, constraint-based graph layout framework. In doing so we are able to provide high-quality layout---with predominantly axis-aligned edges---that is more flexible than previous grid-like layout methods and which can capture layout conventions in notations such as SBGN (Systems Biology Graphical Notation). Furthermore, the layout is easily able to respect user-defined constraints and adapt to interaction in online systems and diagram editors such as Dunnart.