Graph Editor documentation:
Graph Editor applet
Getting Started
Graph Editor in action
FAQ
 Java Doc generated documentation
 
 


 
 
Getting Started
 

 

 

 

Node draw tool
 



 

Edge draw tool
 
 

 

 

Selection tool

 



 


 
Graph Editor in action (visualization of appointments and meetings)
 
FAQ
 
 
 

1. Why are those small rectangles in the middle of each edge? Can they be hidden?

2. How can I create my own nodes? Are there any guidelines?

3. I created a new node, how can I incorporate it in my application?

4. How can I save my graphs!

5. 3D graph editor?

6. Does node have to be rectangular?

7. I think that <tool> should support <feature>!  Interactive layout, dynamic drawing, fish eye ... wish list?

8. I loaded the graph editor on <platform>, and it did not work properly!

9. There is some strange output on my screen (java console), and does not  look like standard java virtual machine output!

10. Traces of the node drawing rectangles appear, after I click on the graph panel. How can I remove them?

11. I have copied graph in the clipboard, but when I try to paste it in another application it does not work?

12. Documentation is not clear about <question>. Could you be more precise?

13. Will graph editor turn into a bean, can I incorporate it in my program?

14. There is another graph editor, that offers the same functionality as graph editor!
 
 
1. Why are those small rectangles in the middle of each edge? Can they be hidden?

Small rectangles in the middle of each edge are called edge attributes.  There are two reasons for their existence:
a) they can carry additional data about the edge, and can be used for placing controls for editing attributes of the edge.
b) they are used for selecting nodes for copying or deleting. (this approach greatly reduces amount of calculation)

These rectangles can be hidden -- Edit/Hide Attributes and shown with Edit/Show Attributes. Note that Movement tool functions faster
with hidden attributes (while with shown attributes it is known to mess up the screen, this will be taken care of in next version, planned for the late
June)

2. How can I create my own nodes? Are there any guidelines?

Creating nodes is quite simple (as opposed to creating edges, or tools -- collectors). Take a look at the javadoc generated documents.

3. I created a new node, how can I incorporate it in graph editor?

You should put your new node class in the directory with other classes from Graph package, and add new option to menu bar, and modify actionPerformed in the GraphEditFrame so that node type can be switched, and there you go.

4. How can I save my graphs!
 
 Serialization support is available, but not in the applet version, application version will be made available on the separate page. If you want to be notified when this happend send an e-mail to geditor@krcko.co.yu

5. 3D graph editor?

We are waiting for the Java 3D api, to become fully functional, and then we will start implementing 3D graph layout and drawing algorithms.

6. Does node have to be rectangular?
 
At this time: Yes (because all nodes inherit Panel). In future nodes will not have to be rectangular, but probably most of the interest will still be in the Panel based Nodes, since they are useful in form displaying.

7. I think that <tool> should support <feature>!  Interactive layouts, dynamic drawing, fish eye ... wish list?

If you have ides or references that you think I should know of, please send me an e-mail to geditor@krcko.co.yu
In next couple of months I will concentrate on speeding up the application (removing multiple updates, changing from hashtable to some faster data structures, etc) so do not expect me to start working on what you think is "a great tool" right away.

8. I ran graph editor on/in <platform/browser>, and it does not work properly!

The only <platform> that I think of as stable is Visual Age for Java appletviewer (I am amazed by the number of bugs I discovered in other browsers/appletviewers, that are not reproducible in the VAJ appletviewer ?!). I will take a look at all different browsers, once that I am satisfied with the framework (since there is still many things that have to be corrected), by that time, most of the bugs will be removed anyway.

9. There is some strange output on my screen (java console), and does not  look like standard java virtual machine output!

Ok.

10. Traces of the node drawing rectangles appear, after I click on the graph panel. How can I remove them?

Refresh from File menu or by resizing the Window. If you do have "ghosts" on your screen, please try to reproduce them and when you are sure how and when they appear tell me about it  geditor@krcko.co.yu

11. I have copied graph in the clipboard, but when I try to paste it in another application it does not work?

Clipboard that is used in graph editor is an internal clipboard. Exporting of graphs to other applications is a matter of some complexity (although) very interested, and I will devote time and effor to it, once I finish more important (and boring) parts.

12. Documentation is not clear about <question>. Could you be more precise?

Yes, send an e-mail to geditor@krcko.co.yu

13. Will graph editor turn into a bean, can I incorporate it in my program?

One day, maybe, probably ... actually what happens with graph editor, greatly depends on the interest of other people, and if somebody wants to invest some time in developing (implementing) algorithm for graph editor, it would be great, and I would do my best to help out ...

14. There is another graph editor, that offers the same functionality as graph editor!

Ok, send me the URL.

 


Vladimir Jojic,         last update: 3/20/98