Geo - Force Directed layout algorithm properties

When the Geo - Force Directed schematic layout algorithm is chosen in the Layout Task drop-down list, clicking the Layout Algorithm Properties button on the Schematic Editor toolbar opens its associated properties dialog box as follows:

The parameter values are those either specified by default by Schematics or specifically set as the default for the schematic diagram template related to the active diagram using the Schematic Dataset Editor Layouts tab for this schematic diagram template.

Number of iterations parameter

The Number of iterations parameter determines the number of Force Directed algorithm iterations that are executed before the final result is shown.

The figures below show the results obtained for the same diagram with different values for the Number of iterations parameter:

• Figure 1.1 represents the initial schematic diagram.
• Figure 1.2 shows the diagram after the Force Directed algorithm is executed with 10 iterations (Number of iterations = 10).
• Figure 1.3 shows the result after 20 iterations.

By default, the Number of iterations parameter value is 20.

Note:

The result obtained after the Force Directed layout algorithm is executed with 5 for the Number of iterations parameter is not the same as the one obtained when executing the Force Directed algorithm five times with 1 for Number of iterations.

Repel factor parameter

The Repel factor parameter is used to quickly increase schematic node displacement for nodes that are close together. The larger the repel factor, the greater the separation between schematic nodes that almost overlap. By default, the Repel factor value is 1 unless another value is specified for the diagram template related to the active diagram.

The figures below show the impact of this factor:

• Figure 2.1 represents the initial schematic diagram.
• Figure 2.2 shows the Force Directed result after 20 iterations with a repel factor of 1.
• Figure 2.3 shows the Force Directed result after 20 iterations with a repel factor of 2.

Note:

The displacement for the schematic nodes that almost overlapped (highlighted in the red circle) in the initial diagram is farther in figure 2.3 than in figure 2.2.

Degree of freedom options

The Degree of freedom options allow you to limit the area used to move the schematic nodes during each algorithm iteration. With the Low option, this area is very limited. With the High option, the area is large. The Medium option is an intermediate factor.

• Figure 3.1 represents the initial schematic diagram.
• Figure 3.2 shows the Force Directed result after 20 iterations with a low degree of freedom.
• Figure 3.3 shows the Force Directed result after 20 iterations with a medium degree of freedom.
• Figure 3.4 shows the result after 20 iterations with a high degree of freedom.

Restore Defaults button

Click the Restore Defaults button to reset all the Force Directed parameters to their default values. The restored values are those either specified by default by Schematics or specifically set as the default for the schematic diagram template related to the active diagram using the Schematic Dataset Editor Layouts tab for this schematic diagram template.