Geo - Partial Overlapping Links layout algorithm properties

When the Geo - Partial Overlapping Links (POLA) schematic layout algorithm is chosen in the Layout Task 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.

Tip:

Make sure the builder used to generate your diagrams works with the Initialize links vertices option checked, if you want the algorithm to process from the real direction of the lines.

Dimension parameters

The parameters in the Dimension section determine the maximum buffer distance between the link segments that are considered as overlapping segments and the final distance that must be applied to separate them.

• Increase the Buffer width parameter value if you want to enlarge the buffer zone that separates the link segments you want to be considered as overlapping segments.

  The figures below show results with different values for the Buffer width parameter. Figure 1.1 shows the initial schematic diagram. Two subsets of parallel link segments are clearly distinguished: the subset of blue links in which many segments very nearly overlap and the red link. The distance between the closest blue link segments and the red segments is almost 3 meters. Figure 1.2 shows the Partial Overlapping Links layout algorithm result obtained when Buffer width is set to 1.5 meters and the offset used to separate the detected links is 1 meter. In this case, because the red link is not in the buffer zone, it is not impacted by algorithm execution. Figure 1.3 shows the result obtained on the same diagram when using the same offset but increasing the buffer width (Buffer width = 3 meters). In this case, as the buffer zone is enlarged, the red link is considered an overlap of the closest blue link so the algorithm impacts it.
• Increase the Offset parameter value if you want to enlarge the distance that will separate the detected link segments after layout algorithm execution.

  The figures below show results after manipulation of the Offset parameter: Figure 2.1 shows the initial schematic diagram. Figure 2.2 is obtained with Offset equal to 1 and Buffer width being 3. Figure 2.3 shows the result obtained after setting Offset to 1.5 but without changing the Buffer width parameter value.

  Note:

  To preserve the original harmony of the parallel segment set, it is fine to work with a minimum Offset parameter value that is half the Buffer width parameter value.

Link optimization check box

Keep this box checked so the algorithm tries to optimize the segment placement order in each set of detected collinear segments by focusing on their connections instead of their positions. In this case, the detected segments that cross each other have a chance to be reordered so they do not cross. When the box is unchecked, the algorithm works with the initial position of each segment in the collinear segment set and crossings are kept.

The figures below show the Link optimization parameter: Figure 3.1 shows the initial schematic diagram. Figure 3.2 is obtained with Link optimization unchecked. Figure 3.3 shows the result obtained with Link optimization checked.

Restore Defaults button

Click the Restore Defaults button to reinitialize all the Geo - Partial Overlapping Links parameters with their default values. The restored values are those either specified by default by Schematics or specifically set as the defaults for the schematic diagram template related to the active diagram using the Schematic Dataset Editor Layouts tab for this schematic diagram template.