Hierarchical - Compact Tree layout algorithm properties

When the Hierarchical - Compact Tree 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.

About root schematic node

The Hierarchical - Compact Tree layout algorithm works from a root schematic node from which the resulting compact tree starts. This root schematic node can be specified using the Set Schematic Root tool . When no root node is specified, the algorithm automatically considers one of the schematic nodes the root node.

Direction options

The Direction options determine the direction of the compact tree.

• Choose the From left to right option for a compact tree starting from a root schematic node positioned on the left and ending on the right (figure 1.1 below). This is the default option unless another option is specified on the diagram template related to the active diagram.
• Choose the From right to left option for a compact tree starting from a root schematic node positioned on the right and ending on the left (figure 1.2 below).
• Choose the From bottom to top option for a compact tree starting from a root schematic node positioned at the bottom and ending at the top (figure 1.3 below).
• Choose the From top to bottom option for a compact tree starting from a root schematic node positioned at the top and ending at the bottom (figure 1.4 below).

Link display parameters

The Link display parameters specify the positioning of vertices that will be added along the schematic links.

• Type a number between 0 and 1 to define the relative position of the break point on the last segment of the schematic links. The default value is 0.5 unless another value is specified on the diagram template related to the active diagram. With a Break point value of 0, this segment is the longest and is displayed with a right angle. With a Break point value of 1, this segment doesn't exist, causing each schematic link to directly connect its two extremity schematic nodes without an intermediate point.

  Figures 2.1–2.6 below show the Compact Tree layout results with different break point values.

• Check the Orthogonal check box to display links with right angles. This box is unchecked by default.

  Figures 2.7–2.12 below show how a schematic link with different break point values is displayed when the Orthogonal check box is either checked or unchecked.

Spacing parameters

The Spacing parameters determine how the spacing between the hierarchical levels and schematic nodes belonging to a given hierarchical level will be computed. The unit for these spacing parameters depends on the Absolute units check box.

• The Between nodes perpendicular to the direction parameter determines the spacing between the schematic nodes that are displayed perpendicular to the Compact Tree direction—that is, the spacing between nodes that belong to the same hierarchical level.

  The figures below show the Compact Tree results when Between nodes perpendicular to the direction = 2 (figure 3.1), Between nodes perpendicular to the direction = 3 (figure 3.2), and Between nodes perpendicular to the direction = 5 (figure 3.3) while the Absolute units check box is unchecked.

• The Between nodes along the direction parameter determines the spacing between schematic nodes that are displayed along the Compact Tree direction—that is, the spacing between a node belonging to the (n) hierarchical level and a node belonging to the (n+1) hierarchical level.

  The figures below show the Compact Tree results when Between nodes along the direction = 2 (figure 3.4), Between nodes along the direction = 3 (figure 3.5), and Between nodes along the direction = 5 (figure 3.6) while the Absolute units check box is unchecked.

Absolute units check box

By default, the Spacing parameters are interpreted as absolute units determined by the coordinate system specified on the XY Coordinate System tab of the Schematic Diagram Properties dialog box (Absolute units checked). Uncheck the Absolute units check box if you want these parameter values to be interpreted as units relative to the average of the current symbol sizes used to represent the schematic nodes in the diagram. In this case, when the Between nodes along the direction parameter value is 2, the distance that separates two schematic nodes belonging to the (n) and (n+1) hierarchical levels corresponds to the average size of two symbols placed side by side.

Note:

Specifying parameters in relative units is easier than in absolute units but has real meaning only when there is a reference scale for the diagram.

Restore Defaults button

Click the Restore Defaults button to reset all the Compact Tree 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.