Hierarchical - Smart Tree layout algorithm properties

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

Direction options

The Direction options determine the direction of a smart tree.

• Choose From left to right to have a smart tree start from a root positioned on the left and end 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 From right to left to have a smart tree start from a root positioned on the right and end on the left (figure 1.2 below).
• Choose From bottom to top to have a smart tree start from a root positioned at the bottom and end at the top (figure 1.3 below).
• Choose From top to bottom to have a smart tree start from a root positioned at the top and end 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 for the diagram template related to the active diagram.

  With a Break point value of 0, this segment length is the longest, and it is displayed with a right angle. With a Break point value of 1, this segment doesn't exist, and each link directly connects its two extremity nodes without an intermediate point. Figures 2.1–2.6 below show the Smart Tree layout algorithm results with different break point values.

• Check the Orthogonal check box to display schematic links with right angles. This box is unchecked by default unless this option has been specifically checked for the diagram template related to the active diagram.

  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 the schematic nodes belonging to a given hierarchical level will be computed. The unit for these parameters depends on the Absolute units check box.

• The Between nodes perpendicular to the direction parameter determines the spacing between schematic nodes that are displayed perpendicularly to the smart tree direction and that belong to the same subtree level.

  The figures below show the Smart 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 smart tree direction.

  The figures below show the Smart 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.

• Increase the Between subtrees parameter value to enlarge the spacing between two neighboring subtrees. This impacts the spacing between schematic nodes that are displayed perpendicularly to the smart tree direction and belong to a different subtree.

  The figures below show the Smart Tree results when Between subtrees = 2 (figure 3.7), Between subtrees = 4 (figure 3.8), and Between subtrees = 6 (figure 3.9) 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. For example, in this case, when the Between nodes along the direction parameter value is 2, the distance that separates two 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 Smart 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.