Graph Generation with KIELER

KIELER (Kiel Integrated Environment for Layout Eclipse RichClient)

KIELER is an open source research project for graphical model based design of complex systems. Within the project developers present some standalone applications as well as KIELER features for Eclipse environment. We tried one of its standalone application Web Service Tool with command-line which offers different layout algorithms, visualization options and file formats. Even from their web page, it is possible to try out this application online.

What interests us much is, they introduce a big list of different layout algorithms for supported graph formats, like dot, json, gml, svg, etc. They divide the layout algorithms into four main groups:

• KLay Force is an implementation of force-directed layout algorithm, where nodes tend to be closer when they are connected and far apart otherwise.
• KLay Layered is developed for diagrams which have hierarchical relations.
• KLay Planar contains planarization based algorithms which is currently in progress.
• KLay Tree is for tree layout algorithms.

We tried out its online tool with  one of our example diagram and  got some outputs which seem to be more readable then the original one.

 

Figure-1 Original Diagram  (obfuscated)

 

Figure-2 Mixed model  algorithm applied to the original diagram

Figure-3 Sugiyama algorithm applied to the original diagram

 
Link to the home page : https://www.informatik.uni-kiel.de/rtsys/kieler/