Compact Node Graph Layout for Clear Large-Graph Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visualizing and understanding large node graphs is difficult due to their complexity, making meaningful modifications challenging.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) is developed to display node graphs with a node group representation, allowing nodes to be displayed in different manners based on inclusion within a boundary, and adjusting node size and representation based on zoom level, along with features like auto-layout and node grouping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a large number of nodes are displayed in a node graph, then the completeness of the node graph information is improved, but the difficulty of visualizing and understanding the node graph increases
Solution Approach 1:
The node graph is segmented into multiple pages, where each page displays a subset of nodes. Users can navigate between pages to view different portions of the complete node graph. This segmentation allows the system to maintain information completeness while reducing the visual complexity presented at any single moment, making the graph easier to understand and modify.
2Ease of operation
If all nodes are displayed in the same manner, then the consistency of the display is improved, but the ability to distinguish between included and excluded nodes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different display manners are applied to different sets of nodes based on their inclusion status. Nodes included in the current page are displayed in a first manner (e.g., with full details and connections), while nodes excluded from the current page are displayed in a second manner (e.g., with simplified representation or different visual styling). This local differentiation maintains overall display consistency while providing clear visual distinction between included and excluded nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a method of generating a node graph is performed at a device including a display, one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes displaying, on the display, a plurality of nodes associated with a respective plurality of operations. The method includes displaying a node group representation including a boundary surrounding a node group including a subset of the plurality of nodes. The method includes, in response to a determination that at least one node excluded from the node group is inside the boundary, displaying each of the subset of the plurality of nodes of the node group in a first manner and displaying the at least one node excluded from the node group in a second manner different than the first manner.