Gallery

This page contains a number of screenshots and images that we have collected over the past few years. Most show the many strengths of our yFiles library, although we have included some of them simply because we rather like them!

Enjoy!

To see some applications and demos that show the layouting facility in real-time, please take a look at the demos page.

Automatic Layout of Networks and Diagrams

The yFiles library offers the user many advantages, one of which is its ability to automatically draw networks and diagrams. yFiles layout algorithms enable the clear presentation of flow charts, UML diagrams, organization charts, genealogies, business process diagrams, etc.
This section presents some of the many layout styles that are supported by yFiles.

If you have Java Web Start installed, simply click on one of the links to download and start the interactive demos.

If there is no Java installed on your computer, you can download a suitable Runtime Environment.

Hierarchical Layout Emphasizes the direction of the main flow in diagrams and networks and also identifies hierarchy levels and dependencies. Supports orthogonal drawings and grouped diagrams. Ideally suited for biochemical pathways, dependency analysis, workflow diagrams, flow charts, business process modeling, or UML diagrams. » start interactive demo

 

Organic Layout Emphasizes data-inherent groupings and symmetries and provides insight into the interconnectedness of large and complex structures. Supports grouped diagrams. Ideally suited for semantic networks, biochemical reaction networks, or computer network structures. » start interactive demo

 

Orthogonal Layout Produces clear diagrams with orthogonal connections only, where connections are routed with minimal number of crossings and bends. Supports grouped diagrams and exclusive routing of connections. Ideally suited for database modeling, software engineering, or UML diagrams. » start interactive demo

 

Tree Layout Arranges tree-like structures optimally. Offers directed as well as radial styles and supports compact arrangements. Ideally suited for genealogies, directories, mind-mapping, or organization charts. » start interactive demo

 

Circular Layout Emphasizes ring and star topologies in networks. Groups objects according to the network's structure and arranges them on circles or using radial tree structures. Ideally suited for network management, web visualization, or social networks. » start interactive demo

 

UML Diagramming

Creating UML diagrams automatically is not an easy task. Some of the many existing UML tools do not deliver impressive automatic layout support.
yFiles on the other hand is able to provide excellent layout engines for UML diagrams. Below are some UML diagrams that are produced by yFiles-powered programs.

Samples for UML class diagram, activity diagram, and use case diagram. Some of the numerous UML diagram types that are supported by yFiles layout algorithms.

Our Javadoc extension yWorks UML Doclet automatically generates high-quality UML diagrams and embeds them into your API documentation.

 

Flowcharts and Swimlane Diagrams

Automatic layout of swimlane diagrams poses quite a challenge. In a swimlane diagram, nodes belong to different graphically depicted lanes, and a layout algorithm needs to arrange them correspondingly.
Often, flowcharts are presented using a swimlane diagram, so that responsibilities are clearly visible.

Examples of flowcharts, respectively swimlane diagrams. Among others, our variant of the system flowchart example diagram from the Wikipedia "Flowchart" page.

 

Social Network Analysis

In social network analysis, mathematical analysis of social relationships is used to gain insight into the structure of a social network.
yFiles algorithms provide support for such analysis and enable automatic clustering, for example.

Sample data based on a subset of the Last.fm recommendations network.

 

Working with Large Graphs

Creating, editing, and visualizing large graphs with hundreds and thousands of elements is one of the strengths of our library. The following images prove that our library can handle these diagrams and networks easily.

Tree, circular, and organic layout of graphs containing many nodes.

 

Nested Graph Hierarchies

yFiles for Java supports the notion of "nested graphs," i.e., the nodes of a graph may contain graphs themselves, which can be laid out like any other graph.

Nesting tremendously helps in organizing data more efficiently and can be done to nearly arbitrary depth.

 

Visual Styles and Features

Our graph visualization library supports many different visual styles. You can find some of the visual styles created with yFiles for Java in the following images.

Predefined representation options for nodes and edges allow for easy customization of a diagram's appearence. Emphasis to important information can be given with little effort.

 

Layout Constraints

The yFiles graph layout algorithms support advanced layout constraints when calculating a graph's layout.

Constraints provide the means to address special layout requirements for particular diagram types from diverse application areas. For example, they allow to easily pinpoint the starting points and end points of edges in a flow chart or decision diagram, or support arrangement policies for certain nodes in an organization chart.

 

Customer Applications

Our main product is a library, which can be used to build entire new applications. Consequently, this section displays screenshots of some of the different applications that our customers have built using yFiles for Java.

JetBrains' flagship product IntelliJ IDEA includes UML diagramming support that is built upon yFiles for Java.

 

Interfacing Technologies uses yFiles for Java and yFiles FLEX for the visualization of business processes in its software.

 

In their flagship product Structure101™, Headway Software uses yFiles layout technology for the clear presentation of dependencies in software projects.

 

DbVis Software relies on yFiles viewer and layout technology for arranging and presenting database schemas in its DbVisualizer tool.

 

IDS Scheer uses yFiles technology to clearly lay out its business process models.

 

Gentleware relies on yFiles UML layout technology for the clear visualization of UML class and object diagrams in its Poseidon modeling tool.

 

The University of Tübingen uses yFiles in scientific research. Numerous projects that, for example, deal with the visualization of biochemical pathways, web server log files analysis, or link analysis are made possible by yFiles technology.