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Using drawing tools to manually create graphs and diagrams can be a slow and convoluted process. The Graphviz toolbox offers a faster way. Based on a short text with the information for the graph, Graphviz quickly generates a neat drawing.
Graphviz is a useful toolbox to have on hand if you need an automated approach to generating graphs (see the “Terminology” box). Computer users fumble through generating graphs, starting with E/ R diagrams for visualizing database schemas to hierarchicial tree structures that represent an organization’s shareholdings or a chain of command. Normally, the information is located in square boxes that must be positioned carefully, without overlap- ping with other boxes, before drawing anyconnecting arrows. This is the kind of challenge in which Graphviz excels – users simply specify the relationships between the elements, and the tool automagically outputs an attractive drawing. Don’t look for a neat graphical editor in which you can specify the relations. Instead, Graphviz reads a textbased description of the graph in a special markup language. (LaTeX uses a similar approach, although the two systems have nothing in common apart from this.)
Stop by Rikki's Open Source Exchange for dispatches from the world of women in open source.
Rikki Kite examines the experience of women across the spectrum of open source – the people, projects, organizations, events, articles, issues, and news.
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