Work with layouts

Once you create a link chart, there are a variety of ways to arrange the nodes and links. First, you can select and move nodes and groups of nodes in the Link Chart view. You can also use the Change Layout drop-down menu in the link chart to control specific formats for the link chart. The default option is to arrange links in a clustered format, which is useful for illustrating generic relationships between entities. The following format options are available:

• Clustered—A simple view of relationship visualization that emphasizes connectedness and clusters of nodes
• Hierarchy—A view of hierarchical relationships from top to bottom
• Organic—A simple view of relationship visualization that emphasizes the ability to see node links

Any of these formats may be effective in illustrating relationships in your data, or one format may be the best choice. Finally, you can use the Collapse Ends and Expand Ends tools to remove and add peripheral nodes, one level at a time. All of the actions described above will persist as long as you keep the link chart view open. To close the link chart while persisting the layout, use the Lock tool.

Change the link chart layout

To change the layout of a link chart, do the following:

1. Open or browse to a link chart.
2. In the Link Chart Diagram tab, click the Change Layout drop-down menu and choose one of the formats.

   The format of the link chart is updated. You can click Full Extent to view the full extent of the newly arranged chart.

Move nodes and links

To manually move nodes and links in a link chart, do the following:

1. Open or browse to a link chart.
2. On the Link Chart Diagram tab, choose the Select tool and click individual nodes and links to edit their positions. Alternatively, select a group of nodes and links and click and drag to edit the position of the entire selection.

Lock the link chart

To save the location of nodes and links, you can lock a link chart:

1. Open or browse to a link chart.
2. On the Link Chart Diagram tab, click the Lock button.

   When a link chart is locked, you can still pan the chart and make selections, but you cannot move nodes and links, draw links, expand or collapse ends, or switch the layout of the chart.

3. To unlock the link chart, click the Lock button.

Play and pause the link chart

To allow the active re-drawing of links as nodes are manually moved, you can select play:

1. Open or browse to a link chart.
2. On the Link Chart Diagram tab, click the Play button.

   When play mode is activated, the links will be automatically re-drawn to avoid overlaps when nodes are manually moved.

3. To pause the link chart, click the Pause button.

Display links on the map

Use the Display Links On Map button on the Link Chart Diagram tab to show a graphic overlay reflecting links between features.

1. Create a link chart or open an existing one.
2. Click the Display Links On Map button on the Link Chart Diagram tab.
3. Click the map view pane containing the link chart data sources.

   Graphic overlay lines appear on the map between all nodes that have a link in the chart.