Use path analysis

There are several path analysis methods available in the analysis tools window.

Perform all paths or shortest path analysis

In the analysis window, All Paths and Shortest Path identify how two nodes are connected. All Paths indicates every possible route a connection can take between the source and target nodes. Shortest Path indicates the connection with the least degrees of separation. If there are multiple paths with the same shortest path distance, all of these results will be returned.

Once you have a link chart with at least one node set and one link set connecting your nodes, follow these steps to perform path analysis:

  1. Click Link Analysis on the Link Chart Diagram tab to open the analysis overlay window.

    To minimize the window, click the arrow at the upper left.

  2. Under Analysis Method, choose Path.
  3. Under Analysis Type, choose All Paths or Shortest Path.
  4. Under Analysis Direction, choose one of the following options:

    Link charts are directional, and analysis may be different based on the direction selected.

    • All Directions—Performed on both incoming and outgoing links
    • Outgoing—Performed on outgoing links only
  5. Click Source and click the source node in the Link Chart view.

    The node is symbolized green.

  6. Click Target and click the target node in the Link Chart view.

    The node is symbolized red and path results are listed in the analysis overlay window.

  7. Click a path in the tabular results to highlight the path in the Link Chart view.
  8. To copy results to the clipboard, click Copy in the analysis overlay window.
  9. To clear results, click Clear in the analysis overlay window.

Perform reachability analysis

Reachability analysis identifies which nodes in the network are reachable through any number of degrees of separation from the source node as well as nodes the source node may influence.

  1. Click Link Analysis on the Link Chart Diagram tab to open the analysis overlay window.

    To minimize the window, click the arrow button at the upper left.

  2. Under Analysis Method, choose Path.
  3. Under Analysis Type, choose Reachability.
  4. Under Analysis Direction, choose one of the following options.

    Link charts are directional, and analysis may be different based on the direction selected.

    • All Directions—Performed on both incoming and outgoing links
    • Outgoing—Performed on outgoing links only
  5. Click Source and click the source node in the Link Chart view.

    The source node is symbolized green; all reachable nodes are symbolized red and results are displayed in the analysis overlay window.

  6. To copy results to the clipboard, click Copy in the analysis overlay window.
  7. To clear results, click Clear in the analysis overlay window.