Simple layout

The Simple layout arranges entities in a regularly spaced lattice pattern in which the size of the grid depends on the number of entities.

Force Directed layout

The Force Directed layout considers the link chart as if it were a mechanical system. The entities repel each other like two magnets aligned with the same poles facing each other, while they are attracted to each other by the relationships that join entities together. The algorithm iteratively reviews and places entities and evaluates the forces until equilibrium is reached. This layout allows you to visualize entities in clusters that emphasize how they are connected.

Community layout

The Community layout finds communities, which are groups of entities that are closely related to each other. A Force Directed layout is then used to arrange the communities. The attraction forces along relationships between entities of different communities are relaxed so that different communities are more spread out than with the standard Simple layout.

Geographic layout

The Geographic layout arranges spatial entities geographically using their geometry. Spatial entities in which the entity has a null geometry and nonspatial entities are displayed on the link chart, but their placement and arrangement are determined using the Force Directed layout.

Your organization's basemap is used by default as a backdrop to provide spatial context.

Smart Tree layout

The Smart Tree layout arranges entities and their relationships as in nature, where the tree starts from the trunk and all branches move out from that point. In the link chart, the root entity is the starting point, positioned at the left. The entities related to the root entity are lined up in a row to the right of the root entity, from top to bottom in this example. Any entities related to those items that aren't present in the link chart are added as another row closer to the bottom, and so on.

The algorithm identifies the entity associated with the smallest network topology index and uses it as the root entity.

Radial Tree layout

The Radial Tree layout places the root entity for the tree in the center of a circle. All leaf entities for the tree are positioned around the outer edge of the circle. Entities at each level of hierarchy in the tree are arranged in concentric circles between the root entity and the outer circle.

The radial tree layout is the default layout used to arrange entities and relationships when a link chart is created.

Hierarchical layout

The Hierarchical layout is arranged similarly to the Radial Tree layout. However, an attempt is made to orient the majority of the relationships from the bottom to the top in which the origins for the relationship are positioned at the bottom and destination entities are positioned at the top.

The algorithm attempts to limit the number of places in which the lines representing relationships cross each other. In contrast with the Radial Tree layout, relationships are not allowed between entities at the same level in the link chart with the Hierarchical layout.

Apply a different layout to your link chart

A link chart's current layout is selected on the link chart context toolbar in the Layout Options drop-down menu. For example, if the link chart is currently using the default Radial Tree layout, the Force Directed layout is selected in the Layout Options drop-down menu.