Partial Layout

Partial layout supports arranging and placing the selected parts of a diagram without affecting the remaining non-selected part. No overlaps with each other or with the non-selected remainder of the diagram are introduced by placing these parts.
This layout strategy is a perfect fit for any interactive or incremental scenarios where

- distinct parts of a diagram should be re-arranged using another layout style, for example, or
- subsequently added parts should be arranged so that they fit an existing diagram without destroying the diagram's layout.

General Tab

Edge Routing Style

Determines the edge routing style that shall be used for routing of

Auto Detect
Tries to determine whether the edge routing style in the non-selected remainder of the diagram is orthogonal or not. If so, edge paths will be routed orthogonally, otherwise straight-line.
Straight-Line
Edge paths will be routed as a straight line connecting the start node and end node.
Polyline
Edge paths will be routed with one or more straight-line segments, either orthogonal or not.
If Layout for Units is set to Hierarchical, the Polyline edge routing style of hierarchical layout will be used.
Orthogonal
Edge paths will be routed in an orthogonal style, i.e. only vertical and horizontal line segments will be used.
Organic
Edge paths will be routed as a straight line or a curved line.

Placement Strategy

Determines how "units" shall be formed from the selected parts of a diagram. For each unit a layout is calculated and it is then placed according to the other settings.

Connected Nodes as a Unit
Selected nodes that are connected to each other are treated as a unit.
Each Node Separately
Each selected node is treated as a unit of its own.
Clustering
The layout applies a clustering algorithm based on edge betweenness centrality to the selected nodes. The units correspond to the calculated clusters.
All Nodes as a Unit
All selected nodes are treated as a single unit.

Layout for Units

Selects the layout algorithm that shall be used for arranging the contents of each unit.

Hierarchical
Hierarchical layout. The Layout Orientation is taken into account.
Organic
Organic layout.
Circular
Circular layout.
Orthogonal
Orthogonal layout.
As Is
No layout is applied.

Preferred Placement

Determines how to place each unit after layout calculation. Units are placed such that they do not overlap with each other or with the non-selected remainder of the diagram.
When Align Nodes is enabled, the resulting placement is further refined.

Close to Neighbors
Each unit is placed as near as possible to its non-selected neighbor nodes. This yields short edges between a unit and the non-selected remainder of the diagram.
Close to Initial Position
Each unit is placed as near as possible to its original position. If space permits, this allows in-place re-arranging of units, for example.

Minimal Node Distance

Determines the minimal distance between adjacent nodes in a unit. The value is used by the layout algorithm that arranges the contents of the unit.
It also determines the minimal distance between the non-selected remainder of the diagram and where the unit gets placed.

Layout Orientation

Specifies the layout orientation when placing the units.

Auto Detect
Tries to find the layout orientation in the non-selected remainder of the diagram.
If the layout orientation cannot be detected, then no layout orientation is preferred. In this case units are placed where they fit best with respect to the other settings.
Top to Bottom
The units should be placed such that the number of edges whose source is placed above the target is maximized.
Left to Right
The units should be placed such that the number of edges whose source is placed to the left of the target is maximized.
Bottom to Top
The units should be placed such that the number of edges whose source is placed below the target is maximized.
Right to Left
The units should be placed such that the number of edges whose source is placed to the right of the target is maximized.
None
No layout orientation is preferred. Each unit is placed where it fits best with respect to the other settings.

Align Nodes

Tries to place each unit such that selected nodes are aligned with nodes in the non-selected remainder of the diagram.
When enabled, the Preferred Placement for a unit is taken as the starting point for finding possible alignments.

Consider Edge Direction

If this option is enabled, the layout orientation is only considered for directed edges (edges with exactly one arrow).