Graphical Network Editor Component

The Graphical Network Editor (GNE) component can be used for creating and displaying simple flat schematic, workflow  or topology diagrams.  It uses simple drag drop operations to let users easily create diagrams.  The GNE consists of a set of user defined defined palettes and a graphical canvas in which graphical objects are rendered.  The canvas is a datawindow object and therefore is restricted to those graphic types that can exist on a datawindow.  Properties and user defined data for objects rendered on the canvas reside in a datastore that users can extend to hold data particular to each object.  This datastore also contains expressiona that aid in generating rendering properties for objects on the canvas.

 Business uses of the GNE datawindow component include the following...

• Network mapping
• Facilities mapping
• Process mapping
• Wiring diagram
• Pipeline diagram
• Workflow

GNE component showing multiple open graphic canvases and the graphic canvas selector at the lower part of the screen.

Series of shots from the GNE component showing group selection and group copy and move, connect and alignment.

Other GNE features displayed including labels, the Oval object and user defined notes and other options available on the drop down menu

GNE showing object overlaying a background image

Objects, Nodes and Connectors:

Users can define a palette of objects, nodes and connectors.  Nodes are small images no larger than 16 x 16 that are presented on a treeview.  Objects are larger images and connectors are line objects that normally connect objects and nodes.

• Simple mouse move of objects and nodes from the palettes to the canvas and also within the canvas.
• Connections automatically follow moving objects and nodes
• Auto connect if an object or node is rendered over the end of an existing connector or if the end of a connector is rendered over an existing node or object.
• Group Select
• Group move, copy and delete
• Group connect
• Linear or circular group alignment
• Label display on/off
• Connection disconnect
• Connection split
• Add notes
• Ellipse and rectangle objects
• Zoom in and out using mouse wheel
• Infinite sized graphic canvas.  You can move the canvas around a viewport using a mouse, much like a Acrobat reader
• Open and manipulate multiple graphic canvases
• Create and display multiple palettes.
• Multiple connections can exists between 2 objects.  The component automatically keeps connects separated no matter what angle exists between the 2 objects or nodes.
• A user defined background image can exist on the graphical canvas.

Information Generated:

For each object, node or connector rendered an optional label is generated on the canvas describing the object.  A row is generated in a datastore that contains all the rendering properties as well as a row in a datastore that contains user defined data for the object rendered.

Data rendered on the GNE component can automatically be fed into an associated report.