Automatic Layout in AngularJS Diagram
23 Feb 202324 minutes to read
Diagram provides support to auto-arrange the nodes in the Diagram area that is referred as Layout. It includes the following layout modes.
- Hierarchical Layout
- Organization Chart
- Radial Tree
Hierarchical Layout
The Hierarchical Tree Layout arranges nodes in a tree-like structure, where the nodes in the hierarchical layout may have multiple parents. There is no need to specify the layout root.
To arrange the nodes in hierarchical structure, you need to specify the layout type as hierarchical tree. The following example shows how to arrange the nodes in a hierarchical structure.
<div ng-controller="diagramCtrl">
<ej-diagram id="diagram" e-height="450px" e-layout-type="layout.type" e-layout-orientation="layout.orientation" e-layout-horizontalspacing="layout.horizontalSpacing" e-layout-verticalspacing="layout.verticalSpacing"
e-layout-marginx="layout.marginX" e-layout-marginy="layout.marginY" e-nodetemplate="nodeTemplate" e-datasourcesettings-datasource="dataSourceSettings.dataSource" e-datasourcesettings-parent="dataSourceSettings.parent"
e-datasourcesettings-id="dataSourceSettings.id" e-datasourcesettings-root="dataSourceSettings.root" e-defaultsettings-node="defaultSettings.node" e-defaultsettings-connector="defaultSettings.connector">
</ej-diagram>
</div>//Initializes data source
var data = [{
Name: "Steve-Ceo"
},
{
Name: "Kevin-Manager",
ReportingPerson: "Steve-Ceo"
},
{
Name: "Peter-Manager",
ReportingPerson: "Steve-Ceo"
},
{
Name: "John- Manager",
ReportingPerson: "Peter-Manager"
},
{
Name: "Mary-CSE ",
ReportingPerson: "Peter-Manager"
},
{
Name: "Jim-CSE ",
ReportingPerson: "Kevin-Manager"
},
{
Name: "Martin-CSE",
ReportingPerson: "Kevin-Manager"
}
];
//Binds custom JSON with node
function nodeTemplate(diagram, node) {
node.labels[0].text = node.Name;
}
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "hierarchicaltree",
orientation: "toptobottom",
horizontalSpacing: 25,
verticalSpacing: 35,
marginX: 3,
marginY: 3
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
node: {
fillColor: "#88C65C",
width: 100,
height: 40,
labels: [{
name: "label1",
fontColor: "white",
fontSize: 12,
}]
},
connector: {
lineColor: "#000000",
constraints: ej.datavisualization.Diagram.ConnectorConstraints.None,
segments: [{
type: "orthogonal"
}]
}
};
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
id: "Name",
parent: "ReportingPerson",
dataSource: data
};
});
NOTE
You can ignore a particular Node from layout arrangement by setting its excludeFromLayout property as true.
Radial Tree Layout
The Radial Tree layout arranges nodes on a virtual concentric circles around a root node. Sub-trees formed by the branching of child nodes are located radially around the child nodes. This arrangement results in an ever-expanding concentric arrangement with radial proximity to the root node indicating the node level in the hierarchy. When no root node is set, the algorithm automatically considers one of the Diagram nodes as the root node.
To arrange nodes in a radial tree structure, you need to set the layout.type as radialtree. The following code illustrates how to arrange the nodes in a radial tree structure.
//Initializes data source
var data = [{
Id: "parent",
ImageUrl: "images/Clayton.png"
},
{
Id: 1,
ImageUrl: "images/image55.png",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 2,
ImageUrl: "images/Robin.PNG",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 3,
ImageUrl: "images/Robin.PNG",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 4,
ImageUrl: "images/Paul.png",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 5,
ImageUrl: "images/image53.png",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 6,
ImageUrl: "images/Maria.png",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 7,
ImageUrl: "images/Jenny.png",
ReportingPerson: 3
},
{
Id: 8,
ImageUrl: "images/Thomas.PNG",
ReportingPerson: "parent"
},
{
Id: 9,
ImageUrl: "images/Jenny.png",
ReportingPerson: 2
},
{
Id: 10,
ImageUrl: "images/Thomas.png",
ReportingPerson: 2
},
{
Id: 11,
ImageUrl: "images/Maria.PNG",
ReportingPerson: 4
},
{
Id: 12,
ImageUrl: "images/Thomas.PNG",
ReportingPerson: 1
},
{
Id: 13,
ImageUrl: "images/Clayton.png",
ReportingPerson: 6
},
{
Id: 14,
ImageUrl: "images/Jenny.png",
ReportingPerson: 3
},
{
Id: 15,
ImageUrl: "images/Thomas.png",
ReportingPerson: 3
},
{
Id: 16,
ImageUrl: "images/John.png",
ReportingPerson: 6
},
{
Id: 17,
ImageUrl: "images/Jenny.png",
ReportingPerson: 4
},
{
Id: 18,
ImageUrl: "images/Robin.png",
ReportingPerson: 4
},
{
Id: 19,
ImageUrl: "images/Clayton.png",
ReportingPerson: 4
},
{
Id: 20,
ImageUrl: "images/image57.png",
ReportingPerson: 12
},
{
Id: 21,
ImageUrl: "images/Robin.png",
ReportingPerson: 5
},
{
Id: 22,
ImageUrl: "images/image51.png",
ReportingPerson: 6
},
{
Id: 23,
ImageUrl: "images/image55.png",
ReportingPerson: 19
},
{
Id: 24,
ImageUrl: "images/Thomas.png",
ReportingPerson: 8
},
{
Id: 25,
ImageUrl: "images/image56.png",
ReportingPerson: 8
},
{
Id: 26,
ImageUrl: "images/image55.png",
ReportingPerson: 1
},
{
Id: 27,
ImageUrl: "images/image57.png",
ReportingPerson: 13
},
{
Id: 28,
ImageUrl: "images/Robin.PNG",
ReportingPerson: 12
},
{
Id: 29,
ImageUrl: "images/Thomas.PNG",
ReportingPerson: 13
},
{
Id: 30,
ImageUrl: "images/image57.png",
ReportingPerson: 19
}
];
//Binds custom JSON with node
function nodeTemplate(diagram, node) {
node.name = node.Id;
node.source = node.ImageUrl;
}
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "radialtree",
horizontalSpacing: 30,
verticalSpacing: 30
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
node: {
width: 50,
height: 50,
borderColor: "transparent",
type: "image"
}
};
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
id: "Name",
parent: "ReportingPerson",
dataSource: data
};
});
Organizational Chart
An organizational chart is a Diagram that displays the structure of an organization and relationships. To create an organizational chart, layout.type should be set as organizationalchart.
The following code example illustrates how to create an organizational chart.
//Initializes data source
var data = [{
Id: "parent",
Role: "Project Management"
},
{
Id: 1,
Role: "R&D Team",
Team: "parent"
},
{
Id: 3,
Role: "Philosophy",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 4,
Role: "Organization",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 5,
Role: "Technology",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 7,
Role: "Funding",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 8,
Role: "Resource Allocation",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 9,
Role: "Targeting",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 11,
Role: "Evaluation",
Team: "1"
},
{
Id: 156,
Role: "HR Team",
Team: "parent"
},
{
Id: 13,
Role: "Recruitment",
Team: "156"
},
{
Id: 113,
Role: "Training",
Team: "12"
},
{
Id: 112,
Role: "Employee Relation",
Team: "156"
},
{
Id: 14,
Role: "Record Keeping",
Team: "12"
},
{
Id: 15,
Role: "Compensations & Benefits",
Team: "12"
},
{
Id: 16,
Role: "Compliances",
Team: "12"
},
{
Id: 17,
Role: "Production & Sales Team",
Team: "parent"
},
{
Id: 119,
Role: "Design",
Team: "17"
},
{
Id: 19,
Role: "Operation",
Team: "17"
},
{
Id: 20,
Role: "Support",
Team: "17"
},
{
Id: 21,
Role: "Quality Assurance",
Team: "17"
},
{
Id: 23,
Role: "Customer Interaction",
Team: "17"
},
{
Id: 24,
Role: "Support and Maintenance",
Team: "17"
},
{
Id: 25,
Role: "Task Coordination",
Team: "17"
}
];
//Binds JSON data with node
function nodeTemplate(diagram, node) {
node.labels[0].text = node.Role;
}
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "organizationalchart"
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
node: {
width: 100,
height: 40,
fillColor: "#546e20",
labels: [{
name: "label1",
fontColor: "white"
}]
},
//Sets the default properties of the connector.
connector: {
segments: [{
"type": "orthogonal"
}],
targetDecorator: {
shape: "none"
}
}
};
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
id: "Id",
parent: "Team",
dataSource: data
};
});
Organizational chart layout starts parsing from root and iterate through all its child elements. ‘getLayoutInfo’ method provides necessary information of a node’s children and the way to arrange (direction, orientation, offsets, etc.) them. You can customize the arrangements by overriding this function as explained.
GetLayoutInfo
You can set Chart orientations, chart types, and offset to be left between parent and child nodes by overriding the method, diagram.model.layout.getLayoutInfo. The getLayoutInfo method is called to configure every subtree of the organizational chart. It takes the following arguments.
-
diagram: Reference of diagram -
node: Parent node to that options are to be customized -
options: object to set the customizable properties
The following code example illustrates how to define the method getLayoutInfo.
var chartOrientations = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.ChartOrientations;
var chartTypes = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.ChartTypes;
//Defines getLayoutInfo
function getLayoutInfo(diagram, node, options) {
options.orientation = chartOrientations.Vertical;
//Configures the sub tree of the node vertically at right-side.
options.type = chartTypes.Right;
options.offset = 10;
}
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "organizationalchart",
getLayoutInfo: getLayoutInfo
};
});The following table illustrates the properties that “options” argument takes.
| Property | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|
| options.children | Contains the list of child nodes. Children collection can be modified. | Array of child nodes |
| options.assistants | By default, the collection is empty. When any of the child nodes have to be set as “Assistant”, you can remove from children collection and have to insert into assistants collection. | Empty array |
| options.orientation | Gets or sets the organizational chart orientation. | ChartOrientation.Vertical |
| options.type | Gets or sets the chart organizational chart type | For horizontal chart orientation:ChartType.Center For Vertical chart orientation:ChartType.Alternate |
| options.offset | Offset is the horizontal space to be left between parent and child nodes. | 20 pixels.Applicable only for vertical chart orientations. |
| options.hasSubTree | Gets whether the node contains sub trees. | Boolean |
| options.level | Gets the depth of the node from layout root | Number |
| options.enableRouting | By default, Connections are routed based on the chart type and orientations.This property gets or sets whether default routing is to be enabled or disabled. | true |
| options.rows | Sets the number of rows on which the child nodes will be arranged. Applicable only for balanced type horizontal tree | Number |
The following table illustrates the different chart orientations and chart types.
| Orientation | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal | Left | Arranges the child nodes horizontally at the left side of parent. |  |
| Right | Arranges the child nodes horizontally at the right side of parent. |  |
|
| Center | Arranges the children like standard tree layout orientation. |  |
|
| Balanced | Arranges the leaf-level child nodes in multiple rows. |  |
|
| Vertical | Left | Vertically arranges the children at the left side of parent |  |
| Right | Vertically arranges the children at the right side of parent |  |
|
| Alternate | Vertically arranges the children at both left and right sides of parent |  |
The following code example illustrates how to set the vertical right arrangement to the leaf level trees.
//Initializes data source
var data = [{
Id: "parent",
Role: "Board"
},
{
Id: "1",
Role: "General Manager",
Manager: "parent"
},
{
Id: "2",
Role: "Human Resource Manager",
Manager: "1"
},
{
Id: "3",
Role: "Trainers",
Manager: "2"
},
{
Id: "4",
Role: "Recruiting Team",
Manager: "2"
},
{
Id: "5",
Role: "Finance Asst. Manager",
Manager: "2"
},
{
Id: "6",
Role: "Design Manager",
Manager: "1"
},
{
Id: "7",
Role: "Design Supervisor",
Manager: "6"
},
{
Id: "8",
Role: "Development Supervisor",
Manager: "6"
},
{
Id: "9",
Role: "Drafting Supervisor",
Manager: "6"
},
{
Id: "10",
Role: "Marketing Manager",
Manager: "1"
},
{
Id: "11",
Role: "Oversea sales Manager",
Manager: "10"
},
{
Id: "12",
Role: "Petroleum Manager",
Manager: "10"
},
{
Id: "13",
Role: "Service Dept. Manager",
Manager: "10"
},
];
var chartOrientations = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.ChartOrientations;
var chartTypes = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.ChartTypes;
//Creates the node template
function nodeTemplate(diagram, node) {
node.labels[0].text = node.Role;
}
function getLayoutInfo(diagram, node, options) {
if (!options.hasSubTree) {
options.type = chartTypes.Right;
options.orientation = chartOrientations.Vertical;
}
}
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "organizationalchart",
getLayoutInfo: getLayoutInfo
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
node: {
width: 100,
height: 40,
fillColor: "#3c418B",
borderColor: "transparent",
labels: [{
fontColor: "white"
}]
},
connector: {
segments: [{
"type": "orthogonal"
}],
targetDecorator: {
shape: "none"
}
}
};
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
id: "Id",
parent: "Manager",
dataSource: data
};
});
Assistant
Assistants are child item that have a different relationship with the parent node. They are laid out in a dedicated part of the tree. You can specify a node as an assistant of its parent by adding it to assistants property of the argument “options”.
The following code example illustrates how to add assistants to layout.
//Initializes data source
var data = [{
Id: 1,
Role: "General Manager"
},
{
Id: 2,
Role: "Assistant Manager",
Team: 1
},
{
Id: 3,
Role: "Human Resource Manager",
Team: 1
},
{
Id: 4,
Role: "Design Manager",
Team: 1
},
{
Id: 5,
Role: "Operation Manager",
Team: 1
},
{
Id: 6,
Role: "Marketing Manager",
Team: 1
}
];
//Creates the node template
function nodeTemplate(diagram, node) {
node.labels[0].text = node.Role;
}
//Defines getLayoutInfo
function getLayoutInfo(diagram, node, options) {
if (node.labels[0].text == "General Manager") {
options.assistants.push(options.children[0]);
options.children.splice(0, 1);
}
options.orientation = "horizontal";
options.type = "center"
}
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "organizationalchart",
getLayoutInfo: getLayoutInfo
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
node: {
width: 100,
height: 40,
fillColor: "#546e20",
labels: [{
name: "label1",
fontColor: "white"
}]
},
connector: {
segments: [{
"type": "orthogonal"
}],
targetDecorator: {
shape: "none"
}
}
};
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
id: "Id",
parent: "Team",
dataSource: data
};
});
Customize Layout
Orientation, spacings, and position of layout can be customized with a set of properties.
To explore layout properties, refer to Layout Properties.
Layout Bounds
Diagram provides support to align the layout within any custom rectangular area. For more information about bounds, refer to [Layout Bounds] (/api/js/ejDiagram#members:layout-bounds “Layout Bounds”)
Layout Alignment
You can align the layout anywhere over the layout bounds/viewport using the horizontalAlignment and verticalAlignment properties of layout.
The following code illustrates how to align the layout at the top left of the layout bounds.
var type = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.LayoutTypes;
var orientation = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.LayoutOrientations;
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
//Sets the type of the layout
type: type.HierarchicalTree,
orientation: orientation.TopToBottom,
horizontalSpacing: 25,
verticalSpacing: 30,
//Sets the layout bounds
bounds: {
x: 0,
y: 0,
width: 500,
height: 500
},
//Sets the alignment of the layout
horizontalALignment: ej.datavisualization.Diagram.HorizontalAlignment.Left,
verticalAlignment: ej.datavisualization.Diagram.VerticalAlignment.Top,
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
//Sets the default properties of the connector.
};
//Initializes the node template.
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
//Configures data source for Diagram
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
//Specifies the dataSource
};
});
Layout Margin
Layout provides support to add some blank space between the layout bounds/viewport and the layout. The margin property of the layout allows you to set the blank space.
The following code illustrates how to set the layout margin.
var type = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.LayoutTypes;
var orientation = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.LayoutOrientations;
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: type.HierarchicalTree,
orientation: orientation.TopToBottom,
bounds: {
x: 0,
y: 0,
width: 500,
height: 500
},
horizontalSpacing: 25,
verticalSpacing: 30,
horizontalALignment: ej.datavisualization.Diagram.HorizontalAlignment.Left,
verticalAlignment: ej.datavisualization.Diagram.VerticalAlignment.Top,
//Sets the margin
margin: {
left: 10,
right: 10,
top: 10,
bottom: 10
}
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
//Sets the default properties of the connector.
};
//Initializes the node template.
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
//Configures data source for Diagram
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
//Specifies the dataSource
};
});
Layout Orientation
Diagram provides support to customize the orientation of layout. You can set the desired orientation using layout.orientation. For more information about orientation, refer to Layout Orientations
The following code illustrates how to arrange the nodes in a “BottomToTop” orientation.
var type = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.LayoutTypes;
var orientation = ej.datavisualization.Diagram.LayoutOrientations;
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
//Sets the type of the layout
type: type.HierarchicalTree,
//Sets the orientation
orientation: orientation.BottomToTop,
//Sets the space to be horizontally left between nodes
horizontalSpacing: 20,
//Sets the space to be vertically left between nodes
verticalSpacing: 20
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
//Sets the default properties of the connector.
};
//Initializes the node template.
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
//Configures data source for Diagram
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
//Specifies the dataSource
};
});
Fixed Node
Layout provides support to arrange the nodes with reference to the position of a fixed node and the fixed node has to be set to the layout.fixedNode.
This is helpful when you try to expand/collapse a node. It might be expected that the position of the double-clicked node should not be changed.
//Initializes data source
var data = [{
name: "parent",
Role: "General Manager",
offsetX: 250,
offsetY: 50
}, {
name: "1",
Role: "Human Resource Manager",
Manager: "parent"
}, {
name: "2",
Role: "Design Manager",
Manager: "parent",
}, {
name: "3",
Role: "Marketing Manager",
Manager: "parent",
}];
//Creates the node template
function nodeTemplate(diagram, node) {
node.labels[0].text = node.Role;
}
//Defines getLayoutInfo
function getLayoutInfo(diagram, node, options) {
options.orientation = "horizontal";
options.type = "center"
}
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "organizationalchart",
fixedNode: "parent",
getLayoutInfo: getLayoutInfo
};
$scope.defaultSettings = {
//Sets the default properties of the node.
//Sets the default properties of the connector.
};
//Initializes the node template.
$scope.nodeTemplate = "nodeTemplate";
//Configures data source for Diagram
$scope.dataSourceSettings = {
//Specifies the dataSource
};
});
Expand and collapse
Diagram allows to expand/collapse the sub trees of a layout. node.isExpanded allows you to expand/collapse its children. The following code example shows how to expand/collapse the children of a node.
//Initializes Diagram
syncApp.controller('diagramCtrl', function($scope) {
//Uses layout to auto-arrange nodes on the Diagram page
$scope.layout = {
type: "organizationalchart",
fixedNode: "node1"
};
//Defines double click event
$scope.doubleClick = onDoubleClick
});
function onDoubleClick(args) {
var diagram = $("#diagram").ejDiagram("instance");
var node = args.element;
// Sets the double clicked node as fixed node
$("#diagram").ejDiagram({
layout: {
fixedNode: node.name
}
});
//Expands/collapses the children of node
diagram.updateNode(node.name, {
isExpanded: !node.isExpanded
});
}In above example, while expanding/collapsing a node, it is set as fixed node in order to prevent it from repositioning.
Refresh layout
Diagram allows to refresh the layout at runtime. To refresh the layout, refer to Refresh layout.