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gplot.layout

Vertex Layout Functions for gplot


Description

Various functions which generate vertex layouts for the gplot visualization routine.

Usage

gplot.layout.adj(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.circle(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.circrand(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.eigen(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.fruchtermanreingold(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.geodist(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.hall(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.kamadakawai(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.mds(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.princoord(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.random(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.rmds(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.segeo(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.seham(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.spring(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.springrepulse(d, layout.par)
gplot.layout.target(d, layout.par)

Arguments

d

an adjacency matrix, as passed by gplot.

layout.par

a list of parameters.

Details

Vertex layouts for network visualization pose a difficult problem – there is no single, “good” layout algorithm, and many different approaches may be valuable under different circumstances. With this in mind, gplot allows for the use of arbitrary vertex layout algorithms via the gplot.layout.* family of routines. When called, gplot searches for a gplot.layout function whose third name matches its mode argument (see gplot help for more information); this function is then used to generate the layout for the resulting plot. In addition to the routines documented here, users may add their own layout functions as needed. The requirements for a gplot.layout function are as follows:

  1. the first argument, d, must be the (dichotomous) graph adjacency matrix;

  2. the second argument, layout.par, must be a list of parameters (or NULL, if no parameters are specified); and

  3. the return value must be a real matrix of dimension c(2,NROW(d)), whose rows contain the vertex coordinates.

Other than this, anything goes. (In particular, note that layout.par could be used to pass additional matrices, if needed.)

The graph.layout functions currently supplied by default are as follows:

circle

This function places vertices uniformly in a circle; it takes no arguments.

eigen

This function places vertices based on the eigenstructure of the adjacency matrix. It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$var

This argument controls the matrix to be used for the eigenanalysis. "symupper", "symlower", "symstrong", "symweak" invoke symmetrize on d with the respective symmetrizing rule. "user" indicates a user-supplied matrix (see below), while "raw" indicates that d should be used as-is. (Defaults to "raw".)

layout.par\$evsel

If "first", the first two eigenvectors are used; if "size", the two eigenvectors whose eigenvalues have the largest magnitude are used instead. Note that only the real portion of the associated eigenvectors is used. (Defaults to "first".)

layout.par\$mat

If layout.par\$var=="user", this matrix is used for the eigenanalysis. (No default.)

fruchtermanreingold

This function generates a layout using a variant of Fruchterman and Reingold's force-directed placement algorithm. It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$niter

This argument controls the number of iterations to be employed. Larger values take longer, but will provide a more refined layout. (Defaults to 500.)

layout.par\$max.delta

Sets the maximum change in position for any given iteration. (Defaults to n.)

layout.par\$area

Sets the “area” parameter for the F-R algorithm. (Defaults to n^2.)

layout.par\$cool.exp

Sets the cooling exponent for the annealer. (Defaults to 3.)

layout.par\$repulse.rad

Determines the radius at which vertex-vertex repulsion cancels out attraction of adjacent vertices. (Defaults to area*log(n).)

layout.par\$ncell

To speed calculations on large graphs, the plot region is divided at each iteration into ncell by ncell “cells”, which are used to define neighborhoods for force calculation. Moderate numbers of cells result in fastest performance; too few cells (down to 1, which produces “pure” F-R results) can yield odd layouts, while too many will result in long layout times. (Defaults to n^0.4.)

layout.par\$cell.jitter

Jitter factor (in units of cell width) used in assigning vertices to cells. Small values may generate “grid-like” anomalies for graphs with many isolates. (Defaults to 0.5.)

layout.par\$cell.pointpointrad

Squared “radius” (in units of cells) such that exact point interaction calculations are used for all vertices belonging to any two cells less than or equal to this distance apart. Higher values approximate the true F-R solution, but increase computational cost. (Defaults to 0.)

layout.par\$cell.pointcellrad

Squared “radius” (in units of cells) such that approximate point/cell interaction calculations are used for all vertices belonging to any two cells less than or equal to this distance apart (and not within the point/point radius). Higher values provide somewhat better approximations to the true F-R solution at slightly increased computational cost. (Defaults to 18.)

layout.par\$cell.cellcellrad

Squared “radius” (in units of cells) such that approximate cell/cell interaction calculations are used for all vertices belonging to any two cells less than or equal to this distance apart (and not within the point/point or point/cell radii). Higher values provide somewhat better approximations to the true F-R solution at slightly increased computational cost. Note that cells beyond this radius (if any) do not interact, save through edge attraction. (Defaults to ncell^2.)

layout.par\$seed.coord

A two-column matrix of initial vertex coordinates. (Defaults to a random circular layout.)

hall

This function places vertices based on the last two eigenvectors of the Laplacian of the input matrix (Hall's algorithm). It takes no arguments.

kamadakawai

This function generates a vertex layout using a version of the Kamada-Kawai force-directed placement algorithm. It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$niter

This argument controls the number of iterations to be employed. (Defaults to 1000.)

layout.par\$sigma

Sets the base standard deviation of position change proposals. (Defaults to NROW(d)/4.)

layout.par\$initemp

Sets the initial "temperature" for the annealing algorithm. (Defaults to 10.)

layout.par\$cool.exp

Sets the cooling exponent for the annealer. (Defaults to 0.99.)

layout.par\$kkconst

Sets the Kamada-Kawai vertex attraction constant. (Defaults to NROW(d)^2.)

layout.par\$elen

Provides the matrix of interpoint distances to be approximated. (Defaults to the geodesic distances of d after symmetrizing, capped at sqrt(NROW(d)).)

layout.par\$seed.coord

A two-column matrix of initial vertex coordinates. (Defaults to a gaussian layout.)

mds

This function places vertices based on a metric multidimensional scaling of a specified distance matrix. It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$var

This argument controls the raw variable matrix to be used for the subsequent distance calculation and scaling. "rowcol", "row", and "col" indicate that the rows and columns (concatenated), rows, or columns (respectively) of d should be used. "rcsum" and "rcdiff" result in the sum or difference of d and its transpose being employed. "invadj" indicates that max{d}-d should be used, while "geodist" uses geodist to generate a matrix of geodesic distances from d. Alternately, an arbitrary matrix can be provided using "user". (Defaults to "rowcol".)

layout.par\$dist

The distance function to be calculated on the rows of the variable matrix. This must be one of the method parameters to dist ("euclidean", "maximum", "manhattan", or "canberra"), or else "none". In the latter case, no distance function is calculated, and the matrix in question must be square (with dimension dim(d)) for the routine to work properly. (Defaults to "euclidean".)

layout.par\$exp

The power to which distances should be raised prior to scaling. (Defaults to 2.)

layout.par\$vm

If layout.par\$var=="user", this matrix is used for the distance calculation. (No default.)

Note: the following layout functions are based on mds:

adj

scaling of the raw adjacency matrix, treated as similarities (using "invadj").

geodist

scaling of the matrix of geodesic distances.

rmds

euclidean scaling of the rows of d.

segeo

scaling of the squared euclidean distances between row-wise geodesic distances (i.e., approximate structural equivalence).

seham

scaling of the Hamming distance between rows/columns of d (i.e., another approximate structural equivalence scaling).

princoord

This function places vertices based on the eigenstructure of a given correlation/covariance matrix. It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$var

The matrix of variables to be used for the correlation/covariance calculation. "rowcol", "col", and "row" indicate that the rows/cols, columns, or rows (respectively) of d should be employed. "rcsum" "rcdiff" result in the sum or difference of d and t(d) being used. "user" allows for an arbitrary variable matrix to be supplied. (Defaults to "rowcol".)

layout.par\$cor

Should the correlation matrix (rather than the covariance matrix) be used? (Defaults to TRUE.)

layout.par\$vm

If layout.par\$var=="user", this matrix is used for the correlation/covariance calculation. (No default.)

random

This function places vertices randomly. It takes the following argument:

layout.par\$dist

The distribution to be used for vertex placement. Currently, the options are "unif" (for uniform distribution on the square), "uniang" (for a “gaussian donut” configuration), and "normal" (for a straight Gaussian distribution). (Defaults to "unif".)

Note: circrand, which is a frontend to the "uniang" option, is based on this function.

spring

This function places vertices using a spring embedder. It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$mass

The vertex mass (in “quasi-kilograms”). (Defaults to 0.1.)

layout.par\$equil

The equilibrium spring extension (in “quasi-meters”). (Defaults to 1.)

layout.par\$k

The spring coefficient (in “quasi-Newtons per quasi-meter”). (Defaults to 0.001.)

layout.par\$repeqdis

The point at which repulsion (if employed) balances out the spring extension force (in “quasi-meters”). (Defaults to 0.1.)

layout.par\$kfr

The base coefficient of kinetic friction (in “quasi-Newton quasi-kilograms”). (Defaults to 0.01.)

layout.par\$repulse

Should repulsion be used? (Defaults to FALSE.)

Note: springrepulse is a frontend to spring, with repulsion turned on.

target

This function produces a "target diagram" or "bullseye" layout, using a Brandes et al.'s force-directed placement algorithm. (See also gplot.target.) It takes the following arguments:

layout.par\$niter

This argument controls the number of iterations to be employed. (Defaults to 1000.)

layout.par\$radii

This argument should be a vector of length NROW(d) containing vertex radii. Ideally, these should lie in the [0,1] interval (and odd behavior may otherwise result). (Defaults to the affine-transformed Freeman degree centrality scores of d.)

layout.par\$minlen

Sets the minimum edge length, below which edge lengths are to be adjusted upwards. (Defaults to 0.05.)

layout.par\$area

Sets the initial "temperature" for the annealing algorithm. (Defaults to 10.)

layout.par\$cool.exp

Sets the cooling exponent for the annealer. (Defaults to 0.99.)

layout.par\$maxdelta

Sets the maximum angular distance for vertex moves. (Defaults to pi.)

layout.par\$periph.outside

Boolean; should "peripheral" vertices (in the Brandes et al. sense) be placed together outside the main target area? (Defaults to FALSE.)

layout.par\$periph.outside.offset

Radius at which to place "peripheral" vertices if periph.outside==TRUE. (Defaults to 1.2.)

layout.par\$disconst

Multiplier for the Kamada-Kawai-style distance potential. (Defaults to 1.)

layout.par\$crossconst

Multiplier for the edge crossing potential. (Defaults to 1.)

layout.par\$repconst

Multiplier for the vertex-edge repulsion potential. (Defaults to 1.)

layout.par\$minpdis

Sets the "minimum distance" parameter for vertex repulsion. (Defaults to 0.05.)

Value

A matrix whose rows contain the x,y coordinates of the vertices of d.

Author(s)

Carter T. Butts buttsc@uci.edu

References

Brandes, U.; Kenis, P.; and Wagner, D. (2003). “Communicating Centrality in Policy Network Drawings.” IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 9(2):241-253.

Fruchterman, T.M.J. and Reingold, E.M. (1991). “Graph Drawing by Force-directed Placement.” Software - Practice and Experience, 21(11):1129-1164.

Kamada, T. and Kawai, S. (1989). “An Algorithm for Drawing General Undirected Graphs.” Information Processing Letters, 31(1):7-15.

See Also


sna

Tools for Social Network Analysis

v2.6
GPL (>= 2)
Authors
Carter T. Butts [aut, cre, cph]
Initial release
2020-10-5

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