Network Diagram

The Network view displays a data network diagram that provides an interactive (spring-loaded) visualisation of the result set. Records are shown as nodes, and the connections (pointer fields and relationships) as the lines (links) between nodes (edges).

Viewing your Data

Run a search and select the Network tab. The results are shown as a network diagram.

Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the map. Use the Network Diagram options to change the display settings, as follows:

• Showing... Click to toggle the display of the Record Type Table (see below), which shows details of the underlying set of record types. The numbers on the button (e.g. 10 of 30) indicate how many record types are used in the database out of the total number.
• Arrows: Select to be able to drag a single node to reposition it. Select to be able to lasso multiple nodes to reposition them. (Nodes are repositioned according to the Gravity setting).
• Labels. Turn node labels on and off .
• Gravity: Determines the degree to which nodes are repositioned around the selected entity based on their relative weightings. Tip. Use Strong initially, and then Weak or turn Off.
• Nodes. Determines how node size is calculated: Lin ( based on number of instances), Log (logarithmic), or Fixed (enter a fixed size). Click to adjust the colour.
• Links: Lines can be straight or curved. The two values let you set maximum line length between records, and the maximum width (width is indicative of the number of records in the connected record type, but the maximum width can be set here). Click or to adjust the colour of links or arrows.

Gephi Export

Gephi provides additional sophisticated ways of visualising the data shown in the Connections View.

Note. Gephi is a widely used free, open-source desktop tool that gives great flexibility in the visualisation of networks. To use Gephi you need to have installed it. Further information and download of Gephi is available here.

You can export the network data to a Gephi GEFX file via the Gephi Export button at top-right.

Once you have installed Gephi, clicking on the exported Gephi file will open the data in Gephi, where you have a wide range of options for tailoring and exporting similar diagrams.

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