Creating Hierarchical Diagrams
A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide

Master the implementation of hierarchical layouts with this hands-on tutorial. Learn how to create clear, structured diagrams that effectively represent directed relationships and hierarchical structures. Whether you're visualizing organizational charts, dependencies, or process flows, this guide will show you how to achieve optimal results.

What You'll Learn

  • Configure and customize the hierarchical layout algorithm
  • Control node positioning and layer assignment
  • Implement edge routing and port constraints
  • Handle cycles and edge direction
  • Apply layout styles and visual customization
  • Add interactivity and user controls

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial, you should:

  • Have basic knowledge of JavaScript
  • Understand fundamental graph theory concepts
  • Be familiar with the yFiles library basics
  • Have the yFiles library included in your project

Implementation Guide

Practical Examples

Basic Layout Implementation

Start with a simple hierarchical layout implementation:

Layer Management

Learn how to control node layers and positioning:

Edge Routing Optimization

Implement advanced edge routing techniques:

Visual Customization

Apply styling and visual enhancements:

Common Implementation Scenarios

Handling Complex Structures

Learn to handle special cases in hierarchical layouts:

  • Dealing with cycles
  • Managing multi-edge scenarios
  • Handling cross-layer edges
  • Implementing substructures

Best Practices and Tips

  • Optimize layout performance for large graphs
  • Handle dynamic data updates efficiently
  • Implement proper error handling
  • Consider user interaction patterns
  • Plan for scalability

Ready to create your own
hierarchical diagrams?

Download yFiles Now!
Questions about implementing hierarchical layouts?

Get in touch to discuss your specific challenges with our diagramming experts. We're here to provide the guidance you need.

Questions about implementing hierarchical layouts?

We´d love to help you. Reach out and we'll get in touch with you.

We are sorry, something went wrong. Please try again.
If the problem persists, please report the error to webmaster@yworks.com.
Thank you!

Your message has been sent.

Choose your next steps

Get connected

Connect with our Customer Success Team regarding your ideas or projects.

Connect with the real graph drawing experts.

Dive deep

Get more detailed information about specific yFiles topics.

Download yFiles

Try yFiles free of charge.

Download the yFiles trial version.