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Manhattan Connection routing [message #1002803]

Sat, 19 January 2013 08:23

Robert Brodt
Messages: 339
Registered: August 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Senior Member

Hi all,

Because the draw2d ManhattanConnectionRouter wasn't exactly what I was looking for, I've decided to implement my own as a LayoutFeature. The result is quite usable, but could still use some improvement (Shape collision avoidance, optimal path, etc.)

I've created a screencast to demonstrate its current functionality here:

http://eclipse.org/bpmn2-modeler/videos/BPMN2Modeler-ConnectionRouterFeature.htm

If anyone's interested in collaborating on this, please let me know.

Cheers!
Bob

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Re: Manhattan Connection routing [message #1003523 is a reply to message #1002803]

Mon, 21 January 2013 07:38

Michael Wenz
Messages: 1267
Registered: July 2009
Location: Walldorf, Germany

Senior Member

Bob,

better Manhattan connection routing would be interesting for the Graphiti
framework as well, as there were already some question on this...

Do I understand you correctly in that you build a layout feature that can be
applied to freeform connections so that they behave like better Manhattan
connections? That would be somewhat different to what the current ideas for
Manhattan conenctions in Graphiti is, but maybe this is an alternative.
Would it also be possible to hook your coding in as an alternative
connection router on GEF edit part level?

Michael

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Re: Manhattan Connection routing [message #1003563 is a reply to message #1003523]

Mon, 21 January 2013 09:19

Robert Brodt
Messages: 339
Registered: August 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Senior Member

Yes, that's exactly right; I use a LayoutFeature to apply routing constraints to a FreeFormConnection "after the fact", that is after a Connection handle has been added, moved or removed, after a connected Shape has been moved or resized, or one of the FixPointAnchors has been moved.

Not sure how easy this would be to add to an EditPart - I haven't looked at GEF in a long time, so would have to familiarize myself with this again. The routing algorithm itself is relatively simple and I'm sure the concepts could be reused easily enough.

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Re: Manhattan Connection routing [message #1004021 is a reply to message #1003563]

Tue, 22 January 2013 07:54

Michael Wenz
Messages: 1267
Registered: July 2009
Location: Walldorf, Germany

Senior Member

Thanks,

I think this would be interesting for the framework as well, but I would
need some hands-on to get an impression what introducing such a layout
feature would mean for clients using it.

I have just opened https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=398730 to
track possible Manhattan improvements. Could you please add your idea to
that bug, describe the usage and maybe add the layout feature (in case you
would like to contribute it)?

Thanks,
Michael

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