Layout

Abstract: Many models in software and information engineering use graph representations; examples are data flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, flow charts, PERT charts, organization charts, Petri nets and entity-relationship diagrams. The usefulness of these graph representations depends on the quality of the layout of the graphs. Automatic graph layout, which can release humans from graph drawing, is now available in several visualization systems. Most automatic layout facilities take a purely combinatorial description of a graph and produce a layout of the graph; these methods are called 'layout creation' methods. For interactive systems, another kind of layout is needed: a facility which can adjust a layout after a change is made by the user or by the application. Although layout adjustment is essential in interactive systems, most existing layout algorithms are designed for layout creation. The use of a layout creation method for layout adjustment may totally rearrange the layout and thus destroy the user's 'mental map' of the diagram; thus a set of layout adjustment methods, separate from layout creation methods, is needed. This paper discusses some layout adjustment methods and the preservation of the 'mental map' of the diagram. First, several models are proposed to make the concept of 'mental map' more precise. Then two kinds of layout adjustments are described. One is an algorithm for rearranging a diagram to avoid overlapping nodes, and the other is a method aimed at changing the focus of interest of the user without destroying the mental map. Next, some experience with visualization systems in which the techniques have been employed is also described.

Abstract: A document search system provides a user with a programming interface for dynamically specifying features of documents recorded in a corpus of documents. The programming interface operates at a high-level that is suitable for interactive user specification of layout components and structures of documents. In operation, a bitmap image of a document is analyzed by the document search system to identify layout objects such as text blocks or graphics. Subsequently, the document search system computes a set of attributes for each of the identified layout objects. The set of attributes which are identified are used to describe the layout structure of a page image of a document in terms of the spatial relations that layout objects have to frames of reference that are defined by other layout objects. After computing attributes for each layout object, a user can operate the programming interface to define unique document features. Each document feature is a routine defined by a sequence of selections operations which consume a first set of layout objects and produce a second set of layout objects. The second set of layout objects constitutes the feature in a page image of a document. Using the programming interface, a user flexibly defines a genre of document using the user-specified document features.

Abstract: An intelligent layout system for drawing objects and organizing the drawn objects. The layout system facilitates creation of objects, such as boxes that can contain text, graphics, outlines, titles, headlines, and other information and data, to provide a custom dashboard layout, as well as serves as a layout manager for organization of the objects. Additionally, the layout system enables objects to be manipulated individually or as a group and to be arranged permanently in various relationships, in which various components or attributes of the objects are interrelated. For example, the layout system enables a user to interrelate objects in one or more permanent relationships by selectively distributing, aligning, sizing, and/or spacing the objects. The layout system also provides a graphical user interface design tool for designing dynamic page layouts that automatically adapt to various page sizes and display screen sizes and resolutions. The layout system enables objects to be connected to the edge or edges of one or more pages in an intuitive and gestural manner to provide a dynamic page layout tool that automatically moves objects and causes them to re-size automatically to adapt the size and position of the objects if the page is re-sized or the size or resolution of the display screen is altered.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a system that simulates effects of a manufacturing process on an integrated circuit to enhance process latitude and/or reduce layout size. During operation, the system receives a representation of a target layout for the integrated circuit, wherein the representation defines a plurality of shapes that comprise the target layout. Next, the system simulates effects of the manufacturing process on the target layout to produce a simulated printed image for the target layout. The system then identifies problem areas in the simulated printed image that do not meet a specification. Next, the system moves corresponding shapes in the target layout to produce a new target layout for the integrated circuit, so that a simulated printed image of the new target layout meets the specification.