You can use graph layout algorithms with or
without a diagram component. There are several ways to use the
graph layout algorithms:
- By specifying a style sheet for graph layout in a diagram component
- By using the graph layout API in a diagram component
- By using the graph layout API in a graphics framework application
The diagram component (class IlvDiagrammer) allows you to configure the
graph layout entirely through style sheets. Internally, it uses the
graph layout API and the Graphics Framework, but it simplifies
their usage by a high-level API and by the expressiveness of the
CSS language.
It is not mandatory to use a diagram component (class IlvDiagrammer) to perform graph layout. The
graph layout algorithms work also on graphers (class IlvGrapher).
The diagram component uses the grapher
infrastructure internally, adds style sheets and simplifies the
usage. But if style sheets are not required by the application, you
can just use graph layout algorithms without any diagram component.