Rendering Graphs to Images

While ts-graphviz module focuses on modeling graphs using the DOT language and generating DOT strings, you may want to render your graphs into image formats like SVG or PNG. This is where ts-graphviz/adapter module comes into play.

ts-graphviz/adapter module allows you to execute the Graphviz dot command in various runtime environments (Node.js, Deno) to convert DOT strings into image files. This enables you to visualize your graphs as images within your applications or export them for use elsewhere.

danger

At this time, ts-graphviz/adapter does not support running in a browser. If you want to visualize DOT language in a browser or output it as an image, you need to use other npm libraries such as d3-graphviz or @hpcc-js/wasm-graphviz.

Features:

• Execute Graphviz Commands: Run the dot command from your code to generate images.
• Support for Multiple Runtimes: Works with Node.js and Deno environments.
• Output Formats: Convert DOT strings to formats like SVG, PNG, PDF, etc.

warning

Ensure that Graphviz is installed on your system so that the dot command is available.

Example:

Converting DOT to an Image Stream

import { toStream } from 'ts-graphviz/adapter';

const dot = `
  digraph example {
    node1 [ label = "My Node" ];
  }
`;

const stream = await toStream(dot, { format: 'svg' });

// In Node.js
stream.pipe(process.stdout);

// In Deno
await stream.pipeTo(Deno.stdout.writable);

Writing DOT to an Image File

import { toFile } from 'ts-graphviz/adapter';

const dot = `
  digraph example {
    node1 [ label = "My Node" ];
  }
`;

await toFile(dot, './result.svg', { format: 'svg' });

Explanation

• Executing the dot Command: The adapter provides functions that internally execute the dot command with the provided DOT string and options.
• Output Formats: Specify the desired output format (e.g., svg, png) through the options.
• Runtime Compatibility: Designed to work seamlessly in both Node.js and Deno environments.

When to Use ts-graphviz/adapter module

• When you need to render your graphs into image files for visualization.
• If you want to generate images dynamically within your application.
• When integrating graph rendering into server-side scripts or applications.

Additional Notes

• Browser Support: ts-graphviz/adapter does not support running in a browser environment. If you need to render graphs in a browser, consider libraries such as d3-graphviz or @hpcc-js/wasm. These use WebAssembly to render DOT graphs in the browser.
• Graphviz Installation: Make sure that Graphviz is installed and accessible in your system's PATH.
• Error Handling: Handle errors that may occur if the dot command fails or if Graphviz is not installed.