# How to get started with Graphviz

**URL:** <https://forum.graphviz.org/t/how-to-get-started-with-graphviz/1334>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [October 17, 2022, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/how-to-get-started-with-graphviz/1334 "2022-10-17T01:08:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![steveroush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@steveroush](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/steveroush)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/how-to-get-started-with-graphviz/1334/4 "2022-10-17T12:55:05Z")

</div>

if `dot -V ` (note: capital V) gives a result similar to this

```auto
dot -V
dot - graphviz version 5.0.0 (20220707.1540)

```

You are good to go

Here are two links taht describe how to work with Graphviz:

- [Absolute beginner - how do I create a dot file](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/absolute-beginner-how-do-i-create-a-dot-file/392)
- [windows - Graphviz: How to go from .dot to a graph? - Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1494492/graphviz-how-to-go-from-dot-to-a-graph)

Here is a mini tutorial on how to create a Graphviz input file:  
Using any editor that can create a text file, create a file named **first.gv** and copy/paste the following (in a known directory):

```auto
digraph {
  hello [shape=circle]
  world [color=red]
  hello -> world
}

```

Then start a **cmd** window, **cd** to the above directory and type:  
`dot -Tpng first.gv > first.png `  
using Windows File Explorer, display **first.png**

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_[View the full topic](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/how-to-get-started-with-graphviz/1334)._