# Problems positioning nodes in a family tree with DOT **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [April 14, 2026, 11:33am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/problems-positioning-nodes-in-a-family-tree-with-dot/3328 "2026-04-14T11:33:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 10
**Author:** ![steveroush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@steveroush](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/steveroush)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/problems-positioning-nodes-in-a-family-tree-with-dot/3328/10 "2026-04-15T01:44:28Z")
the **ortho** algorithm has a bunch of issues (see [Work items · graphviz / graphviz · GitLab](https://gitlab.com/graphviz/graphviz/-/work_items?sort=updated_desc&state=opened&search=%20ortho)) Here is a modestly improved version that uses [Graphviz post-processor to customize edges · GitHub](https://gist.github.com/steveroush/412d9c5479ba8f5c30239e4963338b82#file-alter_archive-sh) (see also [A program to "fix" simple edges](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/a-program-to-fix-simple-edges/1792)) command line: `f=forum3328_3.gv; T=png;F=${f%.*};dot $f |gvpr -cf alterSimpleEdge.gvpr|neato -n2 -T$T -o$F.$T` ```auto digraph { //splines = ortho; node [shape=box] edge [dir=none] edge [edgeType=ortho2] SMITH_BRIDGET [label="Bridget Smith", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; SMITH_ADAM [label="Adam Smith", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; SMITH_BERTRAND [label="Bertrand Smith", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; JOHNSON_BEATRICE [label="Beatrice Johnson", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; SMITH_CHARLES [label="Charles Smith", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; NEWTON_CHARLOTTE [label="Charlotte Newton", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; JOHNSON_BAINES [label="Baines Johnson", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; MAXWELL_MARGARET [label="Margaret Maxwell", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; JONES_MARY [label="Mary Jones", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; JONES_HENRY_JR [label="Henry Jones Junior", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; JONES_DIANA [label="Diana Jones", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; JONES_HENRY [label="Henry Jones", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; ADAMS_ABIGAIL [label="Abigail Adams", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; JONES_JEREMIAH [label="Jeremiah Jones", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; PLANK_PATRICIA [label="Patricia Plank", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; ADAMS_DOUGLAS [label="Douglas Adams", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; DENT_URSULA [label="Ursula Dent", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; SMITH_JOHN [label="John Smith", style=filled, fillcolor=azure2]; SMITH_JANE [label="Jane Smith", style=filled, fillcolor=bisque]; subgraph clusterF1 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F1_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; SMITH_BERTRAND -> F1_top F1_top -> JOHNSON_BEATRICE } } { rank=same; F1_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F1_1 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F1_2 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F1_0 -> F1_1 -> F1_2; } F1_top -> F1_1 // gives diagonal [edgeType=straight] // added F1_0 -> SMITH_BRIDGET [edgeType=straight] // added F1_2 -> SMITH_ADAM; subgraph clusterF2 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F2_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; JONES_HENRY -> F2_top F2_top -> ADAMS_ABIGAIL } } { rank=same; F2_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F2_1 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F2_2 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F2_0 -> F2_1 -> F2_2; } F2_top -> F2_1; F2_0 -> JONES_MARY [edgeDirection=ccw] F2_1 -> JONES_HENRY_JR; F2_2 -> JONES_DIANA; subgraph clusterF3 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F3_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; SMITH_ADAM -> F3_top F3_top -> JONES_MARY } } { rank=same; F3_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F3_1 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F3_2 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; F3_0 -> F3_1 -> F3_2; } F3_top -> F3_1; F3_0 -> SMITH_JOHN; F3_2 -> SMITH_JANE; subgraph clusterF4 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F4_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; SMITH_CHARLES -> F4_top F4_top -> NEWTON_CHARLOTTE } } { rank=same; F4_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; } F4_top -> F4_0 [edgeDirection=ccw] F4_0 -> SMITH_BERTRAND subgraph clusterF5 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F5_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; JOHNSON_BAINES -> F5_top F5_top -> MAXWELL_MARGARET } } { rank=same; F5_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; } F5_top -> F5_0; F5_0 -> JOHNSON_BEATRICE; subgraph clusterF6 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F6_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; JONES_JEREMIAH -> F6_top F6_top -> PLANK_PATRICIA } } { rank=same; F6_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; } F6_top -> F6_0; F6_0 -> JONES_HENRY; subgraph clusterF7 { peripheries=0; { rank=same; F7_top [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; ADAMS_DOUGLAS -> F7_top F7_top -> DENT_URSULA } } { rank=same; F7_0 [shape=circle, label="", height=0.01, width=0.01]; } F7_top -> F7_0; F7_0 -> ADAMS_ABIGAIL [edgeDirection=ccw] } ``` Giving: ![forum3328_3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/b/b73ae2af343601cf1e330af528b7509c51117f2a.png) I realize that this is really a **bus** (as in busbar) problem (see: [Drawing busses for network and other diagrams (#1987) · Issues · graphviz / graphviz · GitLab](https://gitlab.com/graphviz/graphviz/-/work_items/1987)). I may have a better solution in the dusty corners of my computer. looking … --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/problems-positioning-nodes-in-a-family-tree-with-dot/3328)._