# Representing large graphs

**URL:** <https://forum.graphviz.org/t/representing-large-graphs/411>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [October 29, 2020, 10:32am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/representing-large-graphs/411 "2020-10-29T10:32:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mahmoodn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@mahmoodn](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/mahmoodn)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 10:32am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/representing-large-graphs/411/1 "2020-10-29T10:32:34Z")

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Hi  
I had a graph with about 20 vertices and about 100K edges. When I run the dot command I get the following error messages regarding the size of the graph and then a 16MB PNG is generated which I can not zoom into that to get information.

```
>dot -T png my_dot.txt -o my_dot.png
Error: Edge length 88795.000000 larger than maximum 65535 allowed.
Check for overwide node(s).
Error: Edge length 93134.000000 larger than maximum 65535 allowed.
Check for overwide node(s).
Error: Edge length 92711.000000 larger than maximum 65535 allowed.
Check for overwide node(s).
Error: Edge length 93134.000000 larger than maximum 65535 allowed.
Check for overwide node(s).
Error: Edge length 66125.000000 larger than maximum 65535 allowed.
Check for overwide node(s).
Error: Edge length 66125.000000 larger than maximum 65535 allowed.
Check for overwide node(s).
dot: graph is too large for cairo-renderer bitmaps. Scaling by 0.0484215 to fit

```

The output is shown in the picture.  
Is there any way to better show that graph? I mean interactive behavior for zooming in or out?

 ![Untitled](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/1X/e9b1bc704c9738aecdf5d0c9f2d607f674da186f.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magjac](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/user_avatar/forum.graphviz.org/magjac/32/16_2.png) [@magjac](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/magjac)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/representing-large-graphs/411/2 "2020-10-29T16:24:19Z")

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I don’t know if it has the capacity to show 100K edges, but you could try:

> **[Graphviz Visual Editor](http://magjac.com/graphviz-visual-editor/)**
>
> A web application for interactive visual editing of Graphviz graphs described in the DOT language

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mahmoodn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@mahmoodn](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/mahmoodn)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/representing-large-graphs/411/3 "2020-10-29T17:20:09Z")

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OK it seems that I can use PDF format which is better for large graphs.

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<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 30, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/representing-large-graphs/411/4 "2020-10-30T00:48:38Z")

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I’d suggest trying SVG. It is cleaner than PDF (smaller? text-based files with less huge-document baggage).  
Any way you cut it, an average of 10,000 edges/node is a challenge.  
You might also try some of the other engines - fdp, neato, sfdp, circo, twopi - for fun if no other reason.