# Simulate Y axis and horizontal strips **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [February 14, 2025, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/simulate-y-axis-and-horizontal-strips/2723 "2025-02-14T09:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![somms](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/user_avatar/forum.graphviz.org/somms/32/1839_2.png) [@somms](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/somms)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/simulate-y-axis-and-horizontal-strips/2723/1 "2025-02-14T09:41:33Z")
Hi everybody, I am trying to create a graph placing nodes in layers, order by its centrality. I have managed to group them using ranks and order them using invisible rank nodes and edges. I also managed to add two “Y axis”. This is the code ([Graphviz Online](https://tinyurl.com/2ww27y85)) and resulting graph [dot verbose=true] ```auto digraph prof { graph[splines=yes]; rankdir="TB"; layout="dot"; node [fontname="Helvetica", fontcolor="white"]; edge [style=bold, color="#888"] fontsize=12; // ============================= // Centrality Y axis // ============================= subgraph cluster_legend { layout="dot"; label="Centralidad"; fontname="Helvetica"; color=transparent; penwidth=2; subgraph cluster_legend_nodes{ label=""; peripheries=0; node [fontname="Helvetica", fontcolor="black", penwidth=3]; scale_0 [label="0", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_05 [style=invisible]; scale_1 [label="2", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_15 [style=invisible]; scale_2 [label="4", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_25 [style=invisible]; scale_3 [label="6", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_35 [style=invisible]; scale_4 [label="8", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_4 -> scale_35 -> scale_3 [style=line, arrowhead=none]; scale_3 -> scale_25 -> scale_2 [style=line, arrowhead=none]; scale_2 -> scale_15 -> scale_1 [style=line, arrowhead=none]; scale_1 -> scale_05 -> scale_0 [style=line, arrowhead=none]; } } // Invisible nodes to control order rank2 [style=invisible, group=2]; rank3 [style=invisible, group=3]; rank4 [style=invisible, group=4]; rank5 [style=invisible, group=5]; rank6 [style=invisible, group=6]; rank7 [style=invisible, group=7]; rank8 [style=invisible, group=8]; rank9 [style=invisible, group=9]; rank10 [style=invisible, group=10]; // Invisible edges to maintain vertical order and distance rank2 -> rank3 [style=invis]; rank3 -> rank4 [style=invis]; rank4 -> rank5 [style=invis]; rank5 -> rank6 [style=invis]; rank6 -> rank7 [style=invis]; rank7 -> rank8 [style=invis]; rank8 -> rank9 [style=invis]; rank9 -> rank10 [style=invis]; // ============================= // Real nodes definition // ============================= // Objetivos 1 [label="OB1", style=filled, fillcolor="red", color="red", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=7]; 2 [label="OB2", style=filled, fillcolor="red", color="red", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=2]; 3 [label="OB3", style=filled, fillcolor="red", color="red", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=5]; 4 [label="OB4", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=6]; 5 [label="OB5", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=5]; 6 [label="OB6", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=6]; 7 [label="OB7", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=5]; 8 [label="OB8", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=8]; 9 [label="OB9", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=8]; 10 [label="OB10", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=square, group=6]; // Actuaciones 11 [label="AC1", style=filled, fillcolor="red", color="red", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=5]; 12 [label="AC2", style=filled, fillcolor="red", color="red", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=7]; 13 [label="AC3", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=6]; 14 [label="AC4", style=filled, fillcolor="red", color="red", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=7]; 15 [label="AC5", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=9]; 16 [label="AC6", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=6]; 17 [label="AC7", style=filled, fillcolor="blue", color="blue", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=8]; 18 [label="AC8", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=7]; 19 [label="AC9", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=9]; 20 [label="AC10", style=filled, fillcolor="green", color="green", penwidth=4, shape=circle, group=7]; {rank=min;rank2;2} {rank=same;rank5;3;5;7;11} {rank=same;rank6;4;6;10;13;16} {rank=same;rank7;1;12;14;18;20} {rank=same;rank8;8;9;17} {rank=same;rank9;15;19} // ============================= // Links // ============================= 1 -> 2 ; 1 -> 5 ; 1 -> 11 ; 2 -> 1 ; 2 -> 5 ; 2 -> 12 ; 2 -> 13 ; 5 -> 1 ; 5 -> 3 ; 3 -> 5 ; 5 -> 15 ; 3 -> 2 ; 3 -> 7 ; 3 -> 13 ; 7 -> 10 ; 7 -> 17 ; 4 -> 3 ; 4 -> 9 ; 4 -> 14 ; 4 -> 11 ; 9 -> 19 ; 6 -> 7 ; 6 -> 2 ; 6 -> 16 ; 10 -> 20; 8 -> 10 ; 8 -> 18 ; 11 -> 10; 11 -> 16; 13 -> 5 ; 13 -> 12; 14 -> 7 ; 14 -> 11; 16 -> 2 ; 16 -> 20; 17 -> 12; 18 -> 2 ; 18 -> 6 ; 20 -> 2 ; // ============================= // Second centrality Y axis // ============================= subgraph cluster_legend_bis { layout="dot"; label="Centralidad"; fontname="Helvetica"; color=transparent; penwidth=2; subgraph cluster_legend_nodes_bis{ label=""; peripheries=0; node [fontname="Helvetica", fontcolor="black", penwidth=3]; scale_0_bis [label="0", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_05_bis [style=invisible]; scale_1_bis [label="2", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_15_bis [style=invisible]; scale_2_bis [label="4", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_25_bis [style=invisible]; scale_3_bis [label="6", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_35_bis [style=invisible]; scale_4_bis [label="8", height=.8, color=transparent, shape=square]; scale_4_bis -> scale_35_bis -> scale_3_bis [style=line, arrowhead=none]; scale_3_bis -> scale_25_bis -> scale_2_bis [style=line, arrowhead=none]; scale_2_bis -> scale_15_bis -> scale_1_bis [style=line, arrowhead=none]; scale_1_bis -> scale_05_bis -> scale_0_bis [style=line, arrowhead=none]; } } } ``` [/dot] Now I want to add **horizontal background stripes or lines to separate each centrality level** , going from the left axis to the right axis. I have tried to create subgraphs for every level, adding the corresponding nodes, but it does not work well. Do you have any idea? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![steveroush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@steveroush](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/steveroush)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/simulate-y-axis-and-horizontal-strips/2723/2 "2025-02-14T15:20:34Z")
If you can use a two-pass solution, this may provide the solution: > [@Add a grid to your graphs](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/add-a-grid-to-your-graphs/2402): > > addGrid.gvpr - a postprocessor that will add a grid to your Graphviz graph. [unix.Ranks] Find it [here](https://gist.github.com/steveroush/325b594e0547e2abbc79c5106d8e8db3) It can do horizontal, vertical, or both; edge styles, (multiple) colors, fixed increment or centered on ranks. Mostly a toy, but probably useful on larger graphs. Example command line: dot myFile.gv | gvpr -a 'size=rank Gcolor=green,purple,red grid=horizontal' -cf addGrid.gvpr |neato -n2 ... Enjoy p.s. **style=line** is not supported, you want **style=solid** ---
**Author:** ![somms](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/user_avatar/forum.graphviz.org/somms/32/1839_2.png) [@somms](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/somms)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/simulate-y-axis-and-horizontal-strips/2723/3 "2025-02-14T16:50:17Z")
Thanks a lot, Steve. I can use GVPR, yes. I will give this a try. And thanks for the correction. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/simulate-y-axis-and-horizontal-strips/2723/4 "2025-02-14T17:27:28Z")
I took the liberty to edit your post so that the DOT source in shown (I added [`verbose=true`](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/render-graphviz-graphs-directly-in-your-posts/125#the-verbose-option-14)). ---
**Author:** ![somms](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/user_avatar/forum.graphviz.org/somms/32/1839_2.png) [@somms](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/somms)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/simulate-y-axis-and-horizontal-strips/2723/5 "2025-02-14T17:41:24Z")
This is not directly related to my question but to the usage of your gvpr file. When I try to add any parameter using the -a option, I always get an empty output and a “gvpr: gvpr” message: ```auto $ dot input.dot | gvpr -a 'size=rank' -cf addGrid.gvpr // SIZE start: 72pt delta: 0 // SIZE end: 72pt size: 72 delta: 0 // ARG >size=rank< // type: s gvpr: gvpr ``` I can move this subthread to the “Add a grid to your graphs”