<p>By now, there are two:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/mapio/GraphvizAnim" rel="nofollow noreferrer">GraphAnim</a>, which takes a graph and then a list of changes to it for the animations as source, and converts it into an animated GIF</li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/magjac/d3-graphviz" rel="nofollow noreferrer">d3-graphviz</a>, which takes a list of fully fledged graph descriptions as source, converts each into an SVG, and then uses JavaScript (Vue.js) and d3 to create animations between them. though it is possible to have other workflows, like interactively generating subsequent graphs in the fly.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T06:31:09.103Z
2019-09-07T06:31:09.103Z
hoijui
<p>I'm not sure this question is on-topic here, and would suggest <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/">StackOverflow</a> instead. For what it's worth, I never heard that what you are asking for is possible, but you might obtain better-looking results with <a href="http://www.ubietylab.net/ubigraph/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ubigraph</a> (check out the <a href="http://www.ubietylab.net/ubigraph/content/Demos/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">demos</a>, they are amazing).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-22T13:22:29.933Z
This is a comment directed to the OP, should he chose this approach. The quality of the results depend upon how the graph changes. The examples suggested by the OP would produce excellent results. On the other hand, animating the graph of the changes in a research group's (or department's) collaboration network is less pretty – at least the way I did it. Changes to a graph at the leaves generally result in gradual changes to the animation. Adding or removing more deeply embedded edges often results in rather jerky animations.
Dave Clarke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-22T10:47:12.097Z
2011-06-22T10:47:12.097Z
2017-05-23T12:40:09.333Z
Anthony Labarre
<p>Not really, unfortunately.  A few years ago it looked like a graph animation tool was going to be added to the Graphviz package, but it was removed because it never quite worked.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-23T01:45:43.827Z
2011-06-23T01:45:43.827Z
Peter Boothe
<p>I'm exploring some graph algorithms, and would like to animate the graph change over time (e.g. when adding a heap node or balancing a tree).</p>

<p>Is there a nice way to animate a sequence of <a href="http://www.graphviz.org/Gallery.php" rel="nofollow"><code>graphviz</code></a> graphs?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-22T11:06:07.623Z
Yes and No. You will have to do something like [this](http://gromgull.net/blog/2011/02/creating-animations-with-graphviz/). Better use Ubigraph as @Anthony suggested.
Pratik Deoghare
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-22T11:25:46.977Z
There have already been a number of questions about graph visualisation already asked, such as http://cstheory.stackexchange.com/q/2257/77, so why not look at them.
Dave Clarke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-23T11:08:46.837Z
A simple approach might be the following: First construct a graph that contains *all* nodes that existed at some point during the lifetime of the dynamic graph. Use graphviz (or any other tool) to find a nice layout of the graph. Then to animate it, it is sufficient to simply hide/reveal some parts of the graph (e.g., change colour attributes). With a little bit of hacking, it should be fairly easy to automate.
Jukka Suomela
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-23T13:35:58.860Z
I'm voting to close as off-topic given this question asks about visualizing graphs made with particular software.  This seems quite unrelated to TCS.
Lev Reyzin
<graph-theory>
Animate a graphviz graph
Adam Matan
# Animate a graphviz graph

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-06-22)

I'm exploring some graph algorithms, and would like to animate the graph change over time (e.g. when adding a heap node or balancing a tree).

Is there a nice way to animate a sequence of [`graphviz`](http://www.graphviz.org/Gallery.php) graphs?

**Tags:** graph-theory

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes and No. You will have to do something like [this](http://gromgull.net/blog/2011/02/creating-animations-with-graphviz/). Better use Ubigraph as @Anthony suggested.  
> **username_2**: There have already been a number of questions about graph visualisation already asked, such as http://cstheory.stackexchange.com/q/2257/77, so why not look at them.  
> **username_3**: A simple approach might be the following: First construct a graph that contains *all* nodes that existed at some point during the lifetime of the dynamic graph. Use graphviz (or any other tool) to find a nice layout of the graph. Then to animate it, it is sufficient to simply hide/reveal some parts of the graph (e.g., change colour attributes). With a little bit of hacking, it should be fairly easy to automate.  
> **username_4**: I'm voting to close as off-topic given this question asks about visualizing graphs made with particular software.  This seems quite unrelated to TCS.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-09-07. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

By now, there are two:

* [GraphAnim](https://github.com/mapio/GraphvizAnim), which takes a graph and then a list of changes to it for the animations as source, and converts it into an animated GIF
* [d3-graphviz](https://github.com/magjac/d3-graphviz), which takes a list of fully fledged graph descriptions as source, converts each into an SVG, and then uses JavaScript (Vue.js) and d3 to create animations between them. though it is possible to have other workflows, like interactively generating subsequent graphs in the fly.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2011-06-22. Score: 6

I'm not sure this question is on-topic here, and would suggest [StackOverflow](https://stackoverflow.com/) instead. For what it's worth, I never heard that what you are asking for is possible, but you might obtain better-looking results with [Ubigraph](http://www.ubietylab.net/ubigraph/) (check out the [demos](http://www.ubietylab.net/ubigraph/content/Demos/index.html), they are amazing).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is a comment directed to the OP, should he chose this approach. The quality of the results depend upon how the graph changes. The examples suggested by the OP would produce excellent results. On the other hand, animating the graph of the changes in a research group's (or department's) collaboration network is less pretty – at least the way I did it. Changes to a graph at the leaves generally result in gradual changes to the animation. Adding or removing more deeply embedded edges often results in rather jerky animations.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2011-06-23. Score: 0

Not really, unfortunately. A few years ago it looked like a graph animation tool was going to be added to the Graphviz package, but it was removed because it never quite worked.


---

