Is there a library for rendering basic flow diagrams in Javascript/CSS? [closed]

Answer 1

This kind of flowchart can be accomplished using CSS, resorting to JavaScript graphing libraries (canvas) might be overkill. You may wish to checkout how some Genealogy sites do this to get a family tree.

Answer 2

Does the rendering have to be client side?

If yes, you could try Processing:

http://ejohn.org/blog/processingjs/

If you can do it server side, then Graphviz is a good choice.

http://www.graphviz.org/

Answer 3

The best and simplest I found is js-graph.it.

It has also this useful feature: deciding the orientation of the flow. For example, in my case I have a document workflow, so I need it to flow towards the right side.

An even simpler alternative is wz_jsGraphics. In my case I draw the arrows like this:

/**Draw an arrow made of 3 lines. 
 * Requires wz_jsGraphics (http://www.walterzorn.de/en/jsgraphics/jsgraphics_e.htm).
 * @canvas a jsGraphics object used as canvas
 * @blockFrom id of the object from which the arrow starts
 * @blockTo id of the object where the arrow ends with a arrowhead 
 */
function drawArrow(canvas, blockFrom, blockTo){

    //blocks
    var f = $("#" + blockFrom);
    var t = $("#" + blockTo);

    //lines positions and measures
    var p1 = { left: f.position().left + f.outerWidth(),    top: f.position().top + f.outerHeight()/2 };
    var p4 = { left: t.position().left,                     top: t.position().top + t.outerHeight()/2 };
    var mediumX = Math.abs(p4.left - p1.left)/2;
    var p2 = { left: p1.left + mediumX,                 top: p1.top };
    var p3 = { left: p1.left + mediumX,                 top: p4.top };

    //line A
    canvas.drawLine(p1.left, p1.top,    p2.left, p2.top);
    //line B
    canvas.drawLine(p2.left, p2.top,    p3.left, p3.top);
    //line C
    canvas.drawLine(p3.left, p3.top,    p4.left, p4.top);
    //arrowhead
    canvas.drawLine(p4.left - 7, p4.top - 4,        p4.left, p4.top);
    canvas.drawLine(p4.left - 7, p4.top + 4,        p4.left, p4.top);
}

var jg = new jsGraphics('myCanvasDiv');
drawArrow(jg, 'myFirstBlock', 'mySecondBlock');
jg.paint();