Optimal dot / GraphViz layout for graph DB schema

Question

I'm using dot + GraphViz for the first time to help with planning out a graph DB schema.

As I add more nodes, the output is looking less than ideal. In particular, the languages and countries are looking rather confusing.

I've tried some basic rankings, but been unable to influence it much.

How I can get a clearer output?

The code:

digraph ReferenceGraph {
  nodesep = 2;
  edge [color=gray50, fontname=Calibri, fontsize=11]
  node [shape=record, fontname=Calibri, fontsize=11]

  root [label="Reference Node", color=darkgreen, fontcolor=darkgreen, fontname=Calibri, fontsize=11]

  sue [label="{{User}|{GivenName=Sue}|{FamilyName=Williams}|{Username=swilliams}|{[email protected]}|{BusinessPhone=02 1234 5678}|{MobilePhone=0414 123 456}|{PasswordSalt=fcd376dc}|{PasswordHash=a8635cfd2930ebc0cc78}|{PreviousPasswordSalt=gggf6dc}|{PreviousPasswordHash=wer435cfd2930ebc0cc78}|{RequirePasswordChangeOnNextLogin=true}|FailedLoginAttempts=0|LastLoginAttemptUtc=21 Jun 2011 16:43:01 UTC|{DateCreatedUtc=20 Jun 2011 15:43:07 UTC}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  sue -> root [label="ADMINISTERS"]

  clint [label="{{Client}|{UniqueId=100}|{GivenName=Clint}|{MiddleNames=ian bill}|{FamilyName=Wood}|{PreferredName=Woods}|{Gender=Male Female Unknown}|{PlaceOfBirthTown}|{PlaceOfBirthState}|{PlaceOfBirthCountry}|{[email protected]}|{LanguageComments}|{InterpreterRequired=true false}|{InterpreterComments}|{Religion=Buddhist}|{LegalOrders=order1}|{DateOfBirth=21 June 1979}|{DateOfBirthCertainty=Confirmed Unconfirmed Estimated}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  clint -> acme [label="CLIENT_BELONGS_TO"]
  clint -> english [label ="SPEAKS"]

  cat [label="Cat (Client)"]
  cat -> acme [label="CLIENT_BELONGS_TO"]
  cat -> english [label ="SPEAKS"]
  cat -> mandarin [label ="SPEAKS"]

  acme [label="{{Agency}|{UniqueId=100}|{Key=acme}|{Name=Acme Australia}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  root -> acme [label="HOSTS"]

  john [label="John (User)"]
  john -> acme [label="USER_BELONGS_TO"]

  jack [label="Jack (User)"]
  jack -> acme [label="USER_BELONGS_TO"]

  centreA [label="{{Centre}|{Name=CentreA}|{BusinessPhone=02 1234 5678}|{Fax=0414 123 456}|{[email protected]}|{Status=Active}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  centreA -> acme [label="CENTRE_BELONGS_TO"]

  centreAStreetAddress [label="{{PhysicalAddress}|{Line 1=Level 1}|{Line 2=11 Sydney Road}|{TownSuburb=Sydney}|{State=NSW}|{Postcode=2000}|{Country=Australia}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  centreA -> centreAStreetAddress [label="HAS_STREET_ADDRESS"]

  centreAPostalAddress [label="PO Box 123 (PhysicalAddress)"]
  centreA -> centreAPostalAddress [label="HAS_POSTAL_ADDRESS"]

  clintCurrentAddress [label="{{CurrentAddress}|{Line 1=Level 1}|{Line 2=11 Sydney Road}|{TownSuburb=Sydney}|{State=NSW}|{Postcode=2000}|{Country=Australia}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  clint -> clintCurrentAddress [label="HAS_STREET_ADDRESS"]

  referenceData [label="Reference Data"]
  root -> referenceData [label="HAS_REFERENCE_DATA"]

  languagesReferenceData [label="Languages"]
  referenceData -> languagesReferenceData [label="HAS_LANGUAGES"]

  english [label="{{Language}|{Name=English}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  languagesReferenceData -> english [label="HAS_LANGUAGE"]

  mandarin [label="Mandarin (Language)"]
  languagesReferenceData -> mandarin [label="HAS_LANGUAGE"]

  japanese [label="Japanese (Language)"]
  languagesReferenceData -> japanese [label="HAS_LANGUAGE"]

  countriesReferenceData [label="Countries"]
  referenceData -> countriesReferenceData [label="HAS_COUNTRIES"]

  australia [label="{{Country}|{Name=Australia}}", color=blue, fontcolor=blue]
  countriesReferenceData -> australia [label="HAS_COUNTRY"]

  china [label="China (Country)"]
  countriesReferenceData -> china[label="HAS_COUNTRY"]
}

Answer 1

You may try to add

splines=true;
overlap=prism;

instead of nodesep=2; and render the graph with neato instead of dot. This will result in a more compact layout Labels do overlap with some nodes though, and the record-based nodes are awfully close to each other.

Be aware though that you may never obtain a perfect db schema by using graphviz - there will almost always be some crossing edges which could be layed out in a better way. A manually layed out db schema will beat the graphviz output.