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Relationships

Relationships connect concepts and describe how they relate to each other.

Creating Relationships​

In Graph View​

Method 1: Option/Alt-Drag (Drag from Anywhere)​

Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows/Linux) while hovering over a concept node. The connection handle will expand to cover the entire node, allowing you to drag from anywhere on the node to create a relationship.

  1. Hold Option/Alt and hover over a concept node
  2. The handle expands to cover the entire node
  3. Click and drag from anywhere on the node to another concept (or empty space)
  4. Enter the relationship label
  5. Optionally enter a reverse label (how the relationship reads in the opposite direction)
  6. Press Enter to confirm

Tip: This method is especially useful when nodes are large or when you want to drag from a specific part of the node without needing to find the small center handle.

Method 2: Drag from Center Handle​

  1. Click and drag from the center handle of one concept node to another
  2. Enter the relationship label
  3. Optionally enter a reverse label (how the relationship reads in the opposite direction)
  4. Press Enter to confirm

Method 3: Triple Entry Mode (Fast Keyboard Creation)​

  1. Double-click on a concept node to edit its label
  2. Type a triple in the format: "Noun verb phrase Noun" (e.g., "Diagrams explain Architecture")
  3. Press Enter or click outside the input

The system will automatically:

  • Update the current concept label to the first noun
  • Create a new relationship with the verb phrase
  • Create a new concept with the second noun
  • Automatically enter edit mode on the new concept for continued typing

Example: Type "React is used for UI" → Creates concept "React", relationship "is used for", and concept "UI"

This method is ideal for rapid keyboard-based diagram creation, allowing you to chain multiple relationships quickly without using the mouse.

In Text View​

Type relationships in the format:

Noun verb phrase Noun

For example:

Diagrams explain Architecture
React is used for UI
Components contain Props

The parser automatically:

  • Creates concepts if they don't exist
  • Creates the relationship
  • Positions new concepts at default coordinates

Relationship Properties​

Each relationship can have:

  • Primary Label: The label reading from source to target
  • Reverse Label: The label reading from target to source (optional)
  • Notes: Markdown-formatted notes
  • Metadata: Custom key-value pairs

Editing Relationships​

Using the Toolbar​

When a relationship edge is selected, a floating toolbar appears near the edge midpoint with options to:

  • Edit Labels: Click the edit button to modify relationship labels
  • Delete: Remove the relationship
  • Edge Type: Change the connection style:
    • Bezier: Curved, smooth connections (default)
    • Smoothstep: S-shaped connections
    • Step: Right-angled connections
    • Straight: Direct line connections
  • Edge Color: Customize the color of the relationship line
  • Line Style: Choose solid, dashed, dotted, or long-dash styles
  • Line Thickness: Adjust from 1px to 8px

Using the Editor Panel​

  1. Click on a relationship edge
  2. Use the relationship editor panel to modify:
    • Labels
    • Notes
    • Metadata

Relationship Types​

While the tool doesn't enforce specific relationship types, common patterns include:

  • "is a": Hierarchical relationships (e.g., "Dog is a Mammal")
  • "has": Composition/possession (e.g., "Car has Engine")
  • "causes": Causal relationships (e.g., "Rain causes Flood")
  • "relates to": General associations

Deleting Relationships​

  • Click on a relationship edge and press Delete
  • Or right-click and select "Delete"