[Tex/LaTex] Command to specify the exact height of a node in Tikz

nodestikz-matrixtikz-pgf

I have a maybe really dumb question. I am using a matrix of nodes where I specify a 'minimum height' for all nodes globally (1.5 cm)

However, when I now want to set the node height of row 6 to a lower value (1cm), this is ignored.

As far as I know I have the following option for specifiyng the properties of a node:

text width ==> width of the node
minimum height ==> (minimum)height of the node

Using something like text height makes the content of the nodes shift ugly.
Isn't there some easy way to specify the exact height of the node and not just the minimum value?

Best Answer

I don't see the problem;

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\matrix (A) [matrix of nodes,
    nodes in empty cells,
    column sep=1mm, row sep=1mm,
    nodes={draw, minimum height=1.5cm, anchor=center},
    row 2/.style={
        nodes={minimum height=1cm}}
        ]
{ & & \\ & & \\};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Slight vertical mis-alignment of cells when using TikZ matrix of nodes

The problem is what you said, nodes contain letters with different height and depth and they adjust and align according to it. TiKZ manual explains it in tutorial "Diagrams as simple graphs" and "Cell Pictures".

If you want all nodes aligned but without aligning words you can change nodes anchor with anchor=south.

\documentclass[tikz,border=2mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\matrix[
    matrix of nodes,
    column sep=1ex, row sep=1ex,
    nodes={
        draw,
        minimum height=2em,
        text width=30mm,
        anchor=south
    },
] (matrix-optimization) {
    Encodings &
    Problems &
    Algorithms \\
%
    Selection &
    uiae &
    pppp \\
};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

enter image description here

But if you want nodes and text aligned you need to fix a certain depth and height to nodes.

\documentclass[tikz,border=2mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\matrix[text height=1.5ex,text depth=.25ex,
    matrix of nodes,
    column sep=1ex, row sep=1ex,
    nodes={
        draw,
        minimum height=2em,
        text width=30mm
    },
] (matrix-optimization) {
    Encodings &
    Problems &
    Algorithms \\
%
    Selection &
    uiae &
    pppp \\
};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

enter image description here

After posting my answer I've found this previous question which suggest some other solutions: Problem with TikZ and vertical alignment of text inside nodes

[Tex/LaTex] Give tikz matrix columns all the same width and the rows all the same height (of the largest cell)

You can use the excellent matrixcells package that Andrew Stacey made available on launchpad:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz, matrixcells}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}
\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}
  \matrix [
    matrix of nodes, 
    matrix grid,
    matrix border,
    nodes={font=\ttfamily}
]
  {
    AAAA & BBB & CCCCCC\\
    EE & F & GGG \\
    aaaaa & b & c\\
  };
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Slight vertical mis-alignment of cells when using TikZ matrix of nodes

[Tex/LaTex] Give tikz matrix columns all the same width and the rows all the same height (of the largest cell)

Related Question