[Tex/LaTex] How to define the default vertical distance between nodes

nodespositioningspacingtikz-pgf

Use positioning can control the individual vertical position of nodes. But is there any way to control the default vertical spacing?

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes,arrows,positioning}

\begin{document}
\pagestyle{empty}

\tikzstyle{decision} = [diamond, draw, text width=4.5em, text badly centered, node distance=3.5cm, inner sep=0pt]
\tikzstyle{block} = [rectangle, draw, text width=6em, text centered, rounded corners, minimum height=4em, node distance=3.5cm,minimum height=2em]
\tikzstyle{cloud} = [draw, ellipse, node distance=3.5cm, minimum height=2em]
\tikzstyle{line} = [draw, -latex']

\begin{tikzpicture}[node distance = 1cm, auto]
  \node [block] (1st) {1st};
  \node [block, right of=1st]  (2nd1) {2nd1};
  \node [block, above=0.7cm of 2nd1] (2nd2) {2nd2};
  \node [block, below of=2nd1] (2nd3) {2nd3};
  \node [block, right of=2nd1] (3rd1) {3rd1};
  \node [block, above of=3rd1] (3rd2) {3rd2};
  \node [block, above of=3rd2] (3rd3) {3rd3};
  \node [block, below of=3rd1] (3rd4) {3rd4};
  \node [block, below of=3rd4] (3rd5) {3rd5};

  \path [line] (1st) -- (2nd1);
  \path [line] (2nd1) -- (2nd2);
  \path [line] (2nd1) -- (2nd3);
  \path [line] (2nd2) -- (3rd3);
  \path [line] (2nd1) -- (3rd1);
  \path [line] (1st) -- (2nd1);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Like this. I changed the vertical position of 2nd2 but others remains. Do I have to add individual vertical spacing control of every nodes?

Best Answer

I don't really get the question so I hope this is what you wanted. If you include a full document (such that we copy paste and see the problem on our systems) things are much more easier.

Here, you can change the default setting within a scope but your block style had a node distance which was resetting every time it is issued. I've made it 2mm such that we can see the difference easier.

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,shapes.geometric,positioning}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[decision/.style={diamond, draw, text width=4.5em, text badly centered, node distance=3.5cm, inner sep=0pt},
                    block/.style   ={rectangle, draw, text width=6em, text centered, rounded corners, minimum height=4em, minimum height=2em},
                    cloud/.style   ={draw, ellipse, minimum height=2em},
                    line/.style    ={draw,-latex'},
                    node distance = 1cm, 
                    auto]
    \node [block] (1st) {1st};
    \node [block, right= of 1st]  (2nd1) {2nd1};
\begin{scope}[node distance=2mm and 10mm]%Here we change it for everything inside this scope
    \node [block, above= of 2nd1] (2nd2) {2nd2};
    \node [block, below= of 2nd1] (2nd3) {2nd3};
    \node [block, right= of 2nd1] (3rd1) {3rd1};
    \node [block, above= of 3rd1] (3rd2) {3rd2};
    \node [block, above= of 3rd2] (3rd3) {3rd3};
\end{scope}
    \node [block, below= of 3rd1] (3rd4) {3rd4};
    \node [block, below= of 3rd4] (3rd5) {3rd5};

    \path [line] (1st) -- (2nd1);
    \path [line] (2nd1) -- (2nd2);
    \path [line] (2nd1) -- (2nd3);
    \path [line] (2nd2) -- (3rd3);
    \path [line] (2nd1) -- (3rd1);
    \path [line] (1st) -- (2nd1);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

enter image description here

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Organigram in Latex. Vertical distance between nodes

You can use the node distance key as follows (change in level 3):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,shapes,positioning,shadows,trees}

\begin{document}

\tikzset{
  basic/.style  = {draw, text width=2cm, drop shadow, font=\sffamily, rectangle},
  root/.style   = {basic, thin, align=center,
               fill=gray!45},
  level 2/.style = {basic, thin,align=center, fill=gray!30,
               text width=8em},
  level 3/.style = {basic, thin, align=left, fill=gray!20, text width=6.5em, node distance = 40pt}
}
\begin{tikzpicture}[
  level 1/.style={sibling distance=40mm},
  edge from parent/.style={->,draw},
  >=latex]

% root of the the initial tree, level 1
\node[root] {Group Key Management}
% The first level, as children of the initial tree
  child {node[level 2] (c1) {Centralized}}
  child {node[level 2] (c2) {Decentralized}}
  child {node[level 2] (c3) {Distributed Key Agreement}};

% The second level, relatively positioned nodes
\begin{scope}[every node/.style={level 3}]
\node [below of = c1, xshift=15pt] (c11) {Pairwise Keys};
\node [below of = c11] (c12) {Broadcast Secrets};
\node [below of = c12] (c13) {Keys Hierarchy};

\node [below of = c2, xshift=15pt] (c21) {Membership driven Re-Keying};
\node [below of = c21] (c22) {Time driven Re-Keying};

\node [below of = c3, xshift=15pt] (c31) {Ring-based Cooperation};
\node [below of = c31] (c32) {Hierarchical Cooperation};
\node [below of = c32] (c33) {Broadcast Cooperation};
\end{scope}

% lines from each level 1 node to every one of its "children"
\foreach \value in {1,2,3}
  \draw[->] (c1.195) |- (c1\value.west);

\foreach \value in {1,2}
  \draw[->] (c2.195) |- (c2\value.west);

\foreach \value in {1,2,3}
  \draw[->] (c3.195) |- (c3\value.west);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

output

[Tex/LaTex] Drawing rectilinear curves in Tikz, aka an Etch-a-Sketch drawing

\draw (20,12) -- ++(2,0) -- ++(0,2) -- ++(-3,0) -- ++(45:3);

Use ++ before each new incremental coordinate to make it relative to the last one and put the pencil there.

Here's a complete example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
\tikz\draw (20,12) -- ++(2,0) -- ++(0,2) -- ++(-3,0) -- ++(30:3) {[rounded corners=10pt]-- ++(5,0) -- ++(0,-6)} -- ++(-7,0) -- cycle;
\end{document}

Of course, combining this with the -| or |- path operators can simplify the code even further; the following two pieces of code produce the same result:

\tikz\draw (20,12) -- ++(2,0) -- ++(0,2) -- ++(3,0) -- ++(0,1) -- ++(1,0) -- ++(0,-3) -- ++(2,0);\par\bigskip

and

\tikz\draw (20,12) -| ++(2,2) -| ++(3,1) -- ++(1,0) |- ++(2,-3);

I don't think that defining commands in this case adds anything; in fact, I think it reduces the functionality of the existing syntax (which is already simple). The example demonstrates that you can use, for example, polar coordinates and modify (up to TikZ limitations) the path attributes midways; even if the current question doesn't require this, it's a good thing to have the possibility to do those kind of modification if they are required.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Organigram in Latex. Vertical distance between nodes

[Tex/LaTex] Drawing rectilinear curves in Tikz, aka an Etch-a-Sketch drawing

Related Question