[Tex/LaTex] Shorten Tikz Edges from node to node

tikz-pgf

I am making simple Finite State Machines for a paper. My code is listed below:

%\usetikzlibrary{arrows,automata} in the preamble
\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth', auto,node distance=2.75cm]
  \node[state] (start)      {};
  \node[state]         (s1) [right of=start, align=left]  {isProvider\\Enabled};
  \node[state]         (s2) [right of=s1] {};
  \node[state]         (s3) [right of=s2] {};
  \path[->] (start)  edge      node {} (s1)
        (s1) edge              node[text width=1cm,align=center, pos=.4] {requestLocation\\Updates} (s2)
        (s2) edge              node[text width=1cm,align=center, pos=.3 ]{addGps\\StatusListener} (s3);
\end{tikzpicture}

I want to decrease the distance from node start to node s1 to 1cm… but only that distance between nodes. All the other edges should stay 2.75 centimeters. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

Best Answer

You can use the increased functionality of right (and similars) provided by the positioning library (see Section 16.5.3 Advanced Placement Options of the pgf manual):

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,positioning,automata}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth', auto,node distance=2.75cm]
  \node[state] (start)      {};
  \node[state]         (s1) [right=1cm of start, align=left]  {isProvider\\Enabled};
  \node[state]         (s2) [right of=s1] {};
  \node[state]         (s3) [right of=s2] {};
  \path[->] (start)  edge      node {} (s1)
        (s1) edge              node[text width=1cm,align=center, pos=.4] {requestLocation\\Updates} (s2)
        (s2) edge              node[text width=1cm,align=center, pos=.3 ]{addGps\\StatusListener} (s3);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

You need to correct the placement of the labels; as they are right now the text overlaps.

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] TikZ: position of node with shorten-option

You can use a xshift for the node and use the proper anchor:

\documentclass{article} 
\usepackage{tikz}

\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (C) at (0,0);
\coordinate (CENTER) at (10,0);
\draw[style={shorten >=-1cm}, dashed] (C) -- (CENTER) node[xshift=1cm,anchor=west,inner sep=0pt] {NAME};
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

enter image description here

[Tex/LaTex] Separating edges starting from same node

Every tikz node has 360 anchor points using the notation nodename.angle, being angle an integer between 0 and 360. Those anchors are placed at the intersection between the node shape and a radius with the given angle. You can use those anchors to set the starting point of the arcs, and also for the labels with $1$ .

UPDATE: Also, a small improvement about the dot you place "manually". It is more convenient giving the coordinates of that point in polar coordinates with respect node A. The point is located at 9mm at north of A.north, so you can specify its coordinates as (A.north) +(90:9.1mm). The 9.1mm part is still manually estimated, but making the coordinates relative saves you from recalculate them if you move the A node.

Quoting only the relevant part:

  \path (A) [loop above] edge (A);
  \path (A) edge (B) 
        (B) edge  (C) 
        (A.20) edge [bend left=30]  (B)  
        (A.22) node[above] {$1$}
        (A.50) edge [bend left=45] (C)
        (A.52) node[above] {$1$};

  \fill[black] (A.north) +(90:9.1mm) circle  (2pt);

Produces:

Result

Second update

The proper way of adding the token in the edge is to use a markings decoration. The syntax is a bit utgly because the decoration has to be added in a postaction, but using the example provided below you can easily add tokens to any edge in your graph.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,automata,decorations.markings}
\tikzset{ % Use this style and postaction={decorate} to put a token in an edge
  put token/.style={
     decoration={markings, mark=at position 0.5 with {\fill[red] circle(2pt); }},
  },
}

\begin{tikzpicture}[node distance=3.0cm,thick]
  \tikzset{
    every state/.append style={fill=white,draw=black,text=black,minimum size=45pt},
    every edge/.append style={->,>=stealth',shorten >=1pt}
  }

  \node[state]   (A) {$A$};
  \node[state]   (B) [right of=A] {$B$};
  \node[state]   (C) [right of=B] {$C$};

  \path (A) edge[loop above, put token, postaction={decorate}] (A);
  \path (A) edge (B) 
        (B) edge  (C) 
        (A.20) edge [bend left=30]  (B)  
        (A.22) node[above] {$1$}
        (A.50) edge [bend left=45] (C)
        (A.52) node[above] {$1$};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}