gv2gxl

Convert a graph from gv to gxl format

$ gv2gxl -o [output.gxl] [input.gv]

$ cat [input.gv] | gv2gxl > [output.gxl]

$ gv2gxl -?

gv2gxl [ -?v ] [ -o outfile ] [ files ... ]

-o outfile
    Directs the GXL output to the specified outfile. If this option is omitted, the output is written to standard output (stdout).

-? or -h
    Displays a brief usage message, listing the available command-line options.

-v
    Prints the version information of the gv2gxl utility.

files ...
    Specifies one or more input files in Graphviz DOT format. If no files are provided, gv2gxl reads its input from standard input (stdin).

gv2gxl is a utility from the Graphviz suite designed to convert graph descriptions written in the Graphviz DOT language into the Graph eXchange Language (GXL) format. GXL is an XML-based standard for the interchange of graph data, allowing various graph processing tools and applications to share and understand graph structures.

This conversion is particularly useful for users who need to export their Graphviz visualizations or data models into systems that prefer or require GXL for further analysis, manipulation, or storage. By facilitating interoperability, gv2gxl bridges the gap between Graphviz's powerful layout and visualization capabilities and other graph analysis platforms. It can read input from specified files or standard input and write the GXL output to a specified file or standard output.

gv2gxl primarily converts the structure of the graph (nodes, edges, attributes) but might not fully preserve all Graphviz-specific layout attributes or visual properties that are unique to Graphviz rendering engines. GXL focuses on the graph's logical structure, not its visual presentation.

Input files must be valid Graphviz DOT files. Errors in the input may lead to conversion failures or unexpected output.

gv2gxl is designed to be flexible with input and output. It can process multiple input DOT files, concatenating their graphs for conversion, or read from standard input (stdin), making it suitable for piping with other commands. The output can be redirected to a specified file or piped to subsequent commands for further processing.

GXL (Graph eXchange Language) is an XML-based standard for describing graphs. It serves as a widely recognized exchange format between various graph tools and applications. Understanding GXL's structure can be beneficial for users intending to process the output of gv2gxl programmatically or integrate it into other GXL-compatible systems.

gv2gxl is part of the open-source Graphviz (Graph Visualization Software) project, developed by AT&T Labs Research. Graphviz has been under continuous development since the late 1990s, with gv2gxl being one of the many utility programs designed to enhance interoperability and data exchange capabilities within the graph processing ecosystem. Its inclusion reflects the need for robust mechanisms to transform Graphviz data into standardized formats like GXL, broadening its utility beyond just visualization.

dot(1), gxl2gv(1), neato(1), twopi(1), circo(1), fdp(1), sfdp(1), graphviz(1)