# Nodes

You can customize your nodes to have exactly the appearance and behavior that you want. So far you have only seen very simple nodes. But if you have seen the Sample Applications, you have seen many other kinds of nodes.

In this page we demonstrate some of the choices you can make when designing your nodes.

## Surrounding Content

It is common to surround interesting information with a border or other background.

### Simple borders

Many of the simplest nodes just consist of a Panel of type Panel,Auto with a Shape surrounding a TextBlock.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Auto",
          $(go.Shape, "Rectangle",
            new go.Binding("fill", "color")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: 5 },
            new go.Binding("text", "key"))
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { key: "Alpha", color: "lightblue" }
      ];

### Shaped nodes

The Shape surrounding the content need not be rectangular. This example demonstrates a number of shapes.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Auto",
          $(go.Shape,
            new go.Binding("figure", "fig"),
            new go.Binding("fill", "color")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: 5 },
            new go.Binding("text", "key"))
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { key: "Alpha", color: "lightblue", fig: "RoundedRectangle" },
        { key: "Beta", color: "lightblue", fig: "Ellipse" },
        { key: "Gamma", color: "lightblue", fig: "Hexagon" },
        { key: "Delta", color: "lightblue", fig: "FramedRectangle" },
        { key: "Epsilon", color: "lightblue", fig: "Cloud" },
        { key: "Zeta", color: "lightblue", fig: "Procedure" }
      ];

The surrounding/background object need not be a Shape. You could use a Picture or even a more complex object such as a Panel.

### Complex contents

The content of an Auto Panel need not be limited to a single TextBlock -- you can have arbitrarily complex panels of objects. In this example the content is a Table Panel with three rows of TextBlocks.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Auto",
          $(go.Shape,
            { fill: $(go.Brush, "Linear", { 0: "white", 1: "lightblue" }),
              stroke: "darkblue", strokeWidth: 2 }),
          $(go.Panel, "Table",
            { defaultAlignment: go.Spot.Left, margin: 4 },
            $(go.RowColumnDefinition, { column: 1, width: 4 }),
            $(go.TextBlock,
              { row: 0, column: 0, columnSpan: 3, alignment: go.Spot.Center },
              { font: "bold 12pt sans-serif" },
              new go.Binding("text", "key")),
            $(go.TextBlock, "First: ",
              { row: 1, column: 0 }),
            $(go.TextBlock,
              { row: 1, column: 2 },
              new go.Binding("text", "prop1")),
            $(go.TextBlock, "Second: ",
              { row: 2, column: 0 }),
            $(go.TextBlock,
              { row: 2, column: 2 },
              new go.Binding("text", "prop2"))
          )
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { key: "Alpha", prop1: "value of 'prop1'", prop2: "the other property" }
      ];

### Fixed-size nodes

The above examples have the "Auto" Panel surround some content, where the content might be of different sizes. That results in the Nodes having different sizes.

If you want a Panel (and thus a Node, because Node inherits from Part which inherits from Panel) to be of fixed size, set GraphObject.desiredSize on that panel. (Equivalently, you can set GraphObject.width and GraphObject.height.) That may result in the clipping of content that is too large, or it may result in extra space if the content is smaller than the available area provided by the "Auto" Panel.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Auto",
          { desiredSize: new go.Size(100, 50) },  // on Panel
          $(go.Shape,
            new go.Binding("figure", "fig"),
            new go.Binding("fill", "color")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: 5 },
            new go.Binding("text", "key"))
        );
      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { key: "Alpha", color: "lightblue", fig: "RoundedRectangle" },
        { key: "Beta", color: "lightblue", fig: "Ellipse" },
        { key: "Gamma", color: "lightblue", fig: "Hexagon" },
        { key: "Delta", color: "lightblue", fig: "FramedRectangle" },
        { key: "Epsilon,Epsilon,Epsilon", color: "lightblue", fig: "Cloud" },
        { key: "Z", color: "lightblue", fig: "Procedure" }
      ];

Note how the "Epsilon..." TextBlock is measured with the constraint of having a limited width, as imposed by the Panel's width. That results in the text being wrapped before (maybe) being clipped.

You probably do not want to set the desiredSize of the main element, the Shape in this case above. If you did, that would not constrain how the content elements are sized within the Panel.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Auto",
          $(go.Shape,
            { desiredSize: new go.Size(100, 50) },  // on main element, not on Panel
            new go.Binding("figure", "fig"),
            new go.Binding("fill", "color")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: 5 },
            new go.Binding("text", "key"))
        );
      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { key: "Alpha", color: "lightblue", fig: "RoundedRectangle" },
        { key: "Beta", color: "lightblue", fig: "Ellipse" },
        { key: "Gamma", color: "lightblue", fig: "Hexagon" },
        { key: "Delta", color: "lightblue", fig: "FramedRectangle" },
        { key: "Epsilon,Epsilon,Epsilon", color: "lightblue", fig: "Cloud" },
        { key: "Z", color: "lightblue", fig: "Procedure" }
      ];

Note how the TextBlock is measured without the constraint of having a limited width from the Panel. That results in the text being treated as a single long line, which is then clipped by the Panel.

## Stacked Content

Many simple nodes consist of a few objects positioned above each other or next to each other.

### Icons

Perhaps the most commonly seen kind of node can be implemented using a Vertical Panel.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Vertical",
          $(go.Picture,
            { maxSize: new go.Size(50, 50) },
            new go.Binding("source", "img")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: new go.Margin(3, 0, 0, 0),
              maxSize: new go.Size(100, 30),
              isMultiline: false },
            new go.Binding("text", "text"))
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { text: "kitten", img: "images/50x40.png" }
      ];

Of course you are not limited to just two objects in a panel. In fact you can have as many GraphObjects in a "Vertical" or a "Horizontal" Panel as you like.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Vertical",
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: new go.Margin(3, 0, 0, 0),
              maxSize: new go.Size(100, 30),
              isMultiline: false,
              font: "bold 10pt sans-serif" },
            new go.Binding("text", "head")),
          $(go.Picture,
            { maxSize: new go.Size(50, 50) },
            new go.Binding("source", "img")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: new go.Margin(3, 0, 0, 0),
              maxSize: new go.Size(100, 30),
              isMultiline: false },
            new go.Binding("text", "foot"))
        );
      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { head: "Kitten", foot: "Tantomile", img: "images/50x40.png" }
      ];

### Small icons

Another commonly seen kind of node can be implemented using a Horizontal Panel.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Horizontal",
          $(go.Picture,
            { maxSize: new go.Size(16, 16) },
            new go.Binding("source", "img")),
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: new go.Margin(0, 0, 0, 2) },
            new go.Binding("text", "text"))
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { text: "kitten", img: "images/50x40.png" }
      ];

## Nested Panels

Panels can be nested. For example, here is a node consisting of an "Vertical" Panel consisting of an "Auto" Panel surrounding a "Vertical" Panel including a "Horizontal" Panel. The outer "Vertical" Panel arranges the main stuff on top and a TextBlock on the bottom. The "Auto" Panel supplies a border around everything but the bottom text. The inner "Vertical" Panel places three objects vertically in a stack. The "Horizontal" Panel which is the first element of the "Vertical" Panel places three objects horizontally in a row.

      // common styling for each indicator
      function makeIndicator(propName) {  // the data property name
        return $(go.Shape,
            "Circle",
            { width: 8, height: 8, fill: "white", strokeWidth: 0, margin: 5 },
            new go.Binding("fill", propName));
      }

      function makeImagePath(icon) { return "../samples/images/" + icon; }

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Vertical",
          $(go.Panel, "Auto",
            { background: "white" },
            { portId: "" },  // this whole panel acts as the only port for the node
            $(go.Shape,  // the border
              { fill: "transparent", stroke: "lightgray" }),
            $(go.Panel, "Vertical",  // everything within the border
              $(go.Panel, "Horizontal",  // the row of status indicators
                makeIndicator("ind0"),
                makeIndicator("ind1"),
                makeIndicator("ind2")
              ),  // end Horizontal Panel
              $(go.Picture,
                { width: 32, height: 32, margin: 4 },
                new go.Binding("source", "icon", makeImagePath)),
              $(go.TextBlock,
                { stretch: go.GraphObject.Horizontal, textAlign: "center" },
                new go.Binding("text", "number"),
                new go.Binding("background", "color"))
            )  // end Vertical Panel
          ),  // end Auto Panel
          $(go.TextBlock,
            { margin: 4 },
            new go.Binding("text"))
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { key: 1, text: "Device Type A", number: 17, icon: "server switch.jpg", color: "moccasin",
          ind0: "red", ind1: "orange", ind2: "mediumspringgreen" },
        { key: 2, text: "Device Type B", number: 97, icon: "voice atm switch.jpg", color: "mistyrose",
          ind0: "lightgray", ind1: "orange", ind2: "green" }
      ];
      diagram.model.linkDataArray = [
        { from: 1, to: 2 }
      ];

## Decorated Content

Sometimes you want to have a simple node that may display additional visuals to indicate what state it is in.

One way to implement this is to use a Spot Panel, where the main element is itself a Panel containing the elements that you always want to display, and there are additional objects located at spots around the main element.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Spot",
          // the main content:
          $(go.Panel, "Vertical",
            $(go.Picture,
              { maxSize: new go.Size(50, 50) },
              new go.Binding("source", "img")),
            $(go.TextBlock,
              { margin: new go.Margin(3, 0, 0, 0) },
              new go.Binding("text", "text"),
              new go.Binding("stroke", "error", function(err) { return err ? "red" : "black" }))
          ),
          // decorations:
          $(go.Shape, "TriangleUp",
            { alignment: go.Spot.TopLeft,
              fill: "yellow", width: 14, height: 14,
              visible: false },
            new go.Binding("visible", "info", function(i) { return i ? true : false; })),
          $(go.Shape, "StopSign",
            { alignment: go.Spot.TopRight,
              fill: "red", width: 14, height: 14,
              visible: false },
            new go.Binding("visible", "error")),
          {
            toolTip:
              $(go.Adornment, "Auto",
                $(go.Shape, { fill: "#FFFFCC" },
                  new go.Binding("visible", "info", function(i) { return i ? true : false; })),
                $(go.TextBlock, { margin: 4 },
                  new go.Binding("text", "info"))
              )
          }
        );

      diagram.model.nodeDataArray = [
        { text: "kitten", img: "images/50x40.png", info: "" },
        { text: "kitten", img: "images/50x40.png", error: true, info: "shredded curtains" }
      ];

As another example of a node decoration, this implements a "ribbon" at the top right corner of the node. The ribbon is implemented by a Panel that contains both a Shape and a TextBlock, and the panel is positioned by its GraphObject.alignment and GraphObject.alignmentFocus in the Spot Panel that also is the Node. The appearance of the ribbon is achieved by using a custom Geometry and binding GraphObject.opacity.

      diagram.nodeTemplate =
        $(go.Node, "Spot",
          { locationSpot: go.Spot.Center, locationObjectName: "BODY" },
          { selectionObjectName: "BODY" },
          $(go.Panel, "Auto",
            { name: "BODY", width: 150, height: 100 },
            { portId: "" },
            $(go.Shape,
              { fill: "lightgray", stroke: null, strokeWidth: 0 }),
            $(go.TextBlock,
              new go.Binding("text"))
          ),
          $(go.Panel, "Spot",
            new go.Binding("opacity", "ribbon", function(t) { return t ? 1 : 0; }),
            // note that the opacity defaults to zero (not visible),
            // in case there is no "ribbon" property
            { opacity: 0,
              alignment: new go.Spot(1, 0, 5, -5),
              alignmentFocus: go.Spot.TopRight },
            $(go.Shape,  // the ribbon itself
              { geometryString: "F1 M0 0 L30 0 70 40 70 70z",
                fill: "red", stroke: null, strokeWidth: 0 }),
            $(go.TextBlock,
              new go.Binding("text", "ribbon"),
              { alignment: new go.Spot(1, 0, -29, 29),
                angle: 45, maxSize: new go.Size(100, NaN),
                stroke: "white", font: "bold 13px sans-serif", textAlign: "center" })
          )
        );

      diagram.model = new go.GraphLinksModel([
        { key: 1, text: "Alpha" },
        { key: 2, text: "Beta", ribbon: "NEWEST" }
      ],[
      ]);

## Position and Location

Nodes are positioned in document coordinates. (For more information, read Coordinate Systems.) The point at which a Node resides, in document coordinates, is normally the top-left corner of the Node's GraphObject.actualBounds. If you set the GraphObject.position of a Node, you will be modifying the `x` and `y` values of the node's GraphObject.actualBounds.

However there are times when it is more natural to think that the "point" of a Node is not at the top-left corner but at some other spot within. This is especially true when you want any variably-sized text labels or occasional decorations to be ignored regarding the node's location. That is why Nodes also have a "location" which refers to a point inside the Node. If you set the Part.location of a Node, you will be lining up the location point of the node to be at that point in document coordinates. When you move a Node you are actually changing its Part.location.

By default the location of a Node is the same as its position. However you can set the Part.locationSpot to cause the location point to be at some spot in the node's actualBounds. Furthermore you can set the Part.locationObjectName to cause the location point to be at some spot in some element within the node. The position will always be at the top-left corner of the whole node, but the location may be some point at some spot in some object within the node.

      diagram.grid.visible = true;

      diagram.add(
        $(go.Node, "Vertical",
          { position: new go.Point(0, 0) },  // set the Node.position
          $(go.TextBlock, "position", { editable: true }),
          $(go.Shape, { name: "SHAPE", width: 30, height: 30, fill: "lightgreen" })
        ));

      diagram.add(
        $(go.Node, "Vertical",
          {
            location: new go.Point(100, 0),  // set the Node.location
            locationObjectName: "SHAPE"  // the location point is on the element named "SHAPE"
          },
          $(go.TextBlock, "location", { editable: true }),
          $(go.Shape, { name: "SHAPE", width: 30, height: 30, fill: "lightgreen" })
        ));

In this example both nodes have the same Y-coordinate value of zero. Note how in the above example the "position" Node has the top-left corner of the node at the grid point. Yet the "location" Node has the top-left corner of the green square at the grid point. If you edit the text of each node after double-clicking on the text, note how the green square moves relative to the diagram grid for the "position" node, but that it does not move for the "location" node.

It is common to specify the Part.locationSpot to be `go.Spot.Center` so that the location point is at the center of some element in the node, rather than at the top-left corner of that element.

    diagram.grid.visible = true;

    diagram.add(
      $(go.Node, "Vertical",
        { position: new go.Point(0, 0) },  // set the Node.position
        $(go.TextBlock, "position", { editable: true }),
        $(go.Panel, "Auto",
          $(go.Shape, "Circle", { name: "SHAPE", width: 16, height: 16, fill: "lightgreen" }),
          $(go.Shape, "Circle", { width: 6, height: 6, strokeWidth: 0 })
        )
      ));

    diagram.add(
      $(go.Node, "Vertical",
        {
          location: new go.Point(100, 0),  // set the Node.location
          locationObjectName: "SHAPE",  // the location point is at the center of "SHAPE"
          locationSpot: go.Spot.Center
        },
        $(go.TextBlock, "location", { editable: true }),
        $(go.Panel, "Auto",
          $(go.Shape, "Circle", { name: "SHAPE", width: 16, height: 16, fill: "lightgreen" }),
          $(go.Shape, "Circle", { width: 6, height: 6, strokeWidth: 0 })
        )
      ));

If the position or location of a Node is not Point.isReal, it will not be seen, because GoJS will not know where to draw the node. In fact the default value for a node's position or location is `NaN, NaN` and it is the responsibility of either the Diagram.layout or data bindings to assign real point values for each node.