Family tree layout with Dot/GraphViz

Question

I am trying to draw a family tree with Dot and GraphViz.

This is what I currently have:

# just graph set-up
digraph simpsons {
ratio = \"auto\"
minc         


        

Answer 1

I'm almost there, inspired by an old response on the graphviz-interest mailinglist and doug's answer.

The following code:

digraph G {
  edge [dir=none];
  node [shape=box];

  "Abraham"   [shape=box, regular=1, color="blue"] ;
  "Mona"      [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Clancy"    [shape=box, regular=1, color="blue"] ;
  "Jackeline" [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Herb"      [shape=box, regular=1, color="blue"] ;
  "Homer"     [shape=box, regular=1, color="blue"] ;
  "Marge"     [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Patty"     [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Selma"     [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Bart"      [shape=box, regular=1, color="blue"] ;
  "Lisa"      [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Maggie"    [shape=box, regular=1, color="pink"] ;
  "Ling"      [shape=box, regular=1, color="blue"] ;

  a1 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  b1 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  b2 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  b3 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  {rank=same; Abraham -> a1 -> Mona};
  {rank=same; b1 -> b2 -> b3};
  {rank=same; Herb; Homer};
  a1 -> b2
  b1 -> Herb
  b3 -> Homer

  p1 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  q1 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  q2 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  q3 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  {rank=same; Homer -> p1 -> Marge};
  {rank=same; q1 -> q2 -> q3};
  {rank=same; Bart; Lisa; Maggie};
  p1 -> q2;
  q1 -> Bart;
  q2 -> Lisa;
  q3 -> Maggie;

  x1 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  y1 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  y2 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  y3 [shape=circle,label="",height=0.01,width=0.01];
  {rank=same; Clancy -> x1 -> Jackeline};
  {rank=same; y1 -> y2 -> y3};
  {rank=same; Marge; Patty; Selma};
  {rank=same; Bart; Ling}
  x1 -> y2;
  y1 -> Marge;
  y2 -> Patty;
  y3 -> Selma;
  Selma -> Ling;
}

now produces this:

So, looks good except for that strange edge around Homer.If I could find a way to move Abraham, Mona and Herb to the left hand side of the picture then I would have a perfectly aligned picture.

Any ideas on how to achieve that?