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From: exnirad@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au (Nirad Sharma)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.wanted,aus.wanted,comp.text
Subject: Hierarchical structure -> graphical representation (c.f. GPIC/GTROFF)
Summary: Translation of a hierarchical structure into a graphical representation
Keywords: hierarchy, gpic, gtroff
Message-ID: <1990Sep22.032404.20089@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au>
Date: 22 Sep 90 03:24:04 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Prentice Computer Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Lines: 29

I wish to translate a c representation of a hierarchical structure
i.e.	struct info {
		...attributes...
		struct info	*children, *sibling
		}

into PIC statements that will generate visually balanced trees
i.e.			o
		       /  \
		       o   o
		    /  |  \
		   o   o   o

It is not as simple as it looks to get *pleasing* output rather than the
rough-and-ready result of just dumping the branches recursively one by one.
(Note that the example sketched above is a very very simple example and that
 problem of appearance occurs as the trees get more complex. Draw some by hand
 to verify this.)

I am sure that this must have been done by someone already, maybe for computer
science departments printing notes to teach undergrads about hierarchies. If
not, I will have to bash something out (though deadlines are KILLING me!).

Thanks for any help.

Nirad Sharma  (exnirad@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au)
Continuing Education Unit
The University of Queensland
AUSTRALIA