Improving Search-Based Schematic Layout by Parameter Manipulation

This paper reports on a method to improve the automated layout of schematic diagrams

by widening the search space examined by the system. In search-based layout methods

there are typically a number of parameters that control the search algorithm which do

not affect the fitness function, but nevertheless have an impact on the final layout. We

explore how varying three parameters (grid spacing, the starting distance of allowed

node movement and the number of iterations) affects the resultant diagram in a hill-

climbing layout system. Using an iterative process, we produce diagram layouts that are

significantly better than those produced by ad-hoc parameter settings.