How to use the command gv2gml (with examples)

The gv2gml command is a part of the Graphviz software package and is used to convert a graph from .gv format to .gml format. GML (Graph Modeling Language) is a widely accepted format for representing graphs and is commonly used in graph analysis and visualization.

Use case 1: Convert a graph from gv to gml format

Code:

gv2gml -o output.gml input.gv

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to convert a graph file from the .gv format to the .gml format. This can be useful when working with different graph analysis tools that require the input in the GML format.

Explanation:

• gv2gml: The command to convert a graph from .gv to .gml format.
• -o output.gml: Specifies the output file path and name for the converted graph in GML format.
• input.gv: Specifies the input graph file in Graphviz format (gv).

Example Output: The command gv2gml -o output.gml input.gv will convert the graph specified in input.gv to GML format and save it as output.gml.

Use case 2: Convert a graph using stdin and stdout

Code:

cat input.gv | gv2gml > output.gml

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to convert a graph from the .gv format to the .gml format using standard input and output. This can be useful when working with pipelines or integrating the command into scripts.

Explanation:

• cat input.gv: Reads the content of the input graph file (input.gv).
• |: Redirects the output of the previous command as input to the next command.
• gv2gml: The command to convert a graph from .gv to .gml format.
• > output.gml: Redirects the output of the conversion command to the specified output file (output.gml).

Example Output: The command cat input.gv | gv2gml > output.gml will read the content of input.gv, convert it to GML format, and save the result to output.gml.

Use case 3: Display help

Code:

gv2gml -?

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to display the help information and usage instructions for the gv2gml command. This can be useful for users who are not familiar with the command or need a quick reference on how to use it.

Explanation:

• gv2gml: The command to convert a graph from .gv to .gml format.
• -?: Specifies the option to display the help information and usage instructions.

Example Output: The command gv2gml -? will display the help information and usage instructions for the gv2gml command. This includes details on how to specify input and output files, as well as additional options available.

Conclusion:

The gv2gml command provides a convenient way to convert a graph from the .gv format to the .gml format. Whether you need to convert a single graph file, integrate the command into a pipeline, or simply need help with the command usage, the gv2gml command offers flexibility and ease of use.