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This page describes an experimental node-centric approach to RDF
graph visualization. We use a search over literals to choose potential
starting nodes and then browse via an interactive display which
shows the area one arc back and two arcs forward from a selected node.
In cases where a wider view is desired we sort and display nodes based
on the number of incoming and outgoing arcs.
Here's an example screenshot showing the display after selecting the
node "rdf:list" in the RDF Schema. During the real visualization all
displayed nodes and arcs are live links which the user may follow.
For further information please see technical report HPL-2004-60.
Software
The software used for our experimental implementation is available
under an open-source license. Please note that this was never
intended to be of production quality. It was written quickly because
we needed an internal solution and is being open-sourced in the hope
that others might find the approach useful. We are unfortunately not
able to offer any support for this experimental code but would be
delighted to hear of any situations where you find it helpful.
Here's the raw source code: visualizer1.zip.
To compile and run the code you'll also need a Java development environment (we used
Java 1.4.1), the Jena RDF
library (we used version 2.1), and the Jetty HTTP Server (we used version
4.2.1).
To view the visualizations you'll need support for
Scalable Vector Graphics (we used version 3.0 of the Adobe plugin for Internet
Explorer on Windows).
License
Copyright (c) 2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
THE SOFTWARE.
Contact
Craig_Sayers hp com
April 2004
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