# Hierarchy Handling (Dot)

Property | Value
--- | ---
Type: | advanced
Identifier: | `org.eclipse.elk.hierarchyHandling`
Meta Data Provider: | `core.options.CoreOptions`
Value Type: | `org.eclipse.elk.core.options.HierarchyHandling` (Enum)
Possible Values: | `INHERIT` `INCLUDE_CHILDREN` `SEPARATE_CHILDREN`
Default Value: | `HierarchyHandling.INHERIT` (as defined in `org.eclipse.elk`)
Applies To: | parents, nodes
Legacy Id: | `de.cau.cs.kieler.hierarchyHandling`

### Description

If this option is set to SEPARATE_CHILDREN, each hierarchy level of the graph is processed independently, possibly by different layout algorithms, beginning with the lowest level. If it is set to INCLUDE_CHILDREN, the algorithm is responsible to process all hierarchy levels that are contained in the associated parent node. If the root node is set to inherit (or not set at all), the default behavior is SEPARATE_CHILDREN.

## Additional Documentation

If activated, the whole hierarchical graph is passed to dot as a whole. Note however that dot performs a ‘compound’ layout where it somewhat flattens the hierarchy and performs a layout on the flattened graph. As a consequence, padding information of hierarchical child nodes is discarded.

- Algorithms
- Box Layout
- Circo
- Dot
- Draw2D Layout
- ELK DisCo
- ELK Force
- ELK Layered
- ELK Mr. Tree
- ELK Radial
- ELK Stress
- FDP
- Fixed Layout
- Neato
- Randomizer
- Twopi
- Layout Options
- Activate Inside Self Loops
- Adapt Port Positions
- Add Unnecessary Bendpoints
- Additional Port Space
- Additional Wrapped Edges Spacing
- Alignment
- Animate
- Animation Time Factor
- Annulus Wedge Criteria
- Aspect Ratio
- BK Edge Straightening
- BK Fixed Alignment
- Bend Points
- Box Layout Mode
- Comment Box
- Compaction
- Compaction Step Size
- Components Spacing
- Concentrate Edges
- Connected Components Compaction
- Connected Components Compaction Strategy
- Connected Components Layout Algorithm
- Content Alignment
- Correction factor for the wrapping
- Crossing Minimization Strategy
- Cutting Strategy
- Cycle Breaking Strategy
- DCGraph
- Debug Mode
- Desired Edge Length
- Direction
- Direction Priority
- Distance Model
- Distance Penalty When Improving Cuts
- Eades Repulsion
- Edge Center Label Placement Strategy
- Edge Edge Between Layer Spacing
- Edge Label Placement
- Edge Label Side Selection
- Edge Label Spacing
- Edge Node Between Layers Spacing
- Edge Node Spacing
- Edge Routing
- Edge Spacing
- Edge Thickness
- Edge Type
- Epsilon
- Expand Nodes
- FR Temperature
- Favor Straight Edges Over Balancing
- Feedback Edges
- Fill Polyominoes
- Fixed Position
- Font Name
- Font Size
- Force Model
- Graph Wrapping Strategy
- Greedy Switch Activation Threshold
- Greedy Switch Crossing Minimization
- Hierarchical Sweepiness
- Hierarchy Handling
- High Degree Node Maximum Tree Height
- High Degree Node Threshold
- High Degree Node Treatment
- Hypernode
- Improve Cuts
- Improve Wrapped Edges
- Individual Spacing Override
- Inline Edge Labels
- Inside Self Loop
- Interactive
- Interactive Reference Point
- Iteration Limit
- Iterations
- Iterations Factor
- Junction Points
- Label Angle
- Label Distance
- Label Manager
- Label Manager
- Label Node Spacing
- Label Port Spacing
- Label Spacing
- Layer Bound
- Layer Constraint
- Layer Spacing Factor
- Layout Algorithm
- Layout Ancestors
- Layout Dimension
- Layout Partition
- Layout Partitioning
- Linear Segments Deflection Dampening
- List of Polyominoes
- MSD Freedom
- Manually Specified Cuts
- Margins
- Max Node Promotion Iterations
- Max. Iterations
- Maximal Animation Time
- Merge Edges
- Merge Hierarchy-Crossing Edges
- Minimal Animation Time
- No Layout
- Node Flexibility
- Node Flexibility Default
- Node Label Padding
- Node Label Placement
- Node Layering Strategy
- Node Node Between Layers Spacing
- Node Placement Strategy
- Node Promotion Strategy
- Node Size Constraints
- Node Size Minimum
- Node Size Options
- Node Spacing
- North or South Port
- Order ID
- Overlap Removal
- Padding
- Path-Like Validify Strategy
- Polyomino Primary Sorting Criterion
- Polyomino Secondary Sorting Criterion
- Polyomino Traversal Strategy
- Port Alignment
- Port Alignment (East)
- Port Alignment (North)
- Port Alignment (South)
- Port Alignment (West)
- Port Anchor Offset
- Port Border Offset
- Port Constraints
- Port Index
- Port Label Placement
- Port Labels Next to Port
- Port Side
- Port Spacing
- Position
- Post Compaction Constraint Calculation
- Post Compaction Strategy
- Priority
- Progress Bar
- Radius
- Randomization Seed
- Repulsive Power
- Scale Factor
- Search Order
- Semi-Interactive Crossing Minimization
- Separate Connected Components
- Shortness Priority
- Sloppy Spline Layer Spacing Factor
- Sloppy Spline Routing
- Sorter
- Spline Self-Loop Placement
- Straightness Priority
- Stress Epsilon
- Thoroughness
- Translation Optimization
- Upper Bound On Width [MinWidth Layerer]
- Upper Layer Estimation Scaling Factor [MinWidth Layerer]
- Validate Options
- Weighting of Nodes
- Wide Nodes on Multiple Layers
- Zoom to Fit
- Layout Option Groups
- compaction
- compaction.postCompaction
- componentCompaction
- crossingMinimization
- crossingMinimization.greedySwitch
- cycleBreaking
- debug
- edge
- edgeLabels
- edgeLabels
- edgeRouting
- font
- highDegreeNodes
- insideSelfLoops
- layering
- layering.coffmanGraham
- layering.minWidth
- layering.nodePromotion
- nodeLabels
- nodePlacement
- nodePlacement.bk
- nodePlacement.linearSegments
- nodePlacement.networkSimplex
- nodeSize
- partitioning
- polyomino
- port
- portAlignment
- portLabels
- priority
- spacing
- spacing
- wrapping
- wrapping.cutting
- wrapping.cutting.msd
- wrapping.multiEdge
- wrapping.singleEdge
- wrapping.singleEdge.validify