Using Relationship Grids

How to use the relationship grid (matrix view) to visualize and manage connections between node types.

Relationship Grids display connections between nodes in a matrix format — rows and columns represent nodes, and cells indicate whether a relationship exists.

Creating a Relationship Grid

1. In the Model Navigator, click Add Relationship Grid next to the views section, or right-click a folder and choose New Relationship Grid.
2. In the Properties panel, set up the matrix:
   • Row Source / Column Source: which node type forms the rows and which the columns.
   • Row Folder / Column Folder: All, or only the nodes in one folder. A new grid starts with None (empty), so pick one to fill the grid.
   • Relationship Type and Direction (Row → Column, Column → Row or Both).

Narrowing rows and columns with filters

Row Filter and Column Filter each take one of the model's saved filters, for example only active systems or only processes tagged core. Each filter narrows its own axis; rows and columns it leaves out disappear from the grid, together with their cells. The relationships themselves are untouched. The setting is saved with the grid, so everyone opening it sees the same view.

Reading the Matrix

• Rows and columns are the nodes of the chosen types; the Direction decides which side is the source.
• A filled cell means a relationship exists between that row and column
• An empty cell means no relationship exists

Creating and Removing Relationships

• Click an empty cell to create a new relationship between the row and the column
• Click a filled cell to remove the relationship
• Changes are applied immediately to the model

Example

The Enterprise template has a grid Departments <> Processes that limits both axes to one folder.

Tips

• Relationship grids are excellent for understanding the overall connectivity of your model
• Use them to quickly spot missing or unexpected connections
• They work especially well for many-to-many relationship types