View Modes

There are two view modes available in yEd. The Edit Mode and the Navigation Mode. Either of these modes can be activated from the tool bar and the menu bar. When yEd starts up it is in Edit Mode by default.

Edit Mode

This mode allows for creating and/or to manipulating a graph that is shown in the view. The following actions can be performed by using the mouse or the keyboard:

Create a new Node
Click with the left mouse button on an unoccupied location in the view. A new default node will appear at that spot.
Selecting and deselecting nodes
Click on a node to select it. A selected node will have a different appearance than an unselected one. Click on any view location not occupied by a node to deselect all nodes.
By left dragging the mouse starting from an unoccupied view location a selection box will open up. By dragging the mouse around one can change the bounds of the box. Releasing the mouse button will select all nodes that lie within the selection box. All objects outside the box will be deselected.
Opening up a selection box with the SHIFT key held down adds the selection box nodes to the set of previously selected nodes.
Create a new Edge
Start left dragging the mouse from an unselected start node. Then release the mouse button over an end node.
If the mouse is not released over a node, a control point (also called bend) for the new edge will be inserted at that release location. More bends can be created by clicking with the left mouse button on an unoccupied location. By left clicking on an end node the edge with additional bends will be created.
By clicking the right mouse button the edge or bend creation will be cancelled. Alternatively, use the ESCAPE key to cancel edge creation.
Selecting edges
Select an edge by left clicking on it. Selecting more than one edge requires two steps. First select one edge as described above. Then open up the selection box with the SHIFT key held down to add more edges to the selection. To select all edges first seelct one edge then trigger the select all action by hittinh Ctrl-A
Moving nodes
Select the nodes that you want to move around. Then press the left mouse button over one of the selected nodes and start dragging the mouse. The selected nodes will now move together with the mouse cursor. The nodes will stop moving when the mouse button is released.
Creating Bends
Start left dragging the mouse on an edge. This will insert a new bend on that edge at the pressed location and moves the bend along with the mouse cursor.
Selecting and deselecting bends
Bends are selected the same way as nodes. Either click on a bend or select them by opening up a selection box with or without the SHIFT key held down.
To deselect all bends click on an unoccupied location in the view.
Moving Bends
First select the bends that you want to move. Then start left dragging the mouse on one of the selected bends. This will move all selected bends along with the mouse cursor. Releasing the mouse button again stops moving bends.
Context Sensitive Menus
Click the right mouse button to bring up a context sensitive menu for elements in the view. The context is determined by the selection state of the elements and the location where you click the mouse.
If you right click on a specific object a context menu for that object pops up. If more than one object is selected then the context menu refers to the selection as a whole if you activate it by right clicking on an unoccupied view location. Otherwise the context menu will be specific for the element that you have clicked on.
Deleting Elements
Select the elements you want to delete. Then press the DELETE key or open the context sensitive menu with a right mouse click and then select [Delete].
Creating Edge Labels
Activate the context sensitive menu for the edge that needs a new label. Select from that menu [Add Label]. This will add the label at a default location with a dummy text.
Editing Label Text
The label editor can be activated via the context sensitive menu. To edit a node label right click on the node to bring up the menu. To edit an edge label right click on that label to bring up the menu. From the context sensitive menu choose [Edit Label]. Alternatively, press F2 to edit the label of a selected item. An inlined text editor will appear at the label position that allows you to enter another text. To close the label editor either click on a view location outside of the text editor bounds or hit ENTER. To add a new line to the label text use Ctrl-ENTER.
Moving labels
A label can be moved to another position by pressing the left mouse button on it and then by dragging the label around. While dragging so called label candidate boxes will appear. These boxes mark the positions that are available for the label. The set of available label positions depends on the label model that is associated which the label.
When the mouse button gets released, the label will automatically snap to the closest available label position.
Note that it is not possible to move internal node labels. If you want to move them select another model for that label first.
Moving Edge Ports
An Edge port is the logical end point of a visual edge path. The ports of an edge are highlighted as little black squares whenever the edge is selected.
A Port of a selected edge can be moved to another position by pressing the left mouse button over it and then by dragging the port around. While dragging ports candidate boxes will appear. These boxes mark the positions that are available for the port. The action is terminated when the mouse is released. The port will then automatically snap to the closest available port position.
Working With Grouped Nodes
See the Section on Grouping

Navigation Mode

This mode allows for navigating more conveniently through the diagram being displayed. It does not allow editing of the graph.

Moving the View Port
The current view port (visible diagram area) of the view can be changed by left dragging the mouse around. The view port will follow the mouse.
Context Sensitive Menus
Same as in Edit Mode. Activated by a right mouse click.