[comment {-*- tcl -*-}][vset VERSION 2.4.3] [manpage_begin struct::graph n [vset VERSION]] [keywords adjacent] [keywords arc] [keywords cgraph] [keywords degree] [keywords edge] [keywords graph] [keywords loop] [keywords neighbour] [keywords node] [keywords serialization] [keywords subgraph] [keywords vertex] [copyright {2002-2009,2019 Andreas Kupries }] [moddesc {Tcl Data Structures}] [titledesc {Create and manipulate directed graph objects}] [category {Data structures}] [require Tcl 8.4] [require struct::graph [opt [vset VERSION]]] [require struct::list [opt 1.5]] [require struct::set [opt 2.2.3]] [description] [para] A directed graph is a structure containing two collections of elements, called [term nodes] and [term arcs] respectively, together with a relation ("connectivity") that places a general structure upon the nodes and arcs. [para] Each arc is connected to two nodes, one of which is called the [term source] and the other the [term target]. This imposes a direction upon the arc, which is said to go from the source to the target. It is allowed that source and target of an arc are the same node. Such an arc is called a [term loop]. Whenever a node is either the source or target of an arc both are said to be [term adjacent]. This extends into a relation between nodes, i.e. if two nodes are connected through at least one arc they are said to be [term adjacent] too. [para] Each node can be the source and target for any number of arcs. The former are called the [term {outgoing arcs}] of the node, the latter the [term {incoming arcs}] of the node. The number of arcs in either set is called the [term in-degree] resp. the [term out-degree] of the node. [para] In addition to maintaining the node and arc relationships, this graph implementation allows any number of named [term attributes] to be associated with the graph itself, and each node or arc. [para] [emph Note:] The major version of the package [package struct] has been changed to version 2.0, due to backward incompatible changes in the API of this module. Please read the section [sectref {Changes for 2.0}] for a full list of all changes, incompatible and otherwise. [para] [emph Note:] A C-implementation of the command can be had from the location [uri http://www.purl.org/NET/schlenker/tcl/cgraph]. See also [uri http://wiki.tcl.tk/cgraph]. This implementation uses a bit less memory than the tcl version provided here directly, and is faster. Its support is limited to versions of the package before 2.0. [para] As of version 2.2 of this package a critcl based C implementation is available from here as well. This implementation however requires Tcl 8.4 to run. [para] The main command of the package is: [list_begin definitions] [call [cmd ::struct::graph] [opt [arg graphName]] \ [opt "[const =]|[const :=]|[const as]|[const deserialize] [arg source]"]] The command creates a new graph object with an associated global Tcl command whose name is [arg graphName]. This command may be used to invoke various operations on the graph. It has the following general form: [list_begin definitions] [call [cmd graphName] [arg option] [opt [arg "arg arg ..."]]] [arg Option] and the [arg arg]s determine the exact behavior of the command. [list_end] [para] If [arg graphName] is not specified a unique name will be generated by the package itself. If a [arg source] is specified the new graph will be initialized to it. For the operators [const =], [const :=], and [const as] the [arg source] argument is interpreted as the name of another graph object, and the assignment operator [method =] will be executed. For the operator [const deserialize] the [arg source] is a serialized graph object and [method deserialize] will be executed. [para] In other words [para] [example { ::struct::graph mygraph = b }] [para] is equivalent to [para] [example { ::struct::graph mygraph mygraph = b }] [para] and [para] [example { ::struct::graph mygraph deserialize $b }] [para] is equivalent to [para] [example { ::struct::graph mygraph mygraph deserialize $b }] [list_end] [para] The following commands are possible for graph objects: [list_begin definitions] [call [arg graphName] [method =] [arg sourcegraph]] This is the [term assignment] operator for graph objects. It copies the graph contained in the graph object [arg sourcegraph] over the graph data in [arg graphName]. The old contents of [arg graphName] are deleted by this operation. [para] This operation is in effect equivalent to [para] [example_begin] [arg graphName] [method deserialize] [lb][arg sourcegraph] [method serialize][rb] [example_end] [para] The operation assumes that the [arg sourcegraph] provides the method [method serialize] and that this method returns a valid graph serialization. [call [arg graphName] [method -->] [arg destgraph]] This is the [term {reverse assignment}] operator for graph objects. It copies the graph contained in the graph object [arg graphName] over the graph data in the object [arg destgraph]. The old contents of [arg destgraph] are deleted by this operation. [para] This operation is in effect equivalent to [para] [example_begin] [arg destgraph] [method deserialize] [lb][arg graphName] [method serialize][rb] [example_end] [para] The operation assumes that the [arg destgraph] provides the method [method deserialize] and that this method takes a graph serialization. [call [arg graphName] [method append] [arg key] [arg value]] Appends a [arg value] to one of the keyed values associated with the graph. Returns the new value given to the attribute [arg key]. [call [arg graphName] [method deserialize] [arg serialization]] This is the complement to [method serialize]. It replaces the graph data in [arg graphName] with the graph described by the [arg serialization] value. The old contents of [arg graphName] are deleted by this operation. [call [arg graphName] [method destroy]] Destroys the graph, including its storage space and associated command. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc append}] [arg arc] [arg key] [arg value]] Appends a [arg value] to one of the keyed values associated with an [arg arc]. Returns the new value given to the attribute [arg key]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc attr}] [arg key]] [call [arg graphName] [method {arc attr}] [arg key] [option -arcs] [arg list]] [call [arg graphName] [method {arc attr}] [arg key] [option -glob] [arg globpattern]] [call [arg graphName] [method {arc attr}] [arg key] [option -regexp] [arg repattern]] This method retrieves the value of the attribute named [arg key], for all arcs in the graph (matching the restriction specified via one of the possible options) and having the specified attribute. [para] The result is a dictionary mapping from arc names to the value of attribute [arg key] at that arc. Arcs not having the attribute [arg key], or not passing a specified restriction, are not listed in the result. [para] The possible restrictions are: [list_begin options] [opt_def -arcs] The value is a list of arcs. Only the arcs mentioned in this list are searched for the attribute. [opt_def -glob] The value is a glob pattern. Only the arcs in the graph whose names match this pattern are searched for the attribute. [opt_def -regexp] The value is a regular expression. Only the arcs in the graph whose names match this pattern are searched for the attribute. [list_end] [para] [call [arg graphName] [method {arc delete}] [arg arc] [opt "[arg arc] ..."]] Remove the specified arcs from the graph. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc exists}] [arg arc]] Return true if the specified [arg arc] exists in the graph. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc flip}] [arg arc]] Reverses the direction of the named [arg arc], i.e. the source and target nodes of the arc are exchanged with each other. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc get}] [arg arc] [arg key]] Returns the value associated with the key [arg key] for the [arg arc]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc getall}] [arg arc] [opt [arg pattern]]] Returns a dictionary (suitable for use with [lb][cmd {array set}][rb]) for the [arg arc]. If the [arg pattern] is specified only the attributes whose names match the pattern will be part of the returned dictionary. The pattern is a [cmd glob] pattern. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc getunweighted}]] Returns a list containing the names of all arcs in the graph which have no weight associated with them. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc getweight}] [arg arc]] Returns the weight associated with the [arg arc]. Throws an error if the arc has no weight associated with it. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc keys}] [arg arc] [opt [arg pattern]]] Returns a list of keys for the [arg arc]. If the [arg pattern] is specified only the attributes whose names match the pattern will be part of the returned list. The pattern is a [cmd glob] pattern. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc keyexists}] [arg arc] [arg key]] Return true if the specified [arg key] exists for the [arg arc]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc insert}] [arg start] [arg end] [opt [arg child]]] Insert an arc named [arg child] into the graph beginning at the node [arg start] and ending at the node [arg end]. If the name of the new arc is not specified the system will generate a unique name of the form [emph arc][arg x]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc lappend}] [arg arc] [arg key] [arg value]] Appends a [arg value] (as a list) to one of the keyed values associated with an [arg arc]. Returns the new value given to the attribute [arg key]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc rename}] [arg arc] [arg newname]] Renames the arc [arg arc] to [arg newname]. An error is thrown if either the arc does not exist, or a arc with name [arg newname] does exist. The result of the command is the new name of the arc. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc set}] [arg arc] [arg key] [opt [arg value]]] Set or get one of the keyed values associated with an arc. An arc may have any number of keyed values associated with it. If [arg value] is not specified, this command returns the current value assigned to the key; if [arg value] is specified, this command assigns that value to the key, and returns that value. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc setunweighted}] [opt [arg weight]]] Sets the weight of all arcs without a weight to [arg weight]. Returns the empty string as its result. If not present [arg weight] defaults to [const 0]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc setweight}] [arg arc] [arg weight]] Sets the weight of the [arg arc] to [arg weight]. Returns [arg weight]. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc unsetweight}] [arg arc]] Removes the weight of the [arg arc], if present. Does nothing otherwise. Returns the empty string. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc hasweight}] [arg arc]] Determines if the [arg arc] has a weight associated with it. The result is a boolean value, [const True] if a weight is defined, and [const False] otherwise. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc source}] [arg arc]] Return the node the given [arg arc] begins at. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc target}] [arg arc]] Return the node the given [arg arc] ends at. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc nodes}] [arg arc]] Return the nodes the given [arg arc] begins and ends at, as a two-element list. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc move-source}] [arg arc] [arg newsource]] Changes the source node of the arc to [arg newsource]. It can be said that the arc rotates around its target node. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc move-target}] [arg arc] [arg newtarget]] Changes the target node of the arc to [arg newtarget]. It can be said that the arc rotates around its source node. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc move}] [arg arc] [arg newsource] [arg newtarget]] Changes both source and target nodes of the arc to [arg newsource], and [arg newtarget] resp. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc unset}] [arg arc] [arg key]] Remove a keyed value from the arc [arg arc]. The method will do nothing if the [arg key] does not exist. [call [arg graphName] [method {arc weights}]] Returns a dictionary whose keys are the names of all arcs which have a weight associated with them, and the values are these weights. [call [arg graphName] [method arcs] [opt "-key [arg key]"] [opt "-value [arg value]"] [opt "-filter [arg cmdprefix]"] [opt "-in|-out|-adj|-inner|-embedding [arg {node node...}]"]] Returns a list of arcs in the graph. If no restriction is specified a list containing all arcs is returned. Restrictions can limit the list of returned arcs based on the nodes that are connected by the arc, on the keyed values associated with the arc, or both. A general filter command can be used as well. The restrictions that involve connected nodes take a variable number of nodes as argument, specified after the name of the restriction itself. [para] The restrictions imposed by either [option -in], [option -out], [option -adj], [option -inner], or [option -embedding] are applied first. Specifying more than one of them is illegal. [para] After that the restrictions set via [option -key] (and [option -value]) are applied. Specifying more than one [option -key] (and [option -value]) is illegal. Specifying [option -value] alone, without [option -key] is illegal as well. [para] Any restriction set through [option -filter] is applied last. Specifying more than one [option -filter] is illegal. [para] Coming back to the restrictions based on a set of nodes, the command recognizes the following switches: [list_begin definitions] [def [option -in]] Return a list of all arcs whose target is one of the nodes in the set of nodes. I.e. it computes the union of all incoming arcs of the nodes in the set. [def [option -out]] Return a list of all arcs whose source is one of the nodes in the set of nodes. I.e. it computes the union of all outgoing arcs of the nodes in the set. [def [option -adj]] Return a list of all arcs adjacent to at least one of the nodes in the set. This is the union of the nodes returned by [option -in] and [option -out]. [def [option -inner]] Return a list of all arcs which are adjacent to two of the nodes in the set. This is the set of arcs in the subgraph spawned by the specified nodes. [def [option -embedding]] Return a list of all arcs adjacent to exactly one of the nodes in the set. This is the set of arcs connecting the subgraph spawned by the specified nodes to the rest of the graph. [list_end] [emph Attention]: After the above options any word with a leading dash which is not a valid option is treated as a node name instead of an invalid option to error out on. This condition holds until either a valid option terminates the list of nodes, or the end of the command is reached, whichever comes first. [para] The remaining filter options are: [para] [list_begin definitions] [def "[option -key] [arg key]"] Limit the list of arcs that are returned to those arcs that have an associated key [arg key]. [def "[option -value] [arg value]"] This restriction can only be used in combination with [option -key]. It limits the list of arcs that are returned to those arcs whose associated key [arg key] has the value [arg value]. [def "[option -filter] [arg cmdrefix]"] Limit the list of arcs that are returned to those arcs that pass the test. The command in [arg cmdprefix] is called with two arguments, the name of the graph object, and the name of the arc in question. It is executed in the context of the caller and has to return a boolean value. Arcs for which the command returns [const false] are removed from the result list before it is returned to the caller. [list_end] [call [arg graphName] [method lappend] [arg key] [arg value]] Appends a [arg value] (as a list) to one of the keyed values associated with the graph. Returns the new value given to the attribute [arg key]. [call [arg graphName] [method {node append}] [arg node] [arg key] [arg value]] Appends a [arg value] to one of the keyed values associated with an [arg node]. Returns the new value given to the attribute [arg key]. [call [arg graphName] [method {node attr}] [arg key]] [call [arg graphName] [method {node attr}] [arg key] [option -nodes] [arg list]] [call [arg graphName] [method {node attr}] [arg key] [option -glob] [arg globpattern]] [call [arg graphName] [method {node attr}] [arg key] [option -regexp] [arg repattern]] This method retrieves the value of the attribute named [arg key], for all nodes in the graph (matching the restriction specified via one of the possible options) and having the specified attribute. [para] The result is a dictionary mapping from node names to the value of attribute [arg key] at that node. Nodes not having the attribute [arg key], or not passing a specified restriction, are not listed in the result. [para] The possible restrictions are: [list_begin options] [opt_def -nodes] The value is a list of nodes. Only the nodes mentioned in this list are searched for the attribute. [opt_def -glob] The value is a glob pattern. Only the nodes in the graph whose names match this pattern are searched for the attribute. [opt_def -regexp] The value is a regular expression. Only the nodes in the graph whose names match this pattern are searched for the attribute. [list_end] [para] [call [arg graphName] [method {node degree}] [opt -in|-out] [arg node]] Return the number of arcs adjacent to the specified [arg node]. If one of the restrictions [option -in] or [option -out] is given only the incoming resp. outgoing arcs are counted. [call [arg graphName] [method {node delete}] [arg node] [opt "[arg node]..."]] Remove the specified nodes from the graph. All of the nodes' arcs will be removed as well to prevent unconnected arcs. [call [arg graphName] [method {node exists}] [arg node]] Return true if the specified [arg node] exists in the graph. [call [arg graphName] [method {node get}] [arg node] [arg key]] Return the value associated with the key [arg key] for the [arg node]. [call [arg graphName] [method {node getall}] [arg node] [opt [arg pattern]]] Returns a dictionary (suitable for use with [lb][cmd {array set}][rb]) for the [arg node]. If the [arg pattern] is specified only the attributes whose names match the pattern will be part of the returned dictionary. The pattern is a [cmd glob] pattern. [call [arg graphName] [method {node keys}] [arg node] [opt [arg pattern]]] Returns a list of keys for the [arg node]. If the [arg pattern] is specified only the attributes whose names match the pattern will be part of the returned list. The pattern is a [cmd glob] pattern. [call [arg graphName] [method {node keyexists}] [arg node] [arg key]] Return true if the specified [arg key] exists for the [arg node]. [call [arg graphName] [method {node insert}] [opt [arg node]...]] Insert one or more nodes into the graph. The new nodes have no arcs connected to them. If no node is specified one node will be inserted, and the system will generate a unique name of the form [emph node][arg x] for it. [call [arg graphName] [method {node lappend}] [arg node] [arg key] [arg value]] Appends a [arg value] (as a list) to one of the keyed values associated with an [arg node]. Returns the new value given to the attribute [arg key]. [call [arg graphName] [method {node opposite}] [arg node] [arg arc]] Return the node at the other end of the specified [arg arc], which has to be adjacent to the given [arg node]. [call [arg graphName] [method {node rename}] [arg node] [arg newname]] Renames the node [arg node] to [arg newname]. An error is thrown if either the node does not exist, or a node with name [arg newname] does exist. The result of the command is the new name of the node. [call [arg graphName] [method {node set}] [arg node] [arg key] [opt [arg value]]] Set or get one of the keyed values associated with a node. A node may have any number of keyed values associated with it. If [arg value] is not specified, this command returns the current value assigned to the key; if [arg value] is specified, this command assigns that value to the key. [call [arg graphName] [method {node unset}] [arg node] [arg key]] Remove a keyed value from the node [arg node]. The method will do nothing if the [arg key] does not exist. [call [arg graphName] [method nodes] [opt "-key [arg key]"] [opt "-value [arg value]"] [opt "-filter [arg cmdprefix]"] [opt "-in|-out|-adj|-inner|-embedding [arg node] [arg node]..."]] Return a list of nodes in the graph. Restrictions can limit the list of returned nodes based on neighboring nodes, or based on the keyed values associated with the node. The restrictions that involve neighboring nodes have a list of nodes as argument, specified after the name of the restriction itself. [para] The possible restrictions are the same as for method [method arcs]. Note that while the exact meanings change slightly, as they operate on nodes instead of arcs, the general behaviour is the same, especially when it comes to the handling of words with a leading dash in node lists. [para] The command recognizes: [list_begin definitions] [def [option -in]] Return a list of all nodes with at least one outgoing arc ending in a node found in the specified set of nodes. Alternatively specified as the set of source nodes for the [option -in] arcs of the node set. The [term {incoming neighbours}]. [def [option -out]] Return a list of all nodes with at least one incoming arc starting in a node found in the specified set of nodes. Alternatively specified as the set of target nodes for the [option -out] arcs of the node set. The [term {outgoing neighbours}]. [def [option -adj]] This is the union of the nodes returned by [option -in] and [option -out]. The [term neighbours]. [def [option -inner]] The set of neighbours (see [option -adj] above) which are also in the set of nodes. I.e. the intersection between the set of nodes and the neighbours per [option -adj]. [def [option -embedding]] The set of neighbours (see [option -adj] above) which are not in the set of nodes. I.e. the difference between the neighbours as per [option -adj], and the set of nodes. [def "[option -key] [arg key]"] Limit the list of nodes that are returned to those nodes that have an associated key [arg key]. [def "[option -value] [arg value]"] This restriction can only be used in combination with [option -key]. It limits the list of nodes that are returned to those nodes whose associated key [arg key] has the value [arg value]. [def "[option -filter] [arg cmdrefix]"] Limit the list of nodes that are returned to those nodes that pass the test. The command in [arg cmdprefix] is called with two arguments, the name of the graph object, and the name of the node in question. It is executed in the context of the caller and has to return a boolean value. Nodes for which the command returns [const false] are removed from the result list before it is returned to the caller. [list_end] [call [arg graphName] [method get] [arg key]] Return the value associated with the key [arg key] for the graph. [call [arg graphName] [method getall] [opt [arg pattern]]] Returns a dictionary (suitable for use with [lb][cmd {array set}][rb]) for the whole graph. If the [arg pattern] is specified only the attributes whose names match the pattern will be part of the returned dictionary. The pattern is a [cmd glob] pattern. [call [arg graphName] [method keys] [opt [arg pattern]]] Returns a list of keys for the whole graph. If the [arg pattern] is specified only the attributes whose names match the pattern will be part of the returned list. The pattern is a [cmd glob] pattern. [call [arg graphName] [method keyexists] [arg key]] Return true if the specified [arg key] exists for the whole graph. [call [arg graphName] [method serialize] [opt [arg node]...]] This method serializes the sub-graph spanned up by the [arg node]s. In other words it returns a tcl value completely describing that graph. If no nodes are specified the whole graph will be serialized. This allows, for example, the transfer of graph objects (or parts thereof) over arbitrary channels, persistence, etc. This method is also the basis for both the copy constructor and the assignment operator. [para] The result of this method has to be semantically identical over all implementations of the graph interface. This is what will enable us to copy graph data between different implementations of the same interface. [para] The result is a list containing a multiple of three items, plus one! In other words, '[lb]llength $serial[rb] % 3 == 1'. Valid values include 1, 4, 7, ... [para] The last element of the list is a dictionary containing the attributes associated with the whole graph. Regarding the other elements; each triple consists of [list_begin enumerated] [enum] The name of the node to be described, [enum] A dictionary containing the attributes associated with the node, [enum] And a list describing all the arcs starting at that node. [list_end] [para] The elements of the arc list are lists containing three or four elements each, i.e. [list_begin enumerated] [enum] The name of the arc described by the element, [enum] A reference to the destination node of the arc. This reference is an integer number given the index of that node in the main serialization list. As that it is greater than or equal to zero, less than the length of the serialization, and a multiple of three. [emph Note:] For internal consistency no arc name may be used twice, whether in the same node, or at some other node. This is a global consistency requirement for the serialization. [enum] And a dictionary containing the attributes associated with the arc. [enum] The weight associated with the arc. This value is optional. Its non-presence means that the arc in question has no weight associated with it. [para][emph Note:] This information is new, compared to the serialization of [package graph] 2.3 and earlier. By making it an optional element the new format is maximally compatible with the old. This means that any graph not using weights will generate a serialization which is still understood by the older graph package. A serialization will not be understood any longer by the older packages if, and only if the graph it was generated from actually has arcs with weights. [list_end] [para] For all attribute dictionaries they keys are the names of the attributes, and the values are the values for each name. [para] [emph Note:] The order of the nodes in the serialization has no relevance, nor has the order of the arcs per node. [example { # A possible serialization for the graph structure # # d -----> %2 # / ^ \\ # / / \\ # / b \\ # / / \\ # %1 <- a - %0 e # ^ \\ / # \\ c / # \\ \\ / # \\ v v # f ------ %3 # is # # %3 {} {{f 6 {}}} %0 {} {{a 6 {}} {b 9 {}} {c 0 {}}} %1 {} {{d 9 {}}} %2 {} {{e 0 {}}} {} # # This assumes that the graph has neither attribute data nor weighted arcs. }] [para] [call [arg graphName] [method set] [arg key] [opt [arg value]]] Set or get one of the keyed values associated with a graph. A graph may have any number of keyed values associated with it. If [arg value] is not specified, this command returns the current value assigned to the key; if [arg value] is specified, this command assigns that value to the key. [call [arg graphName] [method swap] [arg node1] [arg node2]] Swap the position of [arg node1] and [arg node2] in the graph. [call [arg graphName] [method unset] [arg key]] Remove a keyed value from the graph. The method will do nothing if the [arg key] does not exist. [call [arg graphName] [method walk] [arg node] \ [opt "-order [arg order]"] \ [opt "-type [arg type]"] \ [opt "-dir [arg direction]"] \ -command [arg cmd]] Perform a breadth-first or depth-first walk of the graph starting at the node [arg node] going in either the direction of outgoing or opposite to the incoming arcs. [para] The type of walk, breadth-first or depth-first, is determined by the value of [arg type]; [const bfs] indicates breadth-first, [const dfs] indicates depth-first. Depth-first is the default. [para] The order of the walk, pre-order, post-order or both-order is determined by the value of [arg order]; [const pre] indicates pre-order, [const post] indicates post-order, [const both] indicates both-order. Pre-order is the default. Pre-order walking means that a node is visited before any of its neighbors (as defined by the [arg direction], see below). Post-order walking means that a parent is visited after any of its neighbors. Both-order walking means that a node is visited before [emph and] after any of its neighbors. The combination of a breadth-first walk with post- or both-order is illegal. [para] The direction of the walk is determined by the value of [arg dir]; [const backward] indicates the direction opposite to the incoming arcs, [const forward] indicates the direction of the outgoing arcs. [para] As the walk progresses, the command [arg cmd] will be evaluated at each node, with the mode of the call ([const enter] or [const leave]) and values [arg graphName] and the name of the current node appended. For a pre-order walk, all nodes are [const enter]ed, for a post-order all nodes are left. In a both-order walk the first visit of a node [const enter]s it, the second visit [const leave]s it. [list_end] [section {Changes for 2.0}] The following noteworthy changes have occurred: [list_begin enumerated] [enum] The API for accessing attributes and their values has been simplified. [para] All functionality regarding the default attribute "data" has been removed. This default attribute does not exist anymore. All accesses to attributes have to specify the name of the attribute in question. This backward [emph incompatible] change allowed us to simplify the signature of all methods handling attributes. [para] Especially the flag [option -key] is not required anymore, even more, its use is now forbidden. Please read the documentation for the arc and node methods [method set], [method get], [method getall], [method unset], [method append], [method lappend], [method keyexists] and [method keys] for a description of the new API's. [enum] The methods [method keys] and [method getall] now take an optional pattern argument and will return only attribute data for keys matching this pattern. [enum] Arcs and nodes can now be renamed. See the documentation for the methods [method {arc rename}] and [method {node rename}]. [enum] The structure has been extended with API's for the serialization and deserialization of graph objects, and a number of operations based on them (graph assignment, copy construction). [para] Please read the documentation for the methods [method serialize], [method deserialize], [method =], and [method -->], and the documentation on the construction of graph objects. [para] Beyond the copying of whole graph objects these new API's also enable the transfer of graph objects over arbitrary channels and for easy persistence. [enum] A new method, [method attr], was added to both [method arc] and [method node] allowing the query and retrieval of attribute data without regard to arc and node relationships. [enum] Both methods [method arcs] and [method nodes] have been extended with the ability to select arcs and nodes based on an arbitrary filtering criterium. [list_end] [vset CATEGORY {struct :: graph}] [include ../common-text/feedback.inc] [manpage_end]