An algorithm to plot hasses diagrams on microcomputers and calcomp plotters

Abstract

Abstract A computer algorithm has been developed to plot Hasse diagrams. Hasse diagrams are often used in lattice and graph theory. Hasse diagrams have also been used to display results of ranking exercises, where each level of the diagram represents a ranking level and where each line represents the logical connections between levels. These diagrams have also been used to assess the best structure of simulation models. Hasse diagrams are a useful tool to display lattices and hierarchies in an easy to understand fashion. Hasse diagrams can have a very complex structure with circles on different levels and straight or curved lines connecting some circles on different levels. When Hasse diagrams are used to display large lattices, tens or hundreds of circles and lines might have to be plotted. If a Hasse diagram is plotted by hand, a possibility exists that a line might be drawn between the wrong circles or possibly even left out entirely. The computer program allows the plotting of any-size Hasse diagrams on microcomputer screens and Calcomp plotters. These figures are then ready for publication. This algorithm (a) permits the display of results within minutes on microcomputer screens and within hours on the plotter, (b) is useful to scientists worldwide, (c) prepares publication ready figures, and (d) it saves several man-hours for each Hasse diagram to drafting departments.