- GuiCommand: Name:Std DependencyGraph MenuLocation:Tools → Dependency graph... Workbenches:All
The Std DependencyGraph command displays the dependencies between objects in the active document in a 'dependency graph'. As opposed to the Tree view, objects are listed in reverse chronological order, with the first created object at the bottom.
It can be useful in analyzing a FreeCAD document and locating forks in a tree. The dependency graph layout will depend on which workbench was used to create the objects in the document. For example a model made exclusively in the PartDesign workbench can display a linear dependency graph with a single vertical branch. A model made with Part operations will have many branches, but for a single part they will join up at the top after Boolean operations. If they don't, it means that they are separate objects.
The dependency graph is purely a visualization tool, therefore it cannot be edited. It automatically updates if changes are made to the model.
To use the command a third-party software named Graphviz needs to be installed. If you do not have it pre-installed or it is installed in an unconventional location, FreeCAD will display the following dialog:
Download the graphviz-2.xx installer from the Graphviz Download page and launch it to install it. Some older versions seem to have issues displaying the graph; version 2.38 and newer are known to be reliable. You can find all graphviz releases on Gitlab.
You can install graphviz using Homebrew. (While installing Homebrew, don't get nervous, if MacOS asks you to install updates, e.g. for the Xcode commandline tools. These updates are performed later by the installation process.)
brew install graphviz
``` This installs the graphviz binaries under /usr/local/bin. FreeCAD will look there all by itself. If the program is not found there you are asked to enter the path. Unfortunately we can\'t navigate directly there from the file dialog that comes up from
```python
/usr/local/bin
``` and confirm the input field and the file selection dialog.
In case the Graphviz binaries are installed in a non-standard location try to find the program with the command
```python
type dot
``` It will output something like
```python
dot is /usr/local/bin/dot
``` And therefore you can tell FreeCAD to look in that directory.
### Linux
On most Linux distributions (Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE), you just need to install the graphviz package from the repositories. However, similar to the Mac/OSX, in cases where the Graphviz binaries are installed in a non-standard location, try to find the program with the command:
```python
type dot
``` It may output something like
```python
dot is /usr/local/bin/dot
``` And therefore you can point FreeCAD to look in that directory.
## Usage
1. Select the **Tools → <img src="images/Std_DependencyGraph.svg" width=16px> Dependency graph...** option from the menu.
2. A new tab titled **Dependency graph** opens in the [Main view area](Main_view_area.md).
3. Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in or out.
4. Use the sliders at the bottom and at the right of the screen to pan the view. Alternatively (<small>(v0.19)</small> ) hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse.
## Save
You can save a dependency graph:
1. Make sure the Dependency graph tab is in the foreground.
2. Select the **File → [Save](Std_Save.md)** or **File → [Save As](Std_SaveAs.md)** option from the menu.
3. Enter a filename and select the file type (\*.png, \*.bmp, \*.gif, \*.jpg, \*.svg or \*.pdf).
4. Press the **Save** button.
## General principles
- The graph shows objects in reverse chronological order.
- The direction of arrows showing dependencies should always point down, from the child object to the parent object. An arrow pointing up indicates a cyclic dependency, an issue that needs to be resolved.
- A sketch that contains links to [external geometry](Sketcher_External.md) will have a number with an \'x\' suffix besides the arrow linking it to its parent, showing the number of external geometries linked in the sketch.
- Objects can have dependencies to multiple parents. For example, for a model built in [PartDesign](PartDesign_Workbench.md), a Pocket may be linked to its Sketch and to the Pad feature that came before it.
- Disallowed dependencies (for example, between a [Draft](Draft_Workbench.md)/[Part](Part_Workbench.md) operation and an element inside a PartDesign Body) will show with a red arrow. This type of link usually shows a \'Links go out of allowed scope\' error in the [Report view](Report_view.md).
- A [Part container](Std_Part.md) and [PartDesign Body](PartDesign_Body.md) enclose their content inside a frame with a randomly colored background. Their Origin also encloses its content (standard planes and axes) in a frame.
- A [Groups](Std_Group.md) is displayed as a single element linked to its content.
## Limitations
- The dependency graph cannot help with the [topological naming problem](topological_naming_problem.md). If a sketch switches faces of a feature after an edit, it is still linked to the feature. Even if some features are broken, the dependency graph will remain unchanged.
{{Std Base navi}}
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 [documentation index](../README.md) > [3rd Party](Category_3rd Party.md) > Std DependencyGraph