NetMatch

 
 

Query Drawing

 
A query drawing tool is launched by "Query/Draw". It allows the user to draw exact and approximate queries. An approximate query contains unspecified node labels and edge labels, paths of length greater than one (specified as an attribute of the path connector).
 
 
Palette Toolbar
 
Select: Move and resize a selected node or edge.
Move: Selecting this button allows moving the entire query in the drawing window by clicking on it and dragging.
Add Node: Selecting this button enables adding a new node to the drawing window by clicking on the drawing canvas. The default attribute is "Unlabeled". It is possible to change the attribute by clicking the node with right mouse button..
Add Loop edge: Selecting this button allows adding a loop edge to an existing node. The default attribute is "Unlabeled". It is possible to change the attribute by clicking the edge with right mouse button. It is possible to add multi-loops from a node to another.

Add Edge:
Selecting this button enables adding a new edge to the drawing window by clicking on an existing node and to another one. The edge is directed. The default attribute is "Unlabeled". It is possible to change the attribute by clicking the edge with right mouse button. It is possible to add multi-edges from a node to another.
 
Add approximate Path: Selecting this button it is possible to add an approximate path to the drawing window by clicking on an existing node and to another one. The default attribute is "?>0" (this means that the user wants an approximate path of length > 0). It is possible to change the attribute by clicking the edge with right mouse button. It is possible to add multi-paths from a node to another.
Zoom in: Click to zoom in on the drawing window.
Zoom out: Click to zoom out of the drawing window.
 
 
Motifs Toolbar
 
Three Chain Motif: Selecting this button and clicking on the canvas adds a three chain motif to the drawing window.
Feed Forward Loop Motif: Selecting this button and clicking on the canvas adds a feed forward loop motif to the drawing window.
Bi-parallel Motif: Selecting this button and clicking on the canvas adds a bi-parallel motif to the drawing window.
Bi-fan Motif: Selecting this button and clicking on the canvas adds a bi-fan motif to the drawing window by clicking on it.
M to N Motif: Selecting this button and clicking on the canvas adds an M to N motif to the drawing window by clicking on it (M and N can be selected).
 
 
Main Toolbar Buttons
 
Create a new query.
Load an existing query in sif format.
Save a Query. It automatically creates three files: a ".sif" file containing the query, a ".na" file containing node attributes and a ".ne" file containing edge attributes.
Change name of a query. This allows the drawn query to be renamed for ease of use in the main window. Otherwise, it will get a default name.
Exit from query editor. If the query is not saved user will be prompted to save it.
Clear drawing window. Press to clear the drawing window.
 
Pass the query to NetMatch. The new query will be uploaded in the "Query Selection box" in NetMatch window. The drawing tool main windows can be closed or can be left opened for other modifications.
 
 
Modify Node/Edge Attributes or Delete
 
It is possible to edit a node, an edge or a path attribute by clicking on it with the right mouse button and then selecting the "Edit Attribute..." item menu.
 
  • Node or Edge attribute: Once "Edit Attribute..." is selected, it is possible to add the attribute label by enabling the Labeled radio button and specify the label. Notice that, the attribute label (nodes/edges) in the query can be boolean, integer, floating point, and string. NetMatch supports also relational attributes for nodes: > int_val/floating_point_val< int_val/floating_point_val, >= int_val/floating_point_val, <= int_val/floating_point_val.
    Notice that in current version of NetMatch  list attributes in the query cannot be defined. These will be defined in the next version of the software.
 
  • Approximate path attribute: A Path attribute can be modified in the same way by clicking with the right mouse button. The path length must be greater equal or less than a specific value.
 
 
Load/Save a query
 
  • Select "Query/Load/Load Query..." to load a query in sif format.
    Notice that, if the file namequery.sif is loaded and the directory contains also the attribute files namequery.NA and namequery.EA, these will be loaded too. To load different nodes or edges attributes use "Query/Load/Load Node Attributes..." and "Query/Load/Load Edge Attributes..." respectively

 

  • The first time a query file is saved through the "Query/Save As.../Save query as..." item menu, this will create three files, namequery.sif, namequery.na, namequery.ea containing the query structure, the node attributes and edge attributes respectively.

 

  • To save again use the option "Query/Save Query". This will updates the files already created.