---
name: "gvmap.sh"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "graphviz"
version: "16.1.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gvmap.sh"
---

# gvmap.sh(1)

pipeline for running gvmap

## NAME

gvmap.sh - pipeline for running gvmap

## SYNOPSIS

**gvmap.sh** \[**-vV?**\] \[ *options* \] \[ **-o** *outfile* \] \[  *files* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**gvmap.sh** takes as input a graph in DOT format, performs a layout, runs the output through gvmap and renders the output. At some point, it is hoped to integrate all of these tasks into gvmap.

## OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

- **-a** *k*

  The integer k specifies the average number of artificial points added along  the bounding box of the labels. Such artificial points are added to avoid  a country boundary cutting through the boundary box of the labels. Computing  time is proportional to k; hence, for large graphs, a small value of k is  suggested. If k = -1, a suitable value of k is automatically selected based on  the graph size. By default k = -1.

- **-K** *layout*

  specifies which program should be use for the initial layout. By default, sfdp is run. Also by default, the layout is passed the flag -Goverlap=prism. This can be overridden using a -g flag.

- **-T** *format*

  specifies the final output format. This works the same way as the -T flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-N** *attr=val*

  specifies the setting of a default node attribute during the rendering phase. This works the same way as  the -N flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-G** *attr=val*

  specifies the setting of a graph attribute during the rendering phase. This works the same way as  the -G flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-E** *attr=val*

  specifies the setting of a default edge attribute during the rendering phase. This works the same way as  the -E flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-n** *attr=val*

  specifies the setting of a default node attribute during the layout phase. This works the same way as  the -N flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-g** *attr=val*

  specifies the setting of a graph attribute during the layout phase. This works the same way as  the -G flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-e** *attr=val*

  specifies the setting of a default edge attribute during the layout phase. This works the same way as  the -E flag for any Graphviz layout program.

- **-A** *flag*

  specifies a flag to be passed to gvmap. For example, gvmap.sh -Ae -As3 causes gvmap -e -s3 to be run.

- **-v**

  Set verbose mode.

- **-V**

  Print version information and exit.

- **-?**

  Print usage information and exit.

## EXAMPLES

The following invocation creates a map with edges in semi-transparent light gray and nodes laid  out using sfdp:

gvmap.sh -Ae -Ecolor=#55555522 -Tpng foo.gv \> foo.png

It is equivalent to running the pipeline

sfdp -Goverlap=prism foo.gv \| gvmap -e \| neato -n2 -Ecolor=#55555522 -Tpng \> foo.png

## AUTHOR

Emden R. Gansner \<erg@research.att.com\>

## SEE ALSO

[gvmap(1)](/gvmap/1.md), [sfdp(1)](/sfdp/1.md), [neato(1)](/neato/1.md), [gvpr(1)](/gvpr/1.md)

E. R. Gansner, Y. Hu, S. G. Kobourov, "GMap: Visualizing graphs and clusters as maps," Proc. Pacific Vis. 2010, pp. 201‐208.