Convert GXL to DOT

Understanding GXL and DOT file formats

GXL (Graph eXchange Language) is an XML-based file format designed for describing graphs, commonly used in software engineering and graph-based data exchange. It provides a flexible way to represent nodes, edges, and their attributes in a structured manner.

DOT is a plain text graph description language used by Graphviz and other visualization tools. It allows users to define nodes, edges, and their relationships in a simple, human-readable syntax, making it ideal for visualizing and processing graphs.

Why convert GXL to DOT?

Converting GXL to DOT enables you to leverage powerful visualization and analysis tools like Graphviz. DOT files are widely supported and easier to edit or visualize, making them suitable for presentations, documentation, and further graph processing.

How to convert GXL to DOT

There is no direct built-in support in most software for converting GXL to DOT, but you can use specialized tools or scripts. One of the best solutions is yEd Graph Editor or the Graphviz toolkit with additional scripts.

Using yEd Graph Editor

1. Open yEd Graph Editor.
2. Go to File → Open and select your .gxl file.
3. Once the graph is loaded, go to File → Export.
4. Choose Graphviz DOT as the export format and save your file.

Using command-line tools and scripts

If you prefer command-line tools, you can use gxl2dot, a Python script available on GitHub and other repositories. This script parses GXL files and outputs DOT format.

1. Download the gxl2dot.py script from a trusted source.
2. Run the script with the command: python gxl2dot.py input.gxl output.dot

Best software for GXL to DOT conversion

• yEd Graph Editor – User-friendly, supports both formats, and offers visual editing.
• gxl2dot Python script – Ideal for batch processing and automation.

Conclusion

Converting GXL to DOT is straightforward with the right tools. yEd Graph Editor is recommended for most users, while the gxl2dot script is perfect for automation and advanced users.