- Creating a Network

The easiest way to create a book template is ask you favorite AI to populate the schema (json) documented below. Then take creative control of the layout. You can drag and drop characters, double-clicking to release them, or use 'recenter' to start over.

Saving:

Capture the diagram and save your edited JSON when ready.

Visibility & Structure:

Use 0 in the chapter array to make nodes/links part of the master layout (Chapter 0 is the title).

Time-Based Mapping Advanced (Under Development):

For evolving relationships, assign specific chapter numbers instead of 0. Nodes and links will only appear when their chapter data matches. Removing 0 makes them disappear entirely."

- Viewing the Network

• Nodes (Ellipses): Each colored node represents a character, place or theme. The size is based on the name length.
• Links (Lines): Lines between nodes show relationships. Thicker lines indicate stronger bonds.
• Colors: Different colors represent different groups (numeric) or categories of items defined below.
• Chapter Navigation: Use the arrow buttons (← →) or arrow keys to move between chapters. Node fade in/out based on their presence in each chapter.
• Viewing Notes: When notes are added to a node an note Icon appears in the top right. Hovering over the node for 1.5 seconds the notes will pop up. Notes can be hidden by toggling notes off.

- Editing Node

- Managing Relationships

• Add Relationship: Click Add Relationship or press r to connect two nodes with a labeled relationship and bond strength (1-100).
• Edit Relationship: Enable Edit Mode (e), then click on a relationship line to modify its label or strength.
• Notes: Edit/Add Mode Optionally, notes with up to several paragraphs worth can be added to a node. This is visible when notes are enabled and the cursor hovers over the node.
• Delete Relationship: Enable Delete Mode (d), then click on a relationship line to remove it.

- Chapter Management

• Add Chapter: Click Add Chapter or press c to insert a new chapter. You can insert at any position, and all subsequent chapters will be renumbered.
• Edit Chapter: Click Edit Chapter to change any chapter's title.
• Delete Chapter: Click Delete Chapter to remove a chapter. All items will lose that chapter reference, and subsequent chapters will be renumbered.
• Navigate Chapters: Use ↑ ↓ or ← → arrow keys to cycle through chapters (wraps around).

- File Operations

• Save: Click Save Local or press Ctrl+s to download your current visualization with all changes and node positions preserved.
• Load: Click Choose Local to a saved version or load a different book data file (.json format).
• Upload: Click Upload to Server to upload your current visualization with all changes and node positions preserved.
• Load: Click Browse Server to load a different book data file that is shared (.json format).
File: The filename display shows which data file you're currently working with date suffixes are removed and updated when saved.

- Visual Controls

• Drag Nodes: Click and drag any node to reposition them. Their position is saved when you save the file.
• Double-Click Node: Release a fixed node so it moves freely with the physics simulation.
• Recenter All Nodes: Click Recenter to reset all positions and restart the physics layout free.

- Keyboard Shortcuts

- Tips

• 3D Appearance: Characters have gradient shading to give them a 3D look with depth and lighting.
• Chapter Presence: Characters appear bright in chapters where they appear, and fade to translucent in chapters where they don't.
• Relationship Strength: Use bond strength (1-100) to indicate importance of relationships - higher numbers = thicker lines.
• Groups/Categories: Assign characters to groups (numbers) to color-code them by affiliation, role, or any other categorization.
• Choose Colour Schemes: A number of color schemes with auto font colors
• Choose Font: Various Fonts
• Choose Font Size: Various Fonts sizes

- File Format

For portability, efficiency and future feature compatibility the visualizer uses JSON files with this structure: Many of the diagrams were created by first populating this file with AI then manually positioning the nodes to a users liking. Chapter 0 is the Book title and may have main characters associated with it. (Those on the illustrated cover for example). This allows characters and relationships to evolve through chapters by having both characters and links vary by chapter. The View button allow seeing all nodes either at once or by chapter. Leave a comment using the feedback button.

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "Alice",
      "title": "Alice Cooper", 
      "group": 0,
      "notes": "Godfather of shock rock",
      "chapters": [0,1,2]
    },
    {
      "id": "Bob",
      "title": "Bob Ezrin", 
      "group": 1,
      "notes": "Sent to get Rid of Alice Cooper.",
      "chapters": [0,1,2]
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    {
      "source": "Alice",
      "target": "Bob",
      "relationship": "Singer",
      "bondlevel": 5,
      "linkchapters": [0]
    },
    {
      "source": "Alice",
      "target": "Bob",
      "relationship": "Producer",
      "bondlevel": 5,
      "linkchapters": [0]
    }
  ],
  "chapters": [
    {
      "number": 0,
      "title": "Beginning"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "number": 0,
      "name": "Performer",
      "description": "Concert and Recording Artist"
    },
    {
      "number": 1,
      "name": "Manager",
      "description": "Producer"
    }
  ]
}

AI generation JSON Instructions

Generate a JSON graph dataset for the book using the schema below. Save the file as YourBookName.json. If the output is generated in another file format, rename it with a .json extension. If the resulting graph appears too sparse, ask the AI to generate additional nodes and relationships to create a richer, more connected dataset.

RULES

Nodes represent characters, creatures, places, organizations, or important concepts.

• Include: id, title, group, notes, chapters.
• chapters = chapter indexes where the node appears or is narratively important.
• Do not include a node (character, etc) in chapter 0 unless the node is strongly associated with the entire book.
• Notes are for users leave blank

Links represent relationships between nodes.

• Include: source, target, relationship, bondlevel, linkchapters.
• bondlevel uses a 1-100 scale.
• linkchapters:[0] means the relationship persists whenever both nodes are visible.
• Specific linkchapters mean the relationship only appears in those chapters.
• Multiple links between the same nodes are allowed if the relationship changes over time.
• Groups are global narrative/visual categories for the entire book.

Chapters use indexed numbering: Chapter numbers must be sequential graph indexes. Do not use original printed chapter numbers.

Remap source chapters into continuous numbering beginning at 1.

• 0 = book overview/title
• 1 = first narrative chapter.
• Prefer meaningful character relationships over abstract concepts.
• Keep titles concise but descriptive.
• Output valid JSON only.