How to add connected graphs to a table?

Question

We have already seen how to create connected graphs with nodes: Easiest way to create simple connected graphs?

Where Ross, Bernard and Michael Palmer offered very good answers.

My question is now how to do the same with a table, without nodes but linking its elements.

Say we have this table:

\documentclass[10pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tabular}{c|c}
        \hline 
        ID & COLOR \\ 
        \hline 
        1 & blue \\ 
        1 & red \\ 
        1 & green \\ 
        1 & white \\ 
        \hline 
        2 & red \\ 
        2 & green \\        
    \end{tabular} 
\end{document}

What would be the easiest way to get something like this

PD: OK, that seems to be too easy for you. Let's complicate it a little bit, to break ties, with two tables:

PD2: One question, is it advisable to embed all these code in the same document or "include" it or is it better to create the picture and save it as another pdf file?

Answer 1

tikzmark is the most common method.

\documentclass[10pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{tikzmark}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tabular}{c|c}
        \hline 
        ID & COLOR \\ 
        \hline 
        1 & \tikzmark{b1}  blue  \tikzmark{b2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{r1}  red  \tikzmark{r2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{g1}  green  \tikzmark{g2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{w1}  white  \tikzmark{w2} \\ 
        \hline 
        2 & red \\ 
        2 & green \\        
    \end{tabular}
\begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture,overlay,bend angle=45]
\draw [->] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:b1) to[bend right] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:w1);
\draw [->] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:b2) to[bend left] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:g2);
\draw [->,preaction={very thick,-,draw=white}] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:r2) to[bend left=60,looseness=1.2] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:w2);    
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

There's really not much more to it even for your complication, place a \tikzmark{foo} where you want an arrow to start or finish, and use (pic cs:foo) as a coordinate in a tikzpicture with remember picture,overlay.

\documentclass[10pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{tikzmark}
\begin{document}

\begin{table}
    \begin{minipage}{0.45\linewidth}
    \centering
    \begin{tabular}{c|c}
        \hline 
        ID & COLOR \\ 
        \hline 
        1 & \tikzmark{b1}  blue  \tikzmark{b2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{r1}  red  \tikzmark{r2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{g1}  green  \tikzmark{g2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{w1}  white  \tikzmark{w2} \\ 
        \hline 
        2 & red \\ 
        2 & green \\        
    \end{tabular}\tikzmark{T1}
    \caption{Foo}
    \end{minipage}
    \begin{minipage}{0.45\linewidth}
    \centering
        \tikzmark{T2}\begin{tabular}{c|c}
        \hline 
        ID & COLOR \\ 
        \hline 
        1 & \tikzmark{b2-1}  blue  \tikzmark{b2-2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{r2-1}  red  \tikzmark{r2-2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{g2-1}  green  \tikzmark{g2-2} \\ 
        1 & \tikzmark{w2-1}  white  \tikzmark{w2-2}
        \end{tabular}
       \caption{Bar}

        \vspace{2cm}        

        \tikzmark{T3}\begin{tabular}{c|c}
        \hline 
        2 & red \\ 
        2 & green \\        
       \end{tabular}
    \caption{Baz}
    \end{minipage}
\begin{tikzpicture}[
   remember picture,overlay,
   bend angle=45,
   smallarrows/.style={-stealth},
   bigarrows/.style={
      shorten >=3mm,shorten <=3mm,
      line width=1mm,
      -stealth
   }
]
\draw [smallarrows] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:b1) to[bend right] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:w1);
\draw [smallarrows] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:b2) to[bend left] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:g2);
\draw [smallarrows,preaction={very thick,-,draw=white}] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:r2) to[bend left=60,looseness=1.2] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:w2);

\draw [smallarrows] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:b2-1) to[bend right] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:w2-1);
\draw [smallarrows] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:b2-2) to[bend left] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:g2-2);
\draw [smallarrows,preaction={very thick,-,draw=white}] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:r2-2) to[bend left=60,looseness=1.2] ([yshift=1ex]pic cs:w2-2);    

\draw [bigarrows] (pic cs:T1) -- node[sloped,above] {Transformation} (pic cs:T2);
\draw [bigarrows] (pic cs:T1) -- (pic cs:T3);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{table}

\end{document}

In hindsight though, it might be easier to add the text to the table as TikZ nodes. I.e. instead of writing blue, write \tikz[baseline=(b.base),remember picture]\node[inner sep=0pt,name=b]{blue};.

\tikz is a shortform for \begin{tikzpicture} .. \end{tikzpicture}, the baseline key is properly align the text vertically on the baseline of the table row. inner sep is set to zero to not add any additional whitespace. \node[name=a] {}; is the same as \node (a) {};.

Much better to make a macro of that of course, so for example:

\documentclass[10pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\newcommand{\tablenode}[2]{\tikz[baseline=(#1.base),remember picture]\node[inner sep=0pt,name=#1]{#2};}

\begin{document}
    \begin{tabular}{c|c}
        \hline 
        ID & COLOR \\ 
        \hline 
        1 & \tablenode{b}{blue} \\[10pt]
        1 & \tablenode{r}{red} \\ 
        1 & \tablenode{g}{green} \\ 
        1 & \tablenode{w}{white} \\ 
        \hline 
        2 & red \\ 
        2 & green \\        
    \end{tabular}
\begin{tikzpicture}[
  remember picture,overlay,
  >=stealth
]
\draw [->] (b) -- (r);
\draw [->] (b) to[out=180,in=180,looseness=0.6] (g);
\draw [->] (b.south east) to[out=300,in=60] (w.north east);
\draw [->,preaction={very thick,-,draw=white}] (r) to[out=0,in=0,looseness=2] (w.east);

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Answer 2

Here is a proof of concept using a matrix of nodes to produce:

Here is the code:

\documentclass[tikz,border=4mm]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}

\begin{document}

  \begin{tikzpicture}
    \matrix (M)[matrix of nodes,
                column sep={6mm,between borders},
                row sep={1.2em,between origins},
                row 1/.style={font=\bfseries, color=blue},
                column 1/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},
                column 2/.style={nodes={minimum width=5em}},
     ]{ ID & COLOR \\
         1 & blue \\
         1 & red \\
         1 & green \\
         1 & white \\
         2 & red \\
         2 & green \\
     };
     \draw[thick,blue](M-1-1.south west)--(M-1-2.south east);
     \draw[blue](M-1-1.north east)--(M-7-1.south east);
     \draw[thin,blue](M-5-1.south west)--(M-5-2.south east);
     \draw[->,red] (M-2-2.east) to [out=-30, in=30]  (M-5-2.east);
     \draw[->,blue](M-3-2.east) to [out=-30, in=30]  (M-7-2.east);
     \draw[->,blue](M-2-2.west) to [out=210, in=150] (M-6-2.west);
  \end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Details such as having arrows "go over" other arrows are easily addressed as in the examples given in the original question. For the \matrix the main point is that the (M) after \matrix means that the nodes have labels (M-1-2), (M-1-4) etc. in the non-empty cells (with the option nodes in empty cells you can have nodes in the empty cells too). You can change (M) to anything you like. For more details see section 57.1 of the tikz manual.

By playing around with the styling of the rows and columns you can get different effects. For example, if we instead use

    \matrix (M)[matrix of nodes,
                column sep={14mm,between origins},
                row sep={1.2em,between origins},
                row 1/.style={font=\bfseries, color=blue},
                column 1/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},
                column 2/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},

then the table looks like:

The only differences in style here that I have used between origin for the column separation, changed the amount of separation, and I have changed the minimum width of the nodes in column 2. The net effect, of course, is that the arrows are closer to the text.

Adding extra horizontal and/or vertical rules is straightforward (although, I recommend reading what the booktabs manual has to say about vertical rulesO. Changing my choice of colours is also recommended!

Edit

If you want to draw arrows between such tables then you need to:

• add remember picture to the tikzpicture environments
• you need to use different labels in the different tikzpicture environments
• you need to add overlay to tikzpicture environments that use labels from other picture environments.

All of this is explained in section 17.13 of the tikz manual (version 3.0.1a).

For example, you can draw

with the code

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}

\begin{document}

  \begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture]
    \matrix (M1)[matrix of nodes,
                column sep={14mm,between origins},
                row sep={1.2em,between origins},
                row 1/.style={font=\bfseries, color=blue},
                column 1/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},
                column 2/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},
     ]{ ID & COLOR \\
         1 & blue \\
         1 & red \\
         1 & green \\
         1 & white \\
         2 & red \\
         2 & green \\
     };
     \draw[thick,blue](M1-1-1.south west)--(M1-1-2.south east);
     \draw[blue](M1-1-1.north east)--(M1-7-1.south east);
     \draw[thin,blue](M1-5-1.south west)--(M1-5-2.south east);
     \draw[->,red] (M1-2-2.east) to [out=-30, in=30]  (M1-5-2.east);
     \draw[->,blue](M1-3-2.east) to [out=-30, in=30]  (M1-7-2.east);
     \draw[->,blue](M1-2-2.west) to [out=210, in=150] (M1-6-2.west);
  \end{tikzpicture}

  \hspace*{60mm}
  \begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture, overlay]
    \matrix (M2)[matrix of nodes,
                column sep={14mm,between origins},
                row sep={1.2em,between origins},
                row 1/.style={font=\bfseries, color=blue},
                column 1/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},
                column 2/.style={nodes={minimum width=2em}},
     ]{ ID & COLOR \\
         1 & blue \\
         1 & red \\
         1 & green \\
         1 & white \\
         2 & red \\
         2 & green \\
     };
     \draw[thick,blue](M2-1-1.south west)--(M2-1-2.south east);
     \draw[blue](M2-1-1.north east)--(M2-7-1.south east);
     \draw[thin,blue](M2-5-1.south west)--(M2-5-2.south east);
     \draw[->,red] (M2-2-2.east) to [out=-30, in=30]  (M2-5-2.east);
     \draw[->,blue](M2-3-2.east) to [out=-30, in=30]  (M2-7-2.east);
     \draw[->,blue](M2-2-2.west) to [out=210, in=150] (M2-6-2.west);
     \draw[ultra thick,orange,->](M1-3-2.east)--node[above,sloped]{transform}(M2-1-1.west);
  \end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Answer 3

Here is a short solution with pstricks and eqmakebox:

   \documentclass[10pt, a4paper, table]{article}
    \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
    \usepackage{array, multirow, eqparbox, booktabs}

    \usepackage{graphicx}
    \usepackage{pst-node, pst-arrow}
    \usepackage{auto-pst-pdf}

    \begin{document}

     \begin{pspicture}
     \psset{linewidth=0.5pt, arrows=->, arrowinset=0.12}
        \setlength{\extrarowheight}{3pt}\fboxsep = 0pt
    \begin{tabular}{c@{\hspace{3cm}}c}
    \multirow{7.5}{*}{ \begin{tabular}{c|c}
     \hline
     ID & COLOR \\
     \hline
     1 & \pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{B1}\eqmakebox[L]{~blue~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{B2} \\
     1 & \eqmakebox[L]{~red~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{R} \\
     1 & \eqmakebox[L]{~green~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{G}\pnode[1.5em, 0pt]{LTable} \\
     1 & \pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{W1}\eqmakebox[L]{~white~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{W2} \\
     \hline
     2 & red \\
     2 & green
     \end{tabular}
     % node connections
     \ncarc[arcangle=-40]{B1}{W1}%
     \ncarc[arcangle=50]{R}{W2}
     \ncarc[arcangle=50, border=1pt]{B2}{G}}
     &%
     \begin{tabular}{c!{\color{red}\vrule}c}
    \arrayrulecolor{red}\specialrule{1pt}{0pt}{0pt}
     ID & COLOR \\
     \hline
     1 & \pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{C1}\eqmakebox[L]{~blue~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{C2} \\
     1 & \eqmakebox[L]{~red~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{S} \\
    \pnode[-1em, 0pt]{RTable1} 1 & \eqmakebox[L]{~green~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{H} \\
     1 & \pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{X1}\eqmakebox[L]{~white~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{X2} \\
     \end{tabular}
      % node connections
     \psset{linewidth=1pt}
     \ncarc[arcangle=-40]{C1}{X1}%
     \ncarc[arcangle=50]{S}{X2}
     \ncarc[arcangle=50, border=1pt]{C2}{H}
    \bigskip\\
     &
  \begin{tabular}{c!{\color{blue}\vrule}c}
    \arrayrulecolor{blue} \specialrule{1pt}{0pt}{0pt}
     ID & COLOR \\
     \hline
     1 & \pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{C1}\eqmakebox[L]{~blue~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{C2} \\
     \pnode[-1em, 0pt]{RTable2}1 & \eqmakebox[L]{~red~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{T} \\
     1 & \eqmakebox[L]{~green~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{I} \\
     1 & \pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{Y1}\eqmakebox[L]{~white~}\pnode[0pt, 0.6ex]{Y2} \\
     \end{tabular}
     % node connections
     \psset{linewidth=1pt}
     \ncarc[arcangle=-40]{C1}{Y1}%
     \ncarc[arcangle=50]{T}{Y2}
     \ncarc[arcangle=50, border=1pt]{C2}{I}
    \end{tabular}
    \psset{linewidth = 6pt, linecolor=red!80, arrowinset=0, arrowlength=0.8, opacity=0.2}%
    \ncline{LTable}{RTable1}\naput[nrot=:U]{\sffamily\color{red} Transformation 1}
    \ncline[linecolor =blue!80]{LTable}{RTable2}\nbput[nrot=:U]{\sffamily\color{blue} Transformation 2}
     \end{pspicture}

    \end{document}