How do I turn a draw edge twice

Question

I want to connect two nodes with one edge so that it bends twice.

For instance,

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}

        \node  (A) {A};
        \node  (B) [below of=A] {B};

        \draw[->] (A.east) -- (B.east);


    \end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

will connect the two nodes with a straight line, but I want something like this

For this I would draw using -|- as a parameter to \draw, but that doesn't compile.

How can I get that line with two straight bends?

CarLaTeX · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-28T11:59:10.157

7

One way to achieve that is to draw a straight line from A.east towards right of the lenght you need (for example to +(2em, 0)) and then a corner (|-) to B.east.

Please also look at Difference between "right of=" and "right=of" in PGF/TikZ.

\documentclass[border=4pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}
        \node  (A) {A};
        \node  (B) [below=3ex of A] {B};
        \draw[->] (A.east) -- +(2em, 0) |- (B.east);
    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

edited Dec 28 '17 at 11:59

answered Dec 28 '17 at 11:45

CarLaTeX

62,716

This does work. I'd prefer something less fiddly though, if it exists. – MJ Galram Dec 28 '17 at 12:04
@MJGalram which part do you find "fiddly"? – CarLaTeX Dec 28 '17 at 12:05
1

(A) -| ++(2em, -1em) |- (B); – percusse Dec 28 '17 at 12:11
less fiddly I'd say especially if you skip the ems – percusse Dec 28 '17 at 12:16
well otherwise https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/45347/vertical-and-horizontal-lines-in-pgf-tikz – percusse Dec 28 '17 at 12:24
@percusse Wow, I didn't know the tikzlibrary paths.ortho! – CarLaTeX Dec 28 '17 at 12:28

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 30 '17 at 12:40

Since you are looking for a draw operator (such as -|-): there's the path.ortho library by Qrrbrbirlbel for easily drawing such edges, just use r-rl in this case:

\documentclass[tikz,border=4pt]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning,paths.ortho}
\begin{document}
  \begin{tikzpicture}
    \node  (A) {A};
    \node  (B) [below=3ex of A] {B};
    \draw[->] (A.east) r-rl (B.east);
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

How do I turn a draw edge twice

2 Answers2