Inconsistent node spacing in TikZ positioning (MWE)

Question

I have the following MWE which I would like to produce one top node and then 2 chains of children nodes, roughly like:

     top
a1         b1
a2         b2
a3         b3

but instead, I get more something like this:

     top
a1         b1
a2

a3         b2
       b3

\documentclass{minimal}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[
        every node/.style={
            text width=.2\linewidth,
            draw,
        },
    ]
    \node(top){top};
\node(a1)[below left=of top]{a1};
\node(a2)[below of=a1]{a2};
\node(a3)[below of=a2]{a3};

\node(b1)[below right=of top]{b1};
\node(b2)[below=of b1]{b2};
\node(b3)[below=of b2]{b3};

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Is that correct and I am just missing something in my understanding, or is it a problem in TikZ? Is there a workaround? I am using TexLive as packaged in Ubuntu 22.04 (version 2021.20220204-1).

In your example you mixe syntax of pure TikZ and of positioning library. Use just one of them, since they are differ on way of node positioning, i.e.: between center of nodes at [below of=a1 and between nodes' borders at below=of b17 ). — Zarko, Oct 06 '22 at 07:10
Oh, cool! I typed it twice and thought I typed the same. Making it all below of= makes the layout consistent now. Can you write that as an answer so that I can accept it? I appreciate that you helped me so swiftly. — eudoxos, Oct 06 '22 at 07:34
right of is considered deprecated and right=of should be used. The option on grid can be used to place the nodes in relation their centers again (instead of the borders which is the default of positioning). — Qrrbrbirlbel, Oct 06 '22 at 08:07

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 06 '22 at 09:10

Let me extend my comment to an answer ...

In your example you mix syntax for determining nodes position of pure TikZ (below of=a1) and of positioning library (below=of b1).
The first is deprecated and determine distance between center of nodes, the second determine distance between borderders of nodes.
In cases when you for some reasons like to position nodes in respect to their centers, than you should use option on grid (as noted @Qrrbrbirlbel in his comment) in the image preamble.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}[
node distance =7mm and 3mm,
every node/.style={draw, text width=0.2\linewidth},
    ]
\node(top){top};
\node(a1)[below left=of top]    {a1};
\node(a2)[below=of a1]          {a2};
\node(a3)[below=of a2]          {a3};
\node(b1)[below right=of top]   {b1};
\node(b2)[below=of b1]          {b2};
\node(b3)[below=of b2]          {b3};
    \end{tikzpicture}
\vskip 7ex 
    \begin{tikzpicture}[
node distance = 0.1\linewidth and 0.25\linewidth,   % <--- observe that nodes distance is changed 
on grid,                        % <---
every node/.style={draw=red, text width=0.2\linewidth},
    ]
\node(top){wirh option \verb+on grid+};
\node(a1)[below left=of top]    {a1};
\node(a2)[below=of a1]          {a2};
\node(a3)[below=of a2]          {a3};
\node(b1)[below right=of top]   {b1};
\node(b2)[below=of b1]          {b2};
\node(b3)[below=of b2]          {b3};
    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Inconsistent node spacing in TikZ positioning (MWE)

1 Answers1