Mark Path

Overview

\nskMarkPath enables precise placement of annotations along paths defined by other commands, such as \nskConnect. It provides a robust yet intuitive interface for marking intermediate points along any drawn path, ideal for labeling distances, weights, points of interest, or other notable markers in your diagrams.

Basic Usage

The core syntax of \nskMarkPath is:

\nskMarkPath[<options>]{<path id or definition>}{<content>}

<options>: Configuration parameters such as positioning (at), skipping steps (skip-first, skip-last), or defining intervals (step).
<path id or definition>: The reference path identifier or explicit path definition.
<content>: Arbitrary TikZ commands (e.g., nodes, drawings, labels) executed at each specified position.

Annotating Specific Positions

Precisely place markers using fractional path positions (at):

\nskMarkPath[
  at=.25,
]{<path-id>}{
  \node[above=.5] {$w_0$};
  \draw[black, thick] (0,0) -- (0,.5);
}

The position at accepts a fractional value (e.g., 0.25 means 25% of the way along the path).

Fractional Value	Position on Path
`.0`	Start of path
`.5`	Middle of path
`1.0`	End of path

Complete Example

Illustrating markers placed at multiple intervals along connections:

\nskContainer[
  id=ab,
  border-type=dashed,
  fill=nskSecondaryAccent!20,
  border-color=nskSecondaryAccent,
]{
  \nskBlock[type=circle, id=ablock, text-center=A, importance=1.2]
  \nskBlock[type=rectangle, id=bblock, last-pos={right=3cm}, text-center=B]
  \nskConnect[id=acn, from=ablock.east, to=bblock.west]
 
  \nskMarkPath[at=.25]{acn}{
    \node[above=.5cm] {$w_0$};
    \draw[black, thick] (0,0) -- (0,.5);
  }
 
  \nskMarkPath[at=.5]{acn}{
    \node[above=.5cm] {$w_1$};
    \draw[black, thick] (0,0) -- (0,.5);
  }
 
  \nskMarkPath[at=.75]{acn}{
    \node[above=.5cm] {$w_n$};
    \draw[black, thick] (0,0) -- (0,.5);
  }
}

Advanced Path Routing

Custom Path Definitions

Beyond marking paths defined by IDs (e.g., from \nskConnect), you can directly specify custom paths. This gives maximum flexibility for complex routing scenarios:

\nskMarkPath[at=.5]{(0,0) -- (3,1) -- (4,4)}{
  \node[above=.5cm, rotate=45] {Midway};
  \draw[black, thick] (0,0) -- (0,.5);
}

\nskMarkPath also seamlessly integrates with complex paths involving bends and custom routes:

\nskContainer[border-type=dashed, fill=nskSecondaryAccent!20]{
  \nskBlock[id=ab, type=rectangle, width=1cm, height=1cm, text-center=A]
  \nskBlock[id=bb, type=rectangle, width=1cm, height=1cm, text-center=B, last-pos={right=3cm}]
  \nskBlock[id=op, type=rounded rectangle, width=2cm, text-center=node, fill=nskSecondaryAccent,
            pos={below right=1cm and .8cm of ab}]
  \nskConnect[from=ab.south, to=op.west, bend-type=single, bend-direction=up]
 
  \nskConnect[id=cn2, from=bb.south, to=op.east, route={to[in=0, out=-115]}]
 
  \nskMarkPath[at=.5]{cn2}{
    \node[below right=.5cm] {Text};
    \draw[black, thick] (0,0) -- (0,.5);
  }
}

Tip

Combine \nskMarkPath with anchors and markers to create informative visual annotations. Markers can include labels, connectors, and custom drawn indicators, greatly enhancing clarity in complex diagrams.

Interval-based Marking

Use evenly spaced markers along an arbitrary path by specifying intervals:

\nskContainer[border-type=dashed, padding=3mm]{
  \nskBlock[id=ba, width=8cm, height=1cm]
  \nskMarkPath[
    path-width=8cm,
    skip-first=true,
    skip-last=true,
    step=10mm
  ]{(ba.south west) -- (ba.south east)}{
    \draw[black] (0,0) -- (0,1cm);
  }
}

Explanation of Interval Marking Options

step: Defines the interval at which markers are placed along the path.
skip-first, skip-last: Allows skipping markers at endpoints for cleaner aesthetics.

Best Practices

Consistency: Use consistent styles (line thickness, marker positions) across diagrams to enhance readability.
Clarity: Ensure annotations do not clutter the diagram. Balance between informative content and visual cleanliness.

Reference

Prop	Type	Default
at?	`token list`	`{}`
color?	`token list`	`c__nsk_principal`
end?	`number`	`1`
path-width?	`dimension`	`0pt`
skip-first?	`boolean`	`false`
skip-last?	`boolean`	`false`
start?	`number`	`0`
step?	`dimension`	`10mm`

Key Takeaway

\nskMarkPath empowers you to annotate paths precisely, clearly communicating detailed information without sacrificing visual appeal.

Mark Path

On this page