Flowchart.NET cannot automatically read graph data from a database. You will need to use a data reader or a dataset object to load the data yourself, and call the respective methods from the control's API to create the chart elements.

First call Diagram.Factory.CreateShapeNode() in a loop for each record in PersonInfo, and map the person IDs to their corresponding ShapeNodes, either via a Hashmap or by assigning the id to ShapeNode.Tag. Next, loop over the relationship table and call CreateDiagramLink(), using the hashmap or Diagram.FindNode() to find the origin and destination nodes corresponding to the related person IDs.

Finally create a layout class instance, for example SpringLayout, and call its Arrange method.

I hope that helps,
Stoyan

You can use a simple loop to arrange the nodes in a row, with the links arching above them at a height proportional to the node distance:

for (int i = 0; i < diagram.Nodes.Count; ++i)
{
	DiagramNode node = diagram.Nodes[i];
	node.Bounds = new RectangleF(20 + i * 90, 50, 50, 35);
}

foreach (DiagramLink link in diagram.Links)
{
	link.Style = LinkStyle.Bezier;
	link.SegmentCount = 1;

	RectangleF o = link.Origin.Bounds;
	RectangleF d = link.Destination.Bounds;
	PointCollection p = link.ControlPoints;

	p[0] = new PointF((o.Left + o.Right) / 2, o.Top);
	p[3] = new PointF((d.Left + d.Right) / 2, d.Top);
	float h = p[3].X - p[0].X;

	p[1] = new PointF(p[0].X, p[0].Y - h / 4);
	p[2] = new PointF(p[3].X, p[3].Y - h / 4);

	link.UpdateFromPoints();
}
 

You can't render links like these with the standard Flowchart.NET link styles, but you could try custom drawing them by setting link.CustomDraw = Full and handling the DrawLink event.

I hope that helps,
Stoyan

you are simply great
thanks a lot