This post describes how to build a circular packing with groups in d3.js. Three groups are represented: they are highlighted with different colors and are attracted toward different position. See more circular packing example in the dedicated section. This example works with d3.js v4 and v6
forceX() is applied to each group: that's why they are obviously located in different part of the svg area.<!DOCTYPE html>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<!-- Load d3.js -->
<script src="https://d3js.org/d3.v4.js"></script>
<!-- Create a div where the graph will take place -->
<div id="my_dataviz"></div>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<!-- Load d3.js -->
<script src="https://d3js.org/d3.v6.js"></script>
<!-- Create a div where the graph will take place -->
<div id="my_dataviz"></div>
<script>
// set the dimensions and margins of the graph
var width = 450
var height = 450
// append the svg object to the body of the page
var svg = d3.select("#my_dataviz")
.append("svg")
.attr("width", 450)
.attr("height", 450)
// create dummy data -> just one element per circle
var data = [{ "name": "A", "group": 1 }, { "name": "B", "group": 1 }, { "name": "C", "group": 1 }, { "name": "D", "group": 1 }, { "name": "E", "group": 1 }, { "name": "F", "group": 1 },
{ "name": "G", "group": 2 }, { "name": "H", "group": 2 }, { "name": "I", "group": 2 }, { "name": "J", "group": 2 }, { "name": "K", "group": 2 }, { "name": "L", "group": 2 },
{ "name": "M", "group": 3 }, { "name": "N", "group": 3 }, { "name": "O", "group": 3 }]
// A scale that gives a X target position for each group
var x = d3.scaleOrdinal()
.domain([1, 2, 3])
.range([50, 200, 340])
// A color scale
var color = d3.scaleOrdinal()
.domain([1, 2, 3])
.range([ "#F8766D", "#00BA38", "#619CFF"])
// Initialize the circle: all located at the center of the svg area
var node = svg.append("g")
.selectAll("circle")
.data(data)
.enter()
.append("circle")
.attr("r", 29)
.attr("cx", width / 2)
.attr("cy", height / 2)
.style("fill", function(d){ return color(d.group)})
.style("fill-opacity", 0.8)
.attr("stroke", "black")
.style("stroke-width", 4)
.call(d3.drag() // call specific function when circle is dragged
.on("start", dragstarted)
.on("drag", dragged)
.on("end", dragended));
// Features of the forces applied to the nodes:
var simulation = d3.forceSimulation()
.force("x", d3.forceX().strength(0.5).x( function(d){ return x(d.group) } ))
.force("y", d3.forceY().strength(0.1).y( height/2 ))
.force("center", d3.forceCenter().x(width / 2).y(height / 2)) // Attraction to the center of the svg area
.force("charge", d3.forceManyBody().strength(1)) // Nodes are attracted one each other of value is > 0
.force("collide", d3.forceCollide().strength(.1).radius(32).iterations(1)) // Force that avoids circle overlapping
// Apply these forces to the nodes and update their positions.
// Once the force algorithm is happy with positions ('alpha' value is low enough), simulations will stop.
simulation
.nodes(data)
.on("tick", function(d){
node
.attr("cx", function(d){ return d.x; })
.attr("cy", function(d){ return d.y; })
});
// What happens when a circle is dragged?
function dragstarted(d) {
if (!d3.event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(.03).restart();
d.fx = d.x;
d.fy = d.y;
}
function dragged(d) {
d.fx = d3.event.x;
d.fy = d3.event.y;
}
function dragended(d) {
if (!d3.event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(.03);
d.fx = null;
d.fy = null;
}
</script> <script>
// set the dimensions and margins of the graph
const width = 450
const height = 450
// append the svg object to the body of the page
const svg = d3.select("#my_dataviz")
.append("svg")
.attr("width", 450)
.attr("height", 450)
// create dummy data -> just one element per circle
const data = [{ "name": "A", "group": 1 }, { "name": "B", "group": 1 }, { "name": "C", "group": 1 }, { "name": "D", "group": 1 }, { "name": "E", "group": 1 }, { "name": "F", "group": 1 },
{ "name": "G", "group": 2 }, { "name": "H", "group": 2 }, { "name": "I", "group": 2 }, { "name": "J", "group": 2 }, { "name": "K", "group": 2 }, { "name": "L", "group": 2 },
{ "name": "M", "group": 3 }, { "name": "N", "group": 3 }, { "name": "O", "group": 3 }]
// A scale that gives a X target position for each group
const x = d3.scaleOrdinal()
.domain([1, 2, 3])
.range([50, 200, 340])
// A color scale
const color = d3.scaleOrdinal()
.domain([1, 2, 3])
.range([ "#F8766D", "#00BA38", "#619CFF"])
// Initialize the circle: all located at the center of the svg area
const node = svg.append("g")
.selectAll("circle")
.data(data)
.join("circle")
.attr("r", 29)
.attr("cx", width / 2)
.attr("cy", height / 2)
.style("fill", d => color(d.group))
.style("fill-opacity", 0.8)
.attr("stroke", "black")
.style("stroke-width", 4)
.call(d3.drag() // call specific function when circle is dragged
.on("start", dragstarted)
.on("drag", dragged)
.on("end", dragended));
// Features of the forces applied to the nodes:
var simulation = d3.forceSimulation()
.force("x", d3.forceX().strength(0.5).x(d => x(d.group)))
.force("y", d3.forceY().strength(0.1).y( height/2 ))
.force("center", d3.forceCenter().x(width / 2).y(height / 2)) // Attraction to the center of the svg area
.force("charge", d3.forceManyBody().strength(1)) // Nodes are attracted one each other of value is > 0
.force("collide", d3.forceCollide().strength(.1).radius(32).iterations(1)) // Force that avoids circle overlapping
// Apply these forces to the nodes and update their positions.
// Once the force algorithm is happy with positions ('alpha' value is low enough), simulations will stop.
simulation
.nodes(data)
.on("tick", function(d){
node
.attr("cx", d => d.x)
.attr("cy", d => d.y)
});
// What happens when a circle is dragged?
function dragstarted(event, d) {
if (!event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(.03).restart();
d.fx = d.x;
d.fy = d.y;
}
function dragged(event, d) {
d.fx = event.x;
d.fy = event.y;
}
function dragended(event, d) {
if (!event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(.03);
d.fx = null;
d.fy = null;
}
</script>