3.3 Table Positions

Auto-layout

The first time qdbd sees a schema, it arranges the tables automatically with the Eclipse Layout Kernel's stress layout, followed by overlap removal. Related tables end up close together and nothing overlaps. Tall results are turned 90° to fit screens.

The layout file

Tables can be dragged in any diagram. In qdbd serve, the positions are saved to a sidecar file:

Input	Layout file
schema.txt	schema.layout.json
a folder	<folder>/qdbd.layout.json
anything	--layout FILE overrides

It's small, sorted JSON keyed by table name. Commit it with the schema so everyone sees the same arrangement. qdbd build reads it but never writes it, so CI leaves your working tree clean.

New tables

When a table appears that isn't in the layout file, qdbd places it in free space next to the tables it's related to. Nothing you've arranged moves. In serve, the new position is saved straight away.

A pasted QuickDBD schema's [layout] section is used for tables the layout file doesn't cover.

Starting over

qdbd layout erd/ --reset        # fresh auto-layout for everything, saved to the layout file
qdbd layout erd/ --by-group     # fresh layout keeping each file / dbt folder together

--by-group lays out each group on its own and packs the groups as blocks, so regions never overlap. It also works on build and export without touching the layout file.