The Unified Modelling Language (UML) is a visual language for modelling software designs and is currently the most widely accepted standard for software diagrams in the software engineering field. Force Directed Layout algorithms are methods for arranging the elements of a graph in an aesthetically pleasing and clear manner.

This paper presents a scale-oriented scheme for data visualization. The aim is to explore and validate the hypothesis, that a high quality visual layout exhibits a good quality hierarchical data clustering.In this scheme, the information to be visualized and clustered is represented as a graph, where the nodes represent pieces of information and the edges represent relationships between those pieces. This scheme supports three related models of information, the underlying graph structure, the graph clustered according to some geometric attributes and, the graph represented according to some drawing mechanism. Also introduced is a method for reducing the computational complexity of a graph drawing algorithm called, force directed placement,fromO(n 2 ) to O(n log n). This method is adapted from an n-body hierarchical force calculation, that allows larger data sets to be draw and visualized on various levels of abstraction. Finally, this method provides the framework for the integration and testing of numerous concepts about how the quality of layout and clustering are related.

This paper presents the framework of a scale-oriented scheme for the presentation and classification of reverse engineered sections of procedural code into objects. The aim is to develop an extensible system framework, which allows the output from a suite of data analysis tools to be visually presented to a user. The relationship between the analysis and visualisation is a progressive cycle, where each time through the cycle the overall quality of the classified objects improves. This framework supports two distinct methods of information feedback from the visualisation to the analysis suite. The two feedback loops aim to increase both the ease of understanding for the reverse engineer and the quality of the resultant objects. As the analyst views the visualisation the perceived view of the relationships exhibited in the system may be modified, removed or added to. This results in a change to the underlying graph or the clustering of that graph, which must be addressed in the visual presentation of the information using a variety of techniques to maintain the users `mental map', or understanding each time through the cycle.