# Graph Box

```{figure} ../../_static/images/tetrad-interface/box-by-box/graph-box.png
:name: tetrad-graph-box-screenshot
:alt: Graph Box in the Tetrad interface.

Graph Box in the Tetrad interface sidebar and main panel.
```

## Purpose

The **Graph** box is where you work with **graph** objects in a Tetrad project. It shows
a graph on the workbench, lets you create new ones, edit existing ones,
and inspect their details.

In a typical workflow you will move back and forth between this box and others (for example, creating a graph from
data, running a search to produce a new graph, or using a model to generate simulated data).

## Typical workflow

1. **Create or import a graph**
   - Use the **New** or **Load** button in the toolbar of the Graph box.
   - Configure any required options in the dialog that appears (e.g., number of nodes, graph type).

2. **Inspect or edit**
   - Select a graph in the workbench to show it in the main panel.
   - Use the context menu (right-click) or toolbar buttons for common actions
     such as copy, paste, or export.
   - Use the graph editor in the main panel to add/remove nodes and edges, or to change
     orientations and graph type.

3. **Use in other boxes**
   - Many operations in other boxes (e.g., *Search*, *Simulation*, *Estimator*) take graphs as inputs. You typically draw arrows from the Graph box in question to these other boxes.

4. **Save your project**
   - When you save a Tetrad project, the set of graphs in this box is stored along with everything else.

## Key controls

- **Actions**
  - **New** – create a new graph (by making a new Graph box) or create a random graph using the *Random Graph* item in the *Graph* menu.
  - **Load / Import** – bring a graph in from a file or other source (e.g., .txt, .dot, .pcalg).
  - **Save** – save a selected graph to a file.

- **Main panel**
  - Displays the selected graph in the graphical editor.
  - Allows adding/removing nodes and edges, changing edge marks (→, o→, ↔, –), and switching
    between graph types where supported.

## Common patterns & tips

- Give each graph a **descriptive name**, especially when running multiple searches
  or comparing alternative models. 
- To duplicate a graph, make a new Graph box and draw an arrow from the old Graph box to the new one, to keep a record of intermediate graphs before applying major
  modifications or orientation procedures.
- If you import graphs from external tools (e.g., `pcalg`), verify that the graph type
  (DAG, CPDAG, PAG, etc.) matches your intended use.

## Related pages

- `Tetrad Interface → Overview` – high-level tour of the GUI.
- Other boxes that commonly interact with **Graph**:
  - *Data* and *Simulation* (graphs used as causal models or as outputs of search)
  - *Search* (produces graphs from data and tests)
  - *Estimator* and *Regression* (use graphs to define adjustment or parameter structures)