#### 9.13.1 Spacing ¶

Arbitrary vertical space can be added using the `vspace` command.

    vspace number [attributes];
    vspace: label [attributes];

In the first form the vertical space is specified as a number in points. In the secod form, the height of the given label will be used. This command also has a specific attribute, called `compressable`, which specifies if the space should be ignored if compress is on. It defaults to `no`.

Horizontal spacing between the entities can be controlled either via the `pos` and `relative` entity attributes or can be made fully automatic by specifying `hscale=auto;`, see Entity Positioning and Chart Options.

The `hspace` command is useful in the latter case to force a certain horizontal distance between two (not necessarily neighbouring) entity. The space can be larger than the one specified with `hspace` if the layout requires so, but never smaller.

    hspace entity-entity number [attributes];
    hspace entity-entity: label [attributes];
    hspace left comment number [attributes];
    hspace right comment number [attributes];

The syntax is similar to that of the `vspace` command, both a number or a label can be used to specify the horizontal distance. Before the distance, the two entities need to be specified. Any one can be omitted, in this case the distance is proscribed between the edge of the chart and the entity60. Two special versions of the `hspace` command exist to specify the spacing for the comments on the right and left sides.

The `hspace` command can be specified anywhere in the file with the same effect.

#### Footnotes

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Note that the edge will not be the physical edge, merely the invisible line from which arrows connect to when only one entity is specified, such as `a->;` or `->a;`.