XyMatrix Commutative Diagram

XyMatrix lets you create commutative diagrams — grid-based diagrams with cells and arrows connecting them. These are widely used in mathematics (algebra, topology, category theory) to show relationships between objects.

Inserting an XyMatrix

1. Place your cursor in the document.
2. Type \xymatrix in the suggestion box (or use the diagram selector in the items bar).
3. Select \xymatrix — XyMatrix (Comm.) from the dropdown.

A configuration dialog opens where you build your diagram.

The Configuration Dialog

The dialog has four main areas:

• Cell Grid Editor — edit the content of each cell (supports math expressions)
• Arrow Configuration — add and configure arrows between cells
• Live Preview — see how your diagram looks as you build it
• LaTeX Source — view and copy the generated \xymatrix LaTeX code

Editing Cells

Each cell in the grid is a math editor. Click any cell to type math content (variables, expressions, symbols).

Use + Row and + Column buttons at the top to expand the grid. You can also reorder rows and columns by dragging the handles (≡) next to the row/column numbers.

Adding Arrows

Click + Arrow to add a new arrow. Each arrow has:

Setting	Description
From / To	Select source and destination cells by their row,column position
Style	Choose the arrow appearance (see styles below)
Curve/Out	Control arrow curvature — straight, curve up, or curve down
Slide/In	Offset the arrow above or below its default position
Labels	Add text labels above, below, or in the middle of the arrow

To remove an arrow, hover over its row and click the trash icon.

Arrow Styles

Choose from: Arrow, Bar Arrow, Line (no head), Hook, Double Head, Dotted, Dashed, Double Line, and Wavy.

Arrow Labels

Each arrow can have up to three labels at different positions:

• Above — label sits above the arrow line
• Below — label sits below the arrow line
• Middle — label breaks the arrow line in the center

Click the + button in the Labels column to add a label. Each label has its own math editor for content and a position selector.

Curved Arrows

For non-self-loop arrows, you can curve them up or down (with 3 levels of curvature). This is useful when two arrows go between the same pair of cells in opposite directions — curving one up and the other down keeps them from overlapping.

Self-Loop Arrows

When an arrow’s From and To are the same cell, it becomes a self-loop. Instead of Curve/Slide, you get direction pickers for the loop’s start and end points. Choose from 8 compass directions: ↑ ↗ → ↘ ↓ ↙ ← ↖.

Cell Frames

You can add a visual border around any cell by hovering over it and selecting a frame type:

Available frames: None, Rectangle, Double Rectangle, Oval, and Dotted.

Spacing

Click the gear icon (⚙) to adjust:

• Col Stretch — horizontal spacing between columns (40–240 px)
• Row Stretch — vertical spacing between rows (40–240 px)

Example: Commutative Square

A classic commutative diagram with four objects and four arrows:

This can be created with a 2×2 grid, four arrows (A→B, A→C, B→D, C→D), and labels on each arrow.

LaTeX Source

The dialog generates standard \xymatrix LaTeX code compatible with the XY-pic package. You can copy the source using the copy button in the bottom-right of the source area. The generated code can be used directly in LaTeX documents with the \usepackage[all]{xy} package.

Visibility Toggle

Each arrow has an eye icon on the left. Click it to hide an arrow temporarily without deleting it. This is useful when working with complex diagrams.