graphviz: minor tweaks to make the graph look nicer - graphviz

Question

I have a test graph here that I would like to tweak to make it look nicer.
Here is the graphviz (dot) source, test6.dot:
digraph G {
ranksep=0.3; size="6.0,6.0";
node [fontsize=11];
subgraph clusterA {
X2 [shape=box];
node [style=filled];
1 -> 2 -> 3 -> X2 -> 5;
6;
7;
label = "A";
color=blue
}
X1 [shape=box];
subgraph clusterB {
node [style=filled];
8;
9;
10 -> 11 -> 12;
12 -> 9;
12 -> 8 -> 13;
13 -> 14;
label = "B";
color=blue
}
subgraph clusterC {
label = "C";
{
node [style="invis"];
gap;
}
node [shape=box];
edge [style="invis"];
X3 -> gap -> X4;
}
14 -> X4 -> 3;
6 -> X1 -> 10;
{ edge [dir="both"];
8 -> X3 -> 7;
}
9 -> X3
}
Questions / changes I would like to make:
I want the flow of nodes 10 -> 11 -> 12 -> 8 -> 13 -> 14 to be in a vertical line (swap 8 and 9 horizontally). How can I do this? (same with 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> X2 -> 5; swap 6 and 1)
I want X1 to be at the same vertical position as 10, and the same horizontal position as 6. How can I do this?
I want 8 and X3 and 7 to be at the same vertical position, also with 14 and X4 and 3. How can I do this?
The ranksep=0.3; statement works great except note that 8 -> 13 -> 14 has a larger gap, as does X3 -> gap -> X4. Why doesn't it obey the ranksep=0.3 rule, and how do I fix this?

Answer 1

Below is the best I can do: phantom nodes and edges help. But I can't seem to encourage a particular ordering in the transverse direction (the other direction from rankdir).
digraph G {
ranksep=0.3; size="6.0,6.0";
rankdir=TB;
node [fontsize=11];
subgraph clusterA {
X2 [shape=box];
label = "A";
color=blue;
node [style=filled];
/* force 1, 6, and 7 to be at the top together,
add enough phantoms to keep things in nice columns */
{
node [style="invis", label=""];
phantom3;
phantom4;
phantom5;
phantom6;
}
rank = same;
1 -> 2 -> 3 -> X2 -> 5;
edge [style="invis"];
6 -> phantom3 -> phantom5;
7 -> phantom4 -> phantom6;
}
subgraph clusterB {
node [style=filled];
label = "B";
color=blue;
/* create an invisible phantom node
to take up space */
{
node [style="invis",label=""];
phantom1;
phantom1b;
}
{ rank=same; 11;
phantom1;
}
10 -> 11 -> 12 -> 8 -> 13 -> 14;
12 -> 9;
phantom1 -> 9 -> phantom1b [style="invis"];
}
/* force X1 to be at the same vertical pos as 10
(this yields a warning though) */
{ rank = same;
X1 [shape=box];
10;
}
6 -> X1;
X1 -> 10 [weight=0.5];
subgraph clusterC {
label = "C";
phantom2 [style="invis", label=""];
node [shape=box];
edge [style="invis"];
X3 -> phantom2 -> X4;
}
9 -> X3 [weight=0.5];
{
edge [weight=20];
14 -> X4 -> 3;
3 -> X4 -> 14 [style="invis"];
/* add a reverse path so graphviz doesn't force 14 above X4 above 3 */
}
{
edge [dir="both", weight=20];
8 -> X3 -> 7;
7 -> X3 -> 8 [style="invis"];
edge [style="invis"];
X4 -> phantom6;
1 -> phantom2;
8 -> phantom2;
}
}