Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the creation of diagrams. The user can select an option to create a diagram based on existing inventory, such as a network inventory. Details about the inventory are retrieved from one or more databases and/or files. The diagram is laid out in a snaking S tree to increase the number of attach points for a given diagram size. Each node on the diagram can include a graphic that represents a type, such as a machine type, and a label that summarizes the most important properties. Different graphics are used to represent different types of inventory, such as network equipment. To reduce clutter on the diagram, some inventory is grouped together on a single node to represent multiple pieces of the same type of inventory. The diagram can be submitted to other software programs for further analysis of the data contained therein.