Custom "computer" resp. "server" shape for tikz

Question

Similar to the custom "human" shape resp. the tikzpeople package I'm now looking for nice computer shapes. I'm drawing some diagram showing the collaboration and communication of humans through some server infrastructure. Is there maybe some package for such shapes similar to tikzpeople?

Maybe something like these:

by Mimooh

or it can also be as sophisticated as these

So far I could only find this one from texample resp. TeX.SE but this doesn't really satisfy me.

% Three-tier data center architecture
% Author: Claudio Fiandrino
% from http://www.texample.net/tikz/examples/network-topology/ resp. https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/158860/11820
\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{backgrounds,calc,shadings,shapes.arrows,shapes.symbols,shadows}

\makeatletter
\pgfkeys{/pgf/.cd,
  parallelepiped offset x/.initial=2mm,
  parallelepiped offset y/.initial=2mm
}
\pgfdeclareshape{parallelepiped}
{
  \inheritsavedanchors[from=rectangle] % this is nearly a rectangle
  \inheritanchorborder[from=rectangle]
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{north}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{north west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{north east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{center}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{mid}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{mid west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{mid east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{base}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{base west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{base east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{south}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{south west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{south east}
  \backgroundpath{
    % store lower right in xa/ya and upper right in xb/yb
    \southwest \pgf@xa=\pgf@x \pgf@ya=\pgf@y
    \northeast \pgf@xb=\pgf@x \pgf@yb=\pgf@y
    \pgfmathsetlength\pgfutil@tempdima{\pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/parallelepiped
      offset x}}
    \pgfmathsetlength\pgfutil@tempdimb{\pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/parallelepiped
      offset y}}
    \def\ppd@offset{\pgfpoint{\pgfutil@tempdima}{\pgfutil@tempdimb}}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@ya}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@ya}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathclose
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@ya}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@ya}}{\ppd@offset}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}{\ppd@offset}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@yb}}{\ppd@offset}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}{\ppd@offset}}
  }
}
\makeatother

\tikzset{
  ports/.style={
    line width=0.3pt,
    top color=gray!20,
    bottom color=gray!80
  },
  server/.style={
    parallelepiped,
    fill=white, draw,
    minimum width=0.35cm,
    minimum height=0.75cm,
    parallelepiped offset x=3mm,
    parallelepiped offset y=2mm,
    xscale=-1,
    path picture={
      \draw[top color=gray!5,bottom color=gray!40]
      (path picture bounding box.south west) rectangle 
      (path picture bounding box.north east);
      \coordinate (A-center) at ($(path picture bounding box.center)!0!(path
        picture bounding box.south)$);
      \coordinate (A-west) at ([xshift=-0.575cm]path picture bounding box.west);
      \draw[ports]([yshift=0.1cm]$(A-west)!0!(A-center)$)
        rectangle +(0.2,0.065);
      \draw[ports]([yshift=0.01cm]$(A-west)!0.085!(A-center)$)
        rectangle +(0.15,0.05);
      \fill[black]([yshift=-0.35cm]$(A-west)!-0.1!(A-center)$)
        rectangle +(0.235,0.0175);
      \fill[black]([yshift=-0.385cm]$(A-west)!-0.1!(A-center)$)
        rectangle +(0.235,0.0175);
      \fill[black]([yshift=-0.42cm]$(A-west)!-0.1!(A-center)$)
        rectangle +(0.235,0.0175);
    }  
  },
}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}

\node[server](server 1){};

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

The shape unfortunately is not scalable using e.g. minimum size=1.5cm.

Edit: it is scalable using scale=1.5 and also shape transform. But still this server does not look the best ;-)

By default, nodes are insensitive to transformations, you must add thetransform shape option : \node[server,scale=1.5,transform shape](server 1){}; — AndréC, Sep 05 '19 at 16:05
Cool \node[server,scale=1.5](server 1){}; does it already. What is the transform shape responsible for? — white_gecko, Sep 05 '19 at 16:07
There is no need to use the parallelepiped shape if you do not use its anchors. A simple pic would do. Also be aware that transform shape does not transform line widths. — , Sep 05 '19 at 16:18
Since this one doesn't suit you, what is the symbol you are waiting for? Can you add a screenshot? — AndréC, Sep 05 '19 at 16:18
All the pictures you have added are projections of 3d objects with or without perspective. The parallelepiped is not any such projection. If you wish to have a real projection, look at section 63 Three Point Perspective Drawing Library of the pgfmanual v3.1.4b. If you do not want perspective, tikz-3dplot is a great tool. You could store the result in a \savebox. Then using scale in the nodes containing the \saveboxes is enough. no transform shape is needed. — , Sep 05 '19 at 17:46

score 6 · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-06T01:27:11.730

The correct key to scale nodes is, unsurprisingly, scale. transform shape is only necessary if the transformations are set outside a node option, e.g. in a scope, and the pgf manual is very clear about this. (I do not see it as the purpose of this site to literally copy from the pgf manual and paste here unless it is something that usually gets overlooked.) Your desired pictures are 3d-like, i.e. they seem to be obtained through an orthogonal projection of some 3d picture. This answer gives you a start. The result can be conveniently stored in \saveboxes, which can be used in nodes, and of course be scaled and/or transformed otherwise.

\documentclass[tikz,border=1mm]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}
\newsavebox\Server
\sbox\Server{\tdplotsetmaincoords{70}{20}
\begin{tikzpicture}[tdplot_main_coords]
 \begin{scope}[canvas is xz plane at y=3]
  \path (1,0)  coordinate(aux);
  \path (1pt,0) coordinate (BTL) (1cm-1pt,0) coordinate (BTR)
  (1cm,-2.5cm+1pt) coordinate (BBR) (1cm,-1pt) coordinate (BTR');
 \end{scope}
 \begin{scope}[canvas is xz plane at y=0]
  \draw[rounded corners={2*sqrt(2)*1pt},fill=gray!10] (0,-2.5) rectangle (1,0);
  \draw[rounded corners={2*sqrt(2)*1pt},white] (0.4pt,-2.5cm+0.4pt) 
    rectangle (1cm-0.4pt,0-0.4pt);
  \path (1pt,0) coordinate (FTL) (1cm-1pt,0) coordinate (FTR);
  \path[fill=white,rounded corners={2*sqrt(2)*1pt}]
   ($(aux)+(-1,0)$) -| ++(1,-2.5) -- (1,-2.5) |- (0,0)--cycle;
  \path[left color=gray!10,right color=gray!30,rounded corners=1pt] (BTL) -- (BTR) -- (FTR) -- (FTL)
    -- cycle;
  \path[top color=gray!80,bottom color=gray!30,shading angle=20,
    rounded corners=1pt]
   (1cm,-2.5cm+1pt) -- (BBR) -- (BTR') -- (1cm,-1pt) -- cycle;
  \draw[ultra thin,fill=gray!40] foreach \X in {0.2,0.3,...,0.81} 
  { \foreach \Y in {-0.2,-0.3,...,-2.3} 
   {(\X-0.03,\Y-0.03) rectangle (\X+0.03,\Y+0.03)}};
  \begin{scope} 
   \clip (0,-2.5) rectangle (1,-0.6pt);
   \fill[gray!10] (0.5,0) circle[radius=0.35cm];
   \shade[ball color=black!80] (0.5,0) circle[radius=0.25cm];
  \end{scope}
  \begin{scope}[rounded corners=1mm] 
   \clip (0.42,-0.7) -- (0.42,-0.9) -- (0.22,-1.1)
    -- (0.42,-1.3) -- (0.42,-2.1) -- (0.58,-2.1) 
    -- (0.58,-1.3) -- (0.78,-1.1) -- (0.58,-0.9) -- (0.58,-0.7) -- cycle;
   \fill[gray!80] (0.42,-0.7) -- (0.42,-0.9) -- (0.22,-1.1)
    -- (0.42,-1.3) -- (0.42,-2.1) -- (0.58,-2.1) 
    -- (0.58,-1.3) -- (0.78,-1.1) -- (0.58,-0.9) -- (0.58,-0.7) -- cycle;
   \fill[gray!20] (0.03+0.42,-0.7) -- (0.03+0.42,-0.9) -- (0.03+0.22,-1.1)
    -- (0.03+0.42,-1.3) -- (0.03+0.42,-2.1) -- (0.03+0.58,-2.1) 
    -- (0.03+0.58,-1.3) -- (0.03+0.78,-1.1) -- (0.03+0.58,-0.9) -- (0.03+0.58,-0.7) -- cycle;       
  \end{scope} 
  \shade[ball color=black!80] (0.5,-1.1) circle[radius=0.1cm];
 \end{scope}
\end{tikzpicture}
}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
 \node (server1){\usebox\Server};
 \node[right=2cm of server1,scale=2] (server2){\usebox\Server};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

The neat thing about this is that, unlike when loading an external graphics, you can adjust the view angles. For instance, if you change the phi angle, i.e. the second argument of \tdplotsetmaincoords{70}{<phi>}, you get

It goes without saying that these are vector graphics, i.e. there is no loss of quality if you zoom in.

@white_gecko Short answer: no. This is because, as of now, node anchors are two-dimensional objects, i.e. only have two coordinates. On the other hand, you only benefit from a specialized shape if you make use of its anchors. The nodes server1 and server2 still have the anchors of the rectangle node that wraps the \saveboxes like west and so on, but nothing more than that. You can use a pic and add anchor-like coordinates as in the example on top of p. 263 of pgfmanual v3.1.4b. — , Sep 05 '19 at 18:54

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 10 '20 at 12:32

I quote the 3.1.4b manual page 241:

Transformations

It is possible to transform nodes, but, by default, transformations do not apply to nodes. The reason is that you usually do not want your text to be scaled or rotated even if the main graphic is transformed. Scaling text is evil, rotating slightly less so.

[...]

/tikz/transform shape (no value) Causes the current “external” transformation matrix to be applied to the shape.

% Three-tier data center architecture
% Author: Claudio Fiandrino
% from http://www.texample.net/tikz/examples/network-topology/ resp. https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/158860/11820
\documentclass[border=5mm,tikz]{standalone}
%\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{backgrounds,calc,shadings,shapes.arrows,shapes.symbols,shadows}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}
\makeatletter
\pgfkeys{/pgf/.cd,
  parallelepiped offset x/.initial=2mm,
  parallelepiped offset y/.initial=2mm
}
\pgfdeclareshape{parallelepiped}
{
  \inheritsavedanchors[from=rectangle] % this is nearly a rectangle
  \inheritanchorborder[from=rectangle]
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{north}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{north west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{north east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{center}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{mid}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{mid west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{mid east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{base}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{base west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{base east}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{south}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{south west}
  \inheritanchor[from=rectangle]{south east}
  \backgroundpath{
    % store lower right in xa/ya and upper right in xb/yb
    \southwest \pgf@xa=\pgf@x \pgf@ya=\pgf@y
    \northeast \pgf@xb=\pgf@x \pgf@yb=\pgf@y
    \pgfmathsetlength\pgfutil@tempdima{\pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/parallelepiped
      offset x}}
    \pgfmathsetlength\pgfutil@tempdimb{\pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/parallelepiped
      offset y}}
    \def\ppd@offset{\pgfpoint{\pgfutil@tempdima}{\pgfutil@tempdimb}}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@ya}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@ya}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathclose
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@ya}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@ya}}{\ppd@offset}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}{\ppd@offset}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@yb}}{\ppd@offset}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xa}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfqpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointadd{\pgfpoint{\pgf@xb}{\pgf@yb}}{\ppd@offset}}
  }
}
\makeatother
\tikzset{
  ports/.style={
    line width=0.3pt,
    top color=gray!20,
    bottom color=gray!80
  },
  server/.style={
    parallelepiped,
    fill=white, draw,
    minimum width=0.35cm,
    minimum height=0.75cm,
    parallelepiped offset x=3mm,
    parallelepiped offset y=2mm,
    xscale=-1,
    path picture={
      \draw[top color=gray!5,bottom color=gray!40]
      (path picture bounding box.south west) rectangle 
      (path picture bounding box.north east);
      \coordinate (A-center) at ($(path picture bounding box.center)!0!(path
        picture bounding box.south)$);
      \coordinate (A-west) at ([xshift=-0.575cm]path picture bounding box.west);
      \drawports
        rectangle +(0.2,0.065);
      \drawports
        rectangle +(0.15,0.05);
      \fillblack
        rectangle +(0.235,0.0175);
      \fillblack
        rectangle +(0.235,0.0175);
      \fillblack
        rectangle +(0.235,0.0175);
    }

  },
}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\node[server](server 1){};
\node[server,scale=1.5,right =2cm of server 1](server 2){};
\node[server,scale=4,right =4cm of server 2](server 3){};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

transform shape is irrelevant here. The same result is obtained if you drop this key. What is relevant is the scale key. transform shape is relevant if one defines the transformations in a scope (or similar). — , Sep 05 '19 at 17:44
As it stands the quote in the answer is a bit confusing: you've got transform shape there but have (as suggested above) removed it from your actual code. It would be sensible to point out in the answer that the key does not work here. — Joseph Wright, Sep 06 '19 at 17:38
@JosephWright Perhaps "the key does not work here" should really read "the key is not needed here". This key "works", but is needed (and useful) only if one wants to apply “external” transformations, i.e. transformations that appear in the options of the tikzpicture or an ambient scope. A node will always apply the transformations that are contained in its options, such as scale, rotate and so on. This is also why one should not add transform shape just so: in a more complex setting you may pick up a transformation that you did not want to apply. — , Sep 06 '19 at 17:57

Custom "computer" resp. "server" shape for tikz

2 Answers2