How to label complex edges with graph library?

Question

I would like to use graph TikZ-library from CVS version (sourceforge or tlcontrib) to draw flowcharts. Something like the one shown in chapter 5 from TikZ manual. In this tutorial, some styles are declared to easily draw loops and corners between nodes. I would like to add some label to this lines but edge label option doesn't work with these kind of edges. It seems to work with straight paths but not with complex ones.

Next example shows the problem:

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,graphs,matrix}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth',
    font=\sffamily\small,
    every node/.style={align=center},
    skip loop left/.style={to path={-- ++(-#1,0)|- (\tikztotarget)}},
    skip loop right/.style={to path={-- ++(#1,0)|- (\tikztotarget)}},
    hv path/.style ={to path={-| (\tikztotarget)}},
   vh path/.style ={to path={|- (\tikztotarget)}},
]

\matrix[column sep=1cm,row sep=1cm] (mymatrix)  {
\coordinate (A11) {}; & \node[draw] (A12) {A12};\\
\node[draw] (A21) {A21}; & \coordinate (A22) {};\\
};

\graph[use existing nodes] {
 A21->[edge label=A]A12;
 A21->[hv path, edge label=B] A12;  %<- this label is not shown
 A21--[edge label=C]A11->A12; 
};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

The result shows labels A and C, but not B. Label C is shown because the edge is divided into two straight edges. I can always use something like that, but do you know a better solution?

Answer 1

If you're only trying to create flow-charts, it would be much easier if you use pure tikz without a library. Here's an example from the tikz example site (slightly modified).

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,shapes}
\begin{document}

  \tikzstyle{decision} = [diamond, draw, fill=gray!20, 
  text width=4.5em, text badly centered, node distance=3cm, inner sep=0pt]
  \tikzstyle{block} = [rectangle, draw, fill=gray!15, 
  text width=5em, text centered, rounded corners, minimum height=4em]
  \tikzstyle{altblock} = [rectangle, draw, fill=gray!15, 
    text width=5em, text centered, rounded corners=6pt, minimum height=2em]
  \tikzstyle{line} = [draw, -latex']
  \tikzstyle{cloud} = [draw, ellipse,fill=gray!10, node distance=3cm,
  minimum height=2em]
    \begin{tikzpicture}[node distance = 3cm, auto,scale=0.75,transform shape]
    % Place nodes
    \node [altblock] (init) {initialize};
    \node [cloud, left of=init] (expert) {expert};
    \node [cloud, right of=init] (system) {system};
    \node [decision, below of=init] (identify) {Was successful?};
    \node [block, below of=identify] (evaluate) {evaluate candidate models};
    \node [block, left of=evaluate, node distance=3cm] (update) {update model};
    \node [decision, below of=evaluate] (decide) {is best candidate better?};
    \node [block, below of=decide, node distance=3cm] (stop) {stop};
    % Draw edges
    \path [line] (init) -- (identify);
    \path [line] (identify) -- node[auto] {yes} (evaluate);
    \path [line] (identify) -| node[auto,right] {no} (system);
    \path [line] (evaluate) -- (decide);
    \path [line] (decide) -| node [near start] {yes} (update);
    \path [line] (update) |- (identify);
    \path [line] (decide) -- node {no}(stop);
    \path [line,dashed] (expert) -- (init);
    \path [line,dashed] (system) -- (init);
    %\path [line,dashed] (system) |- (evaluate);
    \end{tikzpicture}


\end{document}

Here's the output for this: