# Parallel arrows between nodes of varying size

I am using this solution to the question TikZ parallel Edges between Nodes to draw figures with parallel arrows next to edges.

## Minimal working example

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}

\usetikzlibrary{calc}

\tikzset{
% store of parameters
parallel shorten/.store in=\parashorten,
parallel label distance/.store in=\paralabdist,
% default values
parallel distance=1mm, % distance of parallel arrows from link
parallel shorten=0mm, % to shorten parallel arrows
parallel label distance=2.5mm, % distance of label from link
% main style
edge with values/.style args={#1 and #2}{
to path={
\pgfextra{
\pgfinterruptpath
% middle point
\coordinate (m) at ($(\tikztostart)!.5!(\tikztotarget)$);
% from-to arrow
\draw[-stealth,shorten >=\parashorten,shorten <=\parashorten]
($(\tikztostart)!\paradist!-90:(\tikztotarget)$)
--
($(\tikztotarget)!\paradist!90:(\tikztostart)$)
% middle of from-to arrow
coordinate[pos=.5](m from);
% label of from-to arrow
\node[font=\tiny] at ($(m)!\paralabdist!(m from)$){#1};
% to-from arrow
\draw[-stealth,shorten >=\parashorten,shorten <=\parashorten]
($(\tikztotarget)!\paradist!-90:(\tikztostart)$)
--
($(\tikztostart)!\paradist!90:(\tikztotarget)$)
% middle of to-from arrow
coordinate[pos=.5](m to);
% label of to-from arrow
\node[font=\tiny] at ($(m)!\paralabdist!(m to)$){#2};
\endpgfinterruptpath
}
(\tikztostart) -- (\tikztotarget)
},
},
}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%the decorating arrows start at the center of the nodes
\draw node[draw] (a) {large node}
++(3,0) node[draw] (b) {other node}
edge[edge with values=a and b] (a);
%if node sizes are about equal, it can be fixed by shortening both ends
\draw (0,-1) node[draw] (a2) {large node}
++(3,0) node[draw] (b2) {other node}
edge[parallel shorten=1cm,edge with values=a and b] (a2);
%if the error is asymmetric this won't work
\draw (0,-2) node[draw] (a3) {large node}
++(3,0) node[draw] (b3) {n}
edge[parallel shorten=1cm,edge with values=a and b] (a3);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


This produces the following output:

## Problem description

The problem is that the decorating arrows begin at the center of the nodes, and not at the border. I could manually fix this by specifying both shorten > and shorten < for each edge, but this would be cumbersome.

I am looking for a solution that draws the decorating arrows at correct spots.

Note that letting the edges start/end at specified anchors is not an option, since I am using diagonal edges, too.

## My analysis

The problem appears to be caused by the fact that within to path, the macros \tikztostart and \tikztotarget resolve to either the nodes (?) or the center of the nodes. If you use them asis, tikz's smart handling works and the line you draw starts at the border of the node. This happens in the final (\tikztostart) -- (\tikztotarget).

But as soon as, e.g., \tikztostart is wrapped in a calculation ($(\tikztostart)$), the path begins at the node center and not on the border of the node.

If there was a way to get the "smart" endpoints of the path within to path, then the problem could easily be solved.

Of course I'm also open to another equivalent solution.

I'm aware of Connect Tikz nodes via two parallel arrows, but this is not applicable, since I also require styling the two arrows differently (different colors). So I'm looking for code that really draws two additional arrows parallel to an edge, like the one above.

## Example of my application using my answer below

I found out a way of getting the coordinates on the border of the involved shapes by using

\pgfmathanglebetweenpoints{\pgfpointanchor{\tikztostart}{center}}{\pgfpointanchor{\tikztotarget}{center}}


Now shorten is not necessary anymore to get a good result.

## Full working solution

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}

\usetikzlibrary{calc}

\tikzset{
% store of parameters
parallel shorten/.store in=\parashorten,
parallel label distance/.store in=\paralabdist,
% default values
parallel distance=1mm, % distance of parallel arrows from link
parallel shorten=0mm, % to shorten parallel arrows
parallel label distance=2.5mm, % distance of label from link
% main style
edge with values/.style args={#1 and #2}{
to path={
\pgfextra{
\pgfinterruptpath
\pgfmathanglebetweenpoints{\pgfpointanchor{\tikztostart}{center}}{\pgfpointanchor{\tikztotarget}{center}}
\coordinate (start) at (\tikztostart.\pgfmathresult);
\pgfmathanglebetweenpoints{\pgfpointanchor{\tikztotarget}{center}}{\pgfpointanchor{\tikztostart}{center}}
\coordinate (target) at (\tikztotarget.\pgfmathresult);
% middle point
\coordinate (m) at ($(start)!.5!(target)$);
% from-to arrow
\draw[-stealth,shorten >=\parashorten,shorten <=\parashorten]
($(start)!\paradist!-90:(target)$)
--
($(target)!\paradist!90:(start)$)
% middle of from-to arrow
coordinate[pos=.5](m from);
% label of from-to arrow
\node[font=\tiny] at ($(m)!\paralabdist!(m from)$){#1};
% to-from arrow
\draw[-stealth,shorten >=\parashorten,shorten <=\parashorten]
($(target)!\paradist!-90:(start)$)
--
($(start)!\paradist!90:(target)$)
% middle of to-from arrow
coordinate[pos=.5](m to);
% label of to-from arrow
\node[font=\tiny] at ($(m)!\paralabdist!(m to)$){#2};
\endpgfinterruptpath
}
(\tikztostart) -- (\tikztotarget)
},
},
}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%the decorating arrows start at the center of the nodes
\draw node[draw] (a) {large node}
++(3,0) node[draw] (b) {other node}
edge[edge with values=a and b] (a);
%if node sizes are about equal, it can be fixed by shortening both ends
\draw (0,-1) node[draw] (a2) {large node}
++(3,0) node[draw] (b2) {other node}
edge[edge with values=a and b] (a2);
%if the error is asymmetric this won't work
\draw (0,-2) node[draw] (a3) {large node}
++(3,0) node[draw] (b3) {n}
edge[edge with values=a and b] (a3);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


• With diagonal edges, you need parallel shorten... – Paul Gaborit Mar 21 '17 at 15:08
• @PaulGaborit Because with rectangular nodes the parallel arrows will reach into the node? That's true. But with this solution here, adding a bit of shorten produces good looking results. Now the error is in the dimension of the offset for the parallel arrows. Before it was in the dimension of the difference between the node sizes, which was way larger (at least in my application). – ziggystar Mar 21 '17 at 15:14
• Your answer is very good ! My comment is only about "Now shorten is not necessary anymore to get a good result". – Paul Gaborit Mar 21 '17 at 15:16