def create(self, dotdata, prog="dot", format="xdot"):
        """ Creates and returns a representation of the graph using the
        Graphviz layout program given by 'prog', according to the given format.

        Writes the graph to a temporary dot file and processes it with the
        program given by 'prog' (which defaults to 'dot'), reading the output
        and returning it as a string if the operation is successful. On failure
        None is returned.

        Based on PyDot by Ero Carrera.
        """
        import os, tempfile
        from dot2tex.dotparsing import find_graphviz

        # Map Graphviz executable names to their paths.
        progs = find_graphviz()
        if progs is None:
            logger.warning("GraphViz executables not found.")
            return None
        if not progs.has_key(prog):
            logger.warning('Invalid program [%s]. Available programs are: %s' % \
                           (prog, progs.keys()))
            return None

        # Make a temporary file ...
        tmp_fd, tmp_name = tempfile.mkstemp()
        os.close(tmp_fd)
        # ... and save the graph to it.
        dot_fd = file(tmp_name, "w+b")
        dot_fd.write(dotdata) # DOT language.
        dot_fd.close()

        # Get the temporary file directory name.
        tmp_dir = os.path.dirname(tmp_name)

        # Process the file using the layout program, specifying the format.
        p = subprocess.Popen((progs[prog], '-T'+format, tmp_name),
            cwd=tmp_dir, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)

        stderr = p.stderr
        stdout = p.stdout

        # Make sense of the standard output form the process.
        stdout_output = list()
        while True:
            data = stdout.read()
            if not data:
                break
            stdout_output.append(data)
        stdout.close()

        if stdout_output:
            stdout_output = ''.join(stdout_output)

        # Similarly so for any standard error.
        if not stderr.closed:
            stderr_output = list()
            while True:
                data = stderr.read()
                if not data:
                    break
                stderr_output.append(data)
            stderr.close()

            if stderr_output:
                stderr_output = ''.join(stderr_output)

        status = p.wait()

        if status != 0 :
            logger.error("Program [%s] terminated with status: %d. stderr " \
                "follows: %s" % ( prog, status, stderr_output ) )
        elif stderr_output:
            logger.error( "%s", stderr_output )

        # Remove the temporary file.
        os.unlink(tmp_name)

        return stdout_output