Learn how to use shapes in draw.io

    features   shapes

    Swap shapes and connectors in draw.io

    You can swap shapes on the drawing canvas in draw.io via the Arrange tab of the format panel, or by dropping a new shape from the shape libraries on top of an existing shape. You can also reverse the arrows on a connector easily via the Arrange tab.

    06 Sep 2023
    features   shapes

    Use grab handles to move table rows

    The improved table shapes in draw.io are useful for many different types of diagrams. Now, using the grab handles on the sides of table rows in draw.io, you can select rows more easily, and move a row to a new position in a table, or move it to another table - even if that table is a different size.
    Use the grab handle on the right edge of a row to drag it to a new position in the table in draw.io

    18 Aug 2023
    shortcuts   shapes

    New keyboard shortcuts in draw.io

    As new features are added to draw.io and the menu is refined, new keyboard shortcuts are also built into the editor. Here are some of the new and useful shortcuts for diagramming in draw.io.

    14 Jul 2023
    features   shapes

    Gantt charts to plan and track anything

    If you’ve worked on a project in a team, you’ve probably seen a Gantt chart. These diagrams are used in all industries to plan tasks, note dependencies and track progress. You can create Gantt charts easily in draw.io in a number of different ways.
    Create an easy and stylish Gantt chart or timeline using a table in draw.io

    20 Jun 2023
    features   shapes

    Diagrams in tables with container cells

    With draw.io, tables aren’t limited to holding text data. Because you can drop shapes and images into container table cells and drag connectors between them, you can get creative with diagrams inside tables.

    10 Feb 2023
    features   shapes   connectors

    Work with default styles

    When you set a default style for shapes and connectors in draw.io, all subsequent shapes that you add from the shape library will use that default style. This includes shape outline or connector line colour, thickness and style, shape fill colour and effects, opacity and more.
    Set a default shape or connector style in draw.io

    27 Jan 2023
    shapes   connectors

    Add labels to any type of diagram

    With draw.io, you aren’t just limited to flows, org charts, network or UML diagrams. You can use braces, brackets, connectors and partial rectangles to add neat labels to any type of diagram.
    Label any diagram with bracket shapes and connectors

    17 Nov 2022
    features   shapes

    Use emoji in labels and tooltips

    Emoji are being used in all communications at all levels of society - a single picture takes up less space and conveys more information than its matching text. You can use the Unicode emoji in shape and connector labels, and in tooltips in your diagrams.
    You can use emoji in text labels and tooltips in draw.io

    04 Oct 2022
    features   shapes

    Edit shape properties in diagrams

    The shape libraries in draw.io provide you with a wide variety of shapes and clipart to use in your diagrams. The Style tab lets you quickly style your shapes, but for finer control and complex shapes, you can modify the shape properties.

    29 Apr 2022
    use cases   shapes   templates

    Draw timelines and roadmaps in draw.io

    Timelines, roadmap and milestone diagrams feature in a range of documentation - project development documents, infographics and presentations being some of the most common. There are many shapes and templates in draw.io and our draw.io branded apps that you can use to quickly draw an attractive diagram that you can embed in your presentation or documentation.
    Draw timelines, roadmaps and milestone diagrams easily with draw.io

    14 Feb 2022
    templates   use cases   shapes

    Draw circular flowcharts

    Flowcharts are one of the most used types of diagrams in all teams. But some process flows are circular or cyclical rather than a series of steps with a start and end. You can create circular flowcharts in the draw.io editor in a number of ways.
    Create a circular flowchart using basic shapes in draw.io

    31 Jan 2022
    features   shapes

    What can you do with shape data in diagrams?

    The shapes, connectors and text elements in your diagram are described in XML - their sizes, locations, groupings, shape styles, z-order on the drawing canvas, and how they are connected to each other. You can attach much more information than this to create richer diagrams and interactivity, including tags, tooltips, links, custom shape properties and more.
    Custom properties are displayed by default in a tooltip when you hover over the shape

    21 Sep 2021
    features   shapes

    Draw freehand shapes and annotate diagrams

    When you draw a freehand shape in draw.io, it is saved as an image with a transparent background on the drawing canvas by default. You can change the freehand-drawn shape’s style like you would many other shapes: line colour, fill colour, opacity and more. You can also resize, flip and rotate your freehand drawing.

    01 Jun 2021
    features   shapes

    Automatic layout shapes for flow charts, tree diagrams and mind maps

    The automatic layout shapes in the Advanced shape library in draw.io organise your flow charts, tree diagrams, org charts, and mind maps for you as you add and connect more shapes. The automated layout ensures that all shapes in your diagram are spaced evenly, either in a horizontal or vertical format, and will automatically increase or decrease the container shape’s size to match the contents.

    22 Sep 2020
    shortcuts   shapes

    Double click and select a shape to add it

    The double click behaviour in draw.io has been updated in version 13.4.2 to be more convenient. Now, when you double click on the blank drawing canvas, you can quickly add a shape or text from the selector to your diagram.

    13 Jul 2020
    features   shapes   connectors

    Support for hand-drawn diagrams with rough.js

    A more relaxed and informal style for shapes, fills and lines is often used in infographics, teaching materials, maps and reports so that the diagrams are little less sterile and boring. The rough style adds a hand drawn shading options, rough outlines and connectors, and handwritten text labels.

    23 Jun 2020
    features   shapes

    Improved table shapes

    Tables have been overhauled in draw.io to be much more flexible and robust than the old HTML tables you previously used. With the new tables, you can choose from various layouts, drag to resize rows and columns, move rows by dragging them, and build cross-functional flowcharts within a table and its cells.

    22 Jun 2020
    features   shapes

    Click to add shapes to the drawing canvas

    Instead of dragging shapes from the shape library in to the drawing canvas, you can quickly add them by simply clicking on the shape. This makes it faster to add a lot of shapes to the canvas at once, and then place, style and connect them later.

    24 Jul 2018
    shortcuts   shapes

    Alt+drop to overlay shapes on containers

    When you work with container shapes, dropping a shape over that container inserts that shape into that container. While this is useful for adding steps to a flow chart inside a flow lane (e.g. using the flow layout shape), you may not necessarily want to add the shape for the person responsible into the flow lane container, but instead overlay it.

    02 May 2018