Adding Shapes, Lines, and Arrows to a Workspace

[kristeno]

You can add a range of shapes to workspaces. Once a shape is placed in your workspace, you can embed text, join shapes and other objects with line connectors, and perform object scaling. Adding shapes, lines and arrows can help facilitate the process of building templates, workflows, and procedure-driven diagrams.

Add Shapes

Select here to learn how

To add shapes to a workspace:

1. From the workspace toolbar, select the (Shapes).
2. Select the preferred shape you want to add to the workspace.
   
   
3. Hover your cursor over the workspace area where you want the shape to appear. Click on the workspace to place. The shape appears along with a toolbar with more options.
    
   Note: Select and drag to resize the shape. Use the Shape Toolbar to edit or customize the appearance of the object including; changing colors and opacity, attaching connecting lines, and adding text.
   
   

When one or multiple shapes are selected, choosing (Edit text) will open the Text Toolbar - a time-saver for consistent text formatting across a group selection.

BluePro Tip: To quickly add or edit text on an individual shape, double-click the shape to enable text editing. Then insert, edit, or format the text.

Shape Toolbar (Left to Right):

Icon	Description
Shape	Provides a range of shapes to add to your workspace.
Border Color	Provides several colors to add to the shape’s border. You also can select a custom color and change the opacity.
Fill Color	Provides several colors to apply to the shape. You also can select a custom color and change the opacity.
Border Width	Allows you to access a slider that provides a range of border thicknesses. You can move the slider gradually left or right to adjust the thickness of the selected border.
Add Text	Allows you to include text. The text auto-fits the shape. You must select the shape to enter text (you may need to double-select twice depending on the current zoom (or scroll) level). Note that when you add text to one shape, the same formatting is applied to the next shape(s) you create. Formatting options for your text, including font type, alignment, size, bolding and italics, and color, appear once you add text.
Reactions	Gives you the option to add a reaction, for example, a thumbs up, to the object.
Share to Social Media	Allows you share via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
More Options	Allows you to choose from additional actions such as Pin, Attach to, Comment, Export, Arrange, Info, Duplicate, and Delete and more.
Pin	Locks the object to its current workspace location.
Alt Text	Describe the object using alternative text.
Attach to	Allows you to attach a child object to a parent object.
Comments	Allows you to add feedback or commentary.
Present	Allows you to present a single object.
Export	Allows you to export the shape with options for file types.
Arrange	Allows you to Send to Front or Send to Back, moving the object to the foreground or background. The Shift ] and Shift [ keyboard shortcuts (respectively) allow you to perform these actions as well.
Copy link	Copies the URL of the object to share with others or link to another object.
Link to	Allows you to paste the link of the object you wish to link the shape to.
Info	Allows view the shapes metadata.
Duplicate	Creates a copy of the object, which will appear immediately to the right of the original.
Delete	Removes the object.

Add Lines and Line Connectors

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Line connectors allow you to visually connect workspace objects, including shapes, documents, images, canvases, and notecards.

To add a line connector:

1. Select the Shape. A blue border with circular anchor points will display around your object.
2. Select and drag one of the anchor points to extend a line from that point.
3. The Line toolbar displays.
   
   

From left to right, the options are:

Icon	Description
Start Type	Line type that may be used to begin a workflow or diagram.
End Type	Line type that may be used to end a workflow or diagram.
Line Color	Allows you to choose the color of the selected line.
Line Options	Allow you to designate a Line Style, Line Width, and Line Routing.
Line Style	Allows you to choose a line type, such as solid or dashed.
Line Weight	Allows you to access a slider that provides a range of line weights or thicknesses. You can move the slider gradually left or right to adjust the thickness of the selected line.
Line Routing	Allows you to choose a line type that is rounded, straight, or multi-directional.
Delete	Allows you to remove a line or object.

Note: If you delete a shape, all lines connected will also be removed.

When adding lines, you can hold the Shift key to disable the Snap to Grid feature; there may be occasions when you do not want lines to snap into place. Moving objects as you hold the Shift key also maintains the aspect ratio. Holding the Shift key while manipulating free-standing lines allows them to snap into place at 45° and 90° angles, regardless of whether the Snap to Grid feature is enabled. As such, you can move lines as a single shape, even if they are not connected to other objects in the workspace.

You can also add connecting lines as you customize templates.

Add Arrows

You can add two different arrows to a workspace; line arrows and shape arrows. Line arrows are helpful in process diagrams and are similar to line connectors, except they include an arrow at the end. Shape arrows are broader arrows that are not used as line connectors.

Line Arrow

To add a line arrow to the workspace:

1. From the workspace toolbar, select (Line).
   
   
2. Click on the starting point of the shape and drag your line to your desired endpoint.
3. If you drag over an existing shape you can insert the line as a connector. If you hover over an empty part of the workspace, the line can be placed as a free-standing object.
   
   
4. Nodes or anchor points display at each end of the arrow. Select and drag one of the nodes to extend the arrow from that point.
5. To format the line as an arrow, use the line toolbar to change the line style.

Shape Arrow

To add a shape arrow:

1. From the workspace toolbar, select .

2. Select the desired arrow from the selections.
   

   

3. Hover your cursor over the workspace area where you want this object to appear.

4. Select your mouse to place the arrow.

5. The Shapes Toolbar appears so you can customize the arrow.
   

   

When you add arrows to workspaces, you can select the nodes or anchor points around them to change the direction. For example, you can add a right-facing arrow to a workspace, select the node located at the tip of the arrow, and drag it to the left until it becomes a left-facing arrow. Similarly, you can add an up arrow to a workspace, select the node located at the tip of the arrow, and drag it down until it becomes a down arrow.

You can also select and move to rotate the shape.

Perform Object Scaling

Select here to learn how

Object scaling allows you to resize an object without disturbing the aspect ratio.

To resize an object while maintaining the aspect ratio:

1. Select an object in the workspace.
2. Press Shift on your keyboard while using your mouse to grab the nodes or anchor points of the selected object – increasing or decreasing its size.
3. Scale the object to your preferred size or measurement.

Note: You can use connecting lines on all workspace objects except for canvases.

Where to Next?

• Adding Custom Templates to a Workspace (Web)
• Two Ways to Use Workspace Hyperlinking

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