How do I edit in SmartDraw?

Editing in SmartDraw is a straightforward process, allowing you to easily manipulate and customize elements within your diagrams. Whether you're adding new shapes, resizing existing ones, or changing their appearance, SmartDraw provides intuitive tools to bring your ideas to life.

Getting Started with Editing

SmartDraw is designed for ease of use, making common editing tasks simple clicks and drags. Understanding the basics will help you efficiently create and refine any type of diagram.

Basic Object Manipulation

Most editing begins with selecting an object. Once an object is selected, you can perform various actions.

• Selecting Objects:
  • To select a single object, simply click on it.
  • To select multiple objects, click and drag a selection box around them, or hold down the Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) key and click on each object individually.
• Moving Objects:
  • Once selected, click and drag an object to reposition it anywhere on your drawing page. SmartDraw often provides alignment guides to help you position objects precisely.
• Resizing Objects:
  • Select an object, and drag one of the corner or side handles that appear around its bounding box. Dragging a corner handle resizes proportionally, while side handles stretch or compress the object along one axis.
• Rotating Objects:
  • Select an object, and look for a rotation handle (often a circular arrow) that appears when selected. Click and drag this handle to rotate the object to your desired angle.
• Deleting Objects:
  • Select the object(s) you wish to remove and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Editing Shape Properties

Beyond basic manipulation, you can extensively customize the appearance of shapes and lines.

• Changing Fill Color:
  • Select the shape(s).
  • On the Home tab, locate the "Fill" or "Shape Styles" section.
  • Choose a new color from the palette.
• Modifying Line Style and Color:
  • Select the shape(s) or connector line(s).
  • On the Home tab, find options for "Line Color," "Line Weight," and "Line Style" (e.g., solid, dashed, dotted).
  • Adjust these properties as needed.
• Adding and Editing Text:
  • To add text to a shape, double-click the shape and start typing.
  • To edit existing text, double-click the text within the shape.
  • Use the text formatting tools on the Home tab to change font, size, color, bolding, italics, and alignment.

Replacing Shapes

A powerful editing feature in SmartDraw allows you to quickly swap one shape for another without losing its position or connections.

• Steps to Replace a Shape:
  1. Select the shape in your diagram that you want to replace.
  2. Browse your SmartDraw symbol libraries (usually on the left panel) or locate another symbol already in your diagram that you wish to use as the replacement.
  3. Right-click on the new symbol (either in the library or on your diagram).
  4. From the context menu, choose the option "Replace Shapes with This Symbol."
  5. Your original selected shape will instantly be replaced by the new symbol, maintaining its connections and general placement.

Working with Connectors

Connectors are lines that link shapes, crucial for flowcharts, organization charts, and other diagrams.

• Adding Connectors:
  • Click the Connector tool on the Home tab.
  • Click on the connection point (a small 'x' or dot) of the first shape, then drag to the connection point of the second shape.
• Editing Connector Paths:
  • Select a connector. You'll see handles along its path.
  • Drag these handles to adjust the path, routing the connector around other objects or through specific points.
  • SmartDraw offers various connector styles (straight, curved, right-angle) which can be changed from the Home tab.
• Adding Text to Connectors:
  • Double-click on the connector line to add text. This is often used for labels or conditions in flowcharts.

Efficient Editing with SmartDraw

SmartDraw includes features that streamline your editing workflow:

• Alignment and Distribution Tools: Found under the "Arrange" menu, these tools help you perfectly align multiple selected objects (e.g., align tops, center horizontally) or distribute them evenly.
• Grouping Objects: Select multiple objects and use the "Group" option (often found under the "Arrange" tab or by right-clicking) to treat them as a single unit for moving, resizing, or rotating. This is invaluable for complex parts of your diagram.
• Layers: For highly detailed diagrams, SmartDraw supports layers, allowing you to organize objects and control their visibility, making editing specific elements easier.

By mastering these editing techniques, you can fully leverage SmartDraw's capabilities to create professional and clear visuals for any purpose. For more detailed instructions and advanced features, consider consulting SmartDraw's official help documentation.