---
title: Creating a Frame Around Objects
description: Add a frame around a group of shapes from the right-click menu to move them as one unit.
---

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# Creating a Frame Around Objects

Frames allow you to move a group of shapes around your workspace. You can add a frame to any grouping of shapes using the right-click menu. Select all the shapes or diagram you want to include and choose **Add Frame** from the right-click menu.

### Adding Shapes Around Diagrams

If a shape is attached to other shapes via connectors like in a flowchart, org chart or mind map, you don't have to select every shape to create a frame around the whole diagram. SmartDraw is smart enough to understand which shapes are connected and the frame will be added around everything related to that shape.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18157261574036-3.png)

By default, frames will be gray, but you can select the frame and change the color to any color including white.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18157242075412-3.png)

When you add new shapes connected to the diagram in your frame, the frame will automatically expand to make room for the new shapes.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18157282156308-3.png)

### Adding Blueprints Adds Diagrams in Frames

When you use the **Plus** button on the **Left Bar** to **Insert Content** and add a new blueprint, it will be added to your workspace with a frame around it to make it easier to position.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18157329584276-3.png)

### Adding Frames Around Free Floating Shapes

When shapes are not connected to each other like in a diagram such as a flowchart, org chart, or mind map, in order to add a frame, you'll first need to select all the shapes you want to have in the frame.

You can do this, by using your mouse to **draw a selection box** around all the shapes or holding down either **Shift** or **Ctrl** and clicking on each object you want to include. [Learn more about selecting shapes.](https://support.smartdraw.com/select-tool-selecting-shapes-and-lines?hsLang=en-us)

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/19467216507284-3.png)

Once all the shapes are selected, you can use the **right-click** menu to **Add Frame** around the selected symbols.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/19467182224276-3.png)

If you later want to add additional shapes to this frame, first make sure you set the frame to resize manually. You can do this by right-clicking on the frame and under **Frame Options**, selecting **Resize Manually**.

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/19467242722964-3.png)

Once a frame is set to **Resize Manually**, you can grab it and resize it like you would a shape using your mouse to stretch it.

Now you can drag and drop additional shapes inside your expanded frame. 

![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/19467297590676-3.png)

Note: if you have issues adding a shape to a frame, it may be because the frame has to behind the shape to grab it. You may be trying to add a shape that was in your workspace before the frame was added to your document. A way around this is to select the shape you want to add and in the **Home** tab and click on **Bring to Front** and try again.

 

[Learn more about frame options.](https://support.smartdraw.com/changing-frame-properties?hsLang=en-us)

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