--- title: Working with Symbols description: Add, resize, rotate, recolor, align, and swap symbols, plus how to find more and change symbol labels. --- [Skip to content](https://support.smartdraw.com/working-with-symbols#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations [Submit a Request](https://support.smartdraw.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en-us) ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/smartdraw-logo-2022.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Submit a Request](https://support.smartdraw.com/kb-tickets/new) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [SmartDraw Knowledge Base](https://support.smartdraw.com/?hsLang=en-us) 2. [Reference](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us) 3. [Symbols](https://support.smartdraw.com/reference?hsLang=en-us#symbols) # Working with Symbols Working with symbols or shapes in SmartDraw is easy.  Each SmartDraw template comes with the most commonly used symbols needed to create that specific diagram docked to the left of your drawing area in that diagram's SmartPanel. The simplest way to add symbols to your visual is by **dragging **and **dropping** a symbol from the SmartPanel onto your workspace. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446102317076-3.png) To add a basic shape, you can also use the **Shape Tool** found to the left of your workspace at the top of the attached SmartPanel. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18189845497108-3.png) The Shape Tool lets you insert a basic shape into your visual quickly. Start by selecting a shape from the drop-down menu, and then simply click into your workspace to stamp the selected shape. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18189845498004-3.png) ### Symbol Labels By default, symbols are displayed without labels in a minimalist style. You can hover over any symbol and look at its name as a tool tip.  ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406341152532-3.png) If you want to see symbol names always displayed next to their symbol, you can change how symbol labels are shown in your app.  To do so, first, click on **More** in the SmartPanel's **Symbol** section to bring up the **Symbol Libraries** modal.  ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406341160724-3.png) Toggle the **Horizontal symbol labels** on in the dialog.  ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333536916-3.png) Your labels will now appear to the left of each symbol.  ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333537172-3.png) ### Adding Symbols with Intelligent Formatting Diagrams like org charts and mind maps use an intelligent formatting engine, which gives you the ability to automatically format and connect shapes in a diagram. You can use the **yellow action buttons** around a shape, or your keyboard alone (**Ctrl** and **arrow keys**) to add the currently selected shape and everything is automatically connected, aligned, and evenly spaced.  ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446130477204-3.png) ### Adding Symbols by Drawing a Line Some diagrams, like flowcharts, network and software design, use a flexible line drawing style which gives you more freedom to add shapes in different places with your own spacing and line length. Just click on the **yellow circles** that appear around each shape, drag to add a line in any direction and choose a shape from the options that pop up. This pop up has the most commonly used shapes for your selected diagram by default, but it will learn which shapes you use and present you with the shapes you used last as you build your diagram. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-02-2026-05-03-45-5309-AM.png?width=501&height=345&name=image-png-Sep-02-2026-05-03-45-5309-AM.png) ### Browsing the Symbol Libraries Some diagrams will have multiple symbol libraries docked in the SmartPanel. You can scroll to see all the libraries docked or use the carats (small black arrows to the right of the name) to expand and collapse any library. Click the X to unpin the library from the SmartPanel. You can drag libraries up and down the stack to reorder them. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18189883372692-3.png) ### Find More Symbols To locate additional symbols in SmartDraw's vast library of icons, simply type a keyword into the **Search for symbols** field in the Symbols area of the SmartPanel to the left of your workspace. To start the search click the magnifying glass icon. [Read this article about searching for symbols.](https://support.smartdraw.com/searching-for-more-symbols?hsLang=en-us) ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18189845499924-3.png) You can drag and drop symbols you find directly from the search results. You can also save the results for later use. To pin just the symbols that matched your search from a particular library, click on the plus icon next to the library's name and select **Add result**. You can also pin the entire library by clicking **Add library**. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446130477460-3.png) To pin all the symbols matching your query, click the **star icon** next to the search field. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446130477716-3.png) This will group all the symbols found into a single library that will be docked with all the other libraries for your template.   ### Moving, Changing and Aligning Symbols ### Resizing Symbols You can resize symbols using the black square growth handles located along the perimeter of the symbol when selected. Click on a handle and drag it to change the size of the shape. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333537812-3.png) For certain technical diagrams like floor plans and landscape, you can also type in the dimensions in the dimension display of the object in the workspace using the scale defined for that diagram. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446102318484-3.png) For wireframe diagrams, you can type in the dimension in pixels. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446130478228-3.png) ### Rotating Symbols Rotate a symbol by first selecting it in your workspace, then choosing **Rotate ** from the **Home** tab. You can choose from a few preset angles or specify a custom one.   ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333539348-3.png) Alternatively, you can rotate a symbol using the rotation handle located above the upper left corner of the shape. Grab it with your cursor and move it to rotate the symbol. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333548308-3.png)   You can also quickly flip a symbol along the vertical or horizontal axis using the **Flip** command on the **Home** tab. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18189823573012-3.png) ### Add Color Add style to a symbol by clicking on it in your workspace, then selecting from the options in **Home** tab. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333551380-3.png) You can change the fill color using **Fill**, change the border color using **Line**, change the **Style** from the selected Theme, or change the **Theme** of your entire diagram. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406333552020-3.png)   ### Add Text to a Symbol To add text to any shape, simply select the shape and type. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42406341169684-3.png)   ### Change Shape If you need to quickly change a shape in your visual, select it in your workspace, then chose **Change Shape** from the **right-click menu** or the **Design** tab. You'll see a list of options based on other symbols you've added to your diagram. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42485310040340-3.png) ### Change Selected Shapes to the Selected Library Symbol You can also change any selected shapes in your workspace to a selected library symbol in a single click. Select the symbols in your workspace you want to replace. Next, right-click on the symbol you want to swap to in the library (in the SmartPanel to the left of your workspace) and choose **Replace Shapes with this Symbol**. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/18208440589588-3.png)   ### Aligning Symbols Align a group of symbols by first selecting the symbols you want to align. You can do this by drawing a selection box around them in your workspace or holding down the shift key while clicking on each symbol. The last symbol selected will have black handles and this is the symbol that will be act as the target symbol the other symbols will align to. Select an option from **Align** menu in the **Home** tab. ![](https://support.smartdraw.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/42446130479124-3.png)   ### Arranging Symbols in the Work Area Send symbols forward or backward, make them the same size, or space them evenly in your diagram by clicking on the symbols in your workspace, then selecting **Bring to Front**, **Send to Back**, **Make Same**, or **Space Evenly** in the **Home** tab. 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