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.
By default, frames will be gray, but you can select the frame and change the color to any color including white.
When you add new shapes connected to the diagram in your frame, the frame will automatically expand to make room for the new shapes.
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.
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.
Once all the shapes are selected, you can use the right-click menu to Add Frame around the selected symbols.
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.
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.
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.