You can add shapes to your drawing using the shape tool, libraries, and quick add controls.
Basic Shape Tool
To add a basic shape, you can use the Shape Tool found to the left of your workspace in the attached SmartPanel. This SmartPanel contains all the tools you need to create your selected diagram type including the basic shapes used in many diagrams.
The Shape Tool lets you insert a basic shape into your visual quickly. Basic shapes include rectangles, ovals, squares, circles, diamonds, and more.
Start by selecting a shape from the drop-down menu, and then simply click into your workspace to stamp the selected shape.
You can add these symbols to your visual by dragging and dropping them from the SmartPanel onto your workspace.
Some diagram types will have a pre-populated "Recently Used Symbols" section. This area is dynamic and will adjust to contain the symbols you actually use in your diagram.
Search for More Symbols
To locate additional symbols, simply type a keyword into the Search for symbols field above the docked library and click the magnifying glass icon.
Symbols matching the query will be grouped by the libraries they appear in.
Hover over any symbol to see its name.
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.
You can also quickly add common symbols using SmartDraw's Quick Add Controls.
SmartDraw has two kinds of Quick Add Controls.
One for diagrams with regular structure like org charts and mind maps. And another for more free form diagrams connected with lines like flowcharts and software diagrams.
In both cases, the Quick Add Controls help you build your diagram.
For diagrams created using SmartDraw's Intelligent formatting, the Quick Add Controls are yellow arrows. Clicking on a yellow arrow in the direction you want to add a shape will automatically add the selected shape in your library and connect it with an automatic connector to the previous shape.
For free form diagrams like flowcharts and software diagrams, the Quick Add Controls are shaped like yellow dots and let you draw a line and connect a new shape at the end of it.
Hover over a shape until you can see yellow dots appear along its perimeter. Move your cursor over any of the dots until your cursor looks like gray crosshairs, then click and draw a line in the direction you want to add a new shape. Once you're happy with your line, choose a new symbol to connect to your previous shape from the auto-prompt menu of common symbols.
This menu is intelligent and will populate with the last 6 symbols you've used in your diagram, so you'll always have the right symbols at your fingertips.