# Edit and arrange shapes

> Select, edit text, rotate, flip, align, distribute, group and lock shapes in PlexiiDiagrams, with smart guides, snapping and keyboard shortcuts.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-edit-and-arrange
Section: Office > Diagrams
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-21

This article covers the everyday editing in PlexiiDiagrams: selecting, typing, moving, rotating, lining things up, and the keyboard shortcuts that speed it up.

## Before you start

- Everything here is on every plan.
- Shortcuts are shown for a Mac. On Windows, use `Ctrl` in place of `⌘` and `Alt` in place of `⌥`.

## Select

- **One shape:** click it. A bold blue frame with a soft halo appears, and the bottom bar says **1 shape selected**. The frame stays the same thickness at any zoom.
- **Several shapes:** drag a box across empty canvas, or `Shift`-click each one. Each is framed, with a dashed box around them all.
- **Everything on the page:** `⌘` `A`.
- **Nothing:** `Esc`, or click empty canvas.

Hovering a shape shows a faint dashed outline. A selected line glows. A locked shape shows a small lock badge when selected.

## Edit text

1. Double-click a shape, or select it and press `Enter`.
2. Type. `Shift` `Enter` starts a new line.
3. Press `Enter` to keep the text, or `Esc` to cancel.

The **Text** tool (`T`) adds a free label wherever you click. Font, size and alignment are in the inspector's **Text** tab.

## Move, resize and rotate

- **Move:** drag the shape, or nudge it with the arrow keys. Hold `Shift` to nudge 10 pixels at a time.
- **Resize:** drag one of the square handles.
- **Rotate:** drag the round knob above a selected shape. Hold `Shift` to turn it in 15° steps. **Arrange** > **Rotate & flip** has **Rotate 90° right** and **Rotate 90° left**.
- **Flip:** **Arrange** > **Rotate & flip** > **Flip horizontally** or **Flip vertically**.

For exact numbers, open the inspector's **Arrange** tab. **Position & size** has **X**, **Y**, **W**, **H** and **Rotation**.

## Smart guides and snapping

While you drag a shape:

- Pink **smart guides** appear when it lines up with other shapes.
- It snaps to equal gaps between shapes.
- It snaps to the grid.

Turn these on or off in the **View** menu (**Grid**, **Snap to grid**, **Smart guides**), or deselect everything and use the **Canvas** section of the inspector. See [Pages, layers and themes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-pages-layers-and-themes).

## Align, distribute and match sizes

Select two or more shapes, then use one of these:

- The **Align and distribute** button in the toolbar: **Align left**, **Align centre**, **Align right**, **Align top**, **Align middle**, **Align bottom**, **Distribute horizontally** and **Distribute vertically**.
- **Arrange** > **Align** and **Arrange** > **Distribute**.
- The inspector's **Arrange** tab, under **Align & distribute**. It also has **Same width**, **Same height** and **Same size**, which match the first shape you selected.

Distributing needs at least three shapes.

## Order, group and lock

| To | Do this |
| --- | --- |
| Bring a shape to the front | `Shift` `⌘` `]`, or **Arrange** > **Bring to front** |
| Bring it forward one step | `⌘` `]`, or **Arrange** > **Bring forward** |
| Send it back one step | `⌘` `[`, or **Arrange** > **Send backward** |
| Send it to the back | `Shift` `⌘` `[`, or **Arrange** > **Send to back** |
| Group shapes so they move together | `⌘` `G`, or **Arrange** > **Group** |
| Ungroup them | `Shift` `⌘` `G`, or **Arrange** > **Ungroup** |
| Lock or unlock a shape or line | `Shift` `⌘` `L`, or **Arrange** > **Lock / unlock** |

A locked shape cannot be moved or edited until you unlock it.

## Hide and show shapes

Hide shapes to get them out of the way without deleting them.

- **Hide:** select one or more shapes, then right-click and choose **Hide shape** (or **Hide shapes** for several), or choose **Arrange** > **Hide**.
- **Show them again:** choose **Arrange** > **Show all hidden**. The menu item shows how many shapes are hidden on the page, such as **Show all hidden (3)**. The **Layers** panel also says how many hidden shapes are on the page, with a **Show all hidden** button.

Hidden shapes stay in the diagram, and you can always bring them back. See [Pages, layers and themes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-pages-layers-and-themes).

## Copy, paste and duplicate

- **Cut**, **Copy** and **Paste**: `⌘` `X`, `⌘` `C` and `⌘` `V`.
- **Duplicate**: `⌘` `D`.

A copy is independent: changing it never changes the original.

To copy a shape's look rather than the shape, select it and choose **Edit** > **Copy style** (`⌥` `⌘` `C`), then select the shapes to change and choose **Edit** > **Paste style** (`⌥` `⌘` `V`). Both are also on a shape's right-click menu, and as **Copy style** and **Paste style** buttons in the inspector's **Style** tab. On Windows, use `Ctrl` `Alt` `C` and `Ctrl` `Alt` `V`.

## Swimlanes and containers

A swimlane or a container holds the shapes you drag into it. When you move it, the shapes inside move with it.

- **Swimlane:** **Insert** > **Swimlane**, or the **Containers** category in the shape library.
- **Other containers:** the **Containers** category.

## Right-click menus

| Right-click | You get |
| --- | --- |
| A shape | **Edit text**, **Cut**, **Copy**, **Duplicate**, **Delete**, **Copy style**, **Paste style**, **Bring to front**, **Send to back**, **Group** (with several selected) or **Zoom to shape**, **Ungroup** (for a group), **Lock** or **Unlock**, **Hide shape** (or **Hide shapes**), and **Tidy these connections** |
| A line | **Edit label**, **Right-angle**, **Curved**, **Straight**, **Reset route**, **Lock** or **Unlock**, and **Delete** |
| Empty canvas | **Paste**, **Add text here**, **Add a box here**, **Select all**, **Tidy connections** and **Fit page** |

## Keyboard shortcuts

**Help** > **Keyboard shortcuts**, or `?`, shows this list in the app.

| Action | Mac |
| --- | --- |
| Select, pan and text tools | `V`, `H`, `T` |
| Pan the canvas | Hold `Space` and drag, drag with the middle button, or scroll |
| Zoom | `⌘` and scroll, pinch, `⌘` `+`, `⌘` `−` |
| Actual size | `⌘` `0` |
| Fit page, zoom to selection | `Shift` `1`, `Shift` `2` |
| Edit text | `Enter`, or double-click |
| New line in a label | `Shift` `Enter` |
| Undo, redo | `⌘` `Z`, `Shift` `⌘` `Z` |
| Cut, copy, paste, duplicate | `⌘` `X`, `⌘` `C`, `⌘` `V`, `⌘` `D` |
| Select all, deselect | `⌘` `A`, `Esc` |
| Delete | `Delete` or `Backspace` |
| Nudge | Arrow keys, with `Shift` for 10 pixels |
| Group, ungroup | `⌘` `G`, `Shift` `⌘` `G` |
| Lock, unlock | `Shift` `⌘` `L` |
| Bring forward, to front | `⌘` `]`, `Shift` `⌘` `]` |
| Send backward, to back | `⌘` `[`, `Shift` `⌘` `[` |
| Bold, italic, underline | `⌘` `B`, `⌘` `I`, `⌘` `U` |
| Copy style, paste style | `⌥` `⌘` `C`, `⌥` `⌘` `V` |
| Find and replace | `⌘` `F` |
| Select several | `Shift`-click, or drag a box |
| Rotate in 15° steps | Drag the knob with `Shift` held |
| Add a connected shape | Click a blue arrow around a selected shape |
| Create and connect | Drag a line from a dot onto empty canvas |

On Windows, use `Ctrl` in place of `⌘` and `Alt` in place of `⌥`.

## Common questions

**A shape I hid is gone.** Choose **Arrange** > **Show all hidden**, or click **Show all hidden** in the **Layers** panel.

**I cannot move or type in a shape.** It may be locked. Select it and press `Shift` `⌘` `L`, or right-click it and choose **Unlock**. If its layer is locked, unlock the layer. See [Pages, layers and themes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-pages-layers-and-themes).

**Shapes jump while I drag them.** They are snapping to the grid, to other shapes, or to equal gaps. Turn off **Snap to grid** or **Smart guides** in the **View** menu.

**The shape will not rotate.** The rotation knob shows when exactly one unlocked shape is selected. Swimlanes do not rotate.

## Related tasks

- [Shapes, icons and images](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-shapes-and-library)
- [Tidy lines and lay out a diagram](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-layout-and-tidy)
- [Connect shapes and route lines](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-connections-and-routing)
- [Pages, layers and themes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-pages-layers-and-themes)
- [PlexiiDiagrams overview](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-overview)