PlexiiDiagrams overview

PlexiiDiagrams is the diagram editor in PlexiiOffice. You build a diagram from shapes, such as steps, decisions and start and end points, and join them with connectors that end in an arrow. Use it for flowcharts, process and approval maps, org charts and mind maps.

Every diagram is kept in Office. You can also put a diagram on a desk with the Flowchart widget, which shows the same diagram with the same editor. See Flowchart widget.

Before you start

• PlexiiDiagrams is on every plan.
• Generating a diagram with AI needs AI to be set up: PlexiDesk credits while you are signed in, or your own Anthropic key. See AI credits and where your AI runs.

Start a diagram

1. Click the Apps heading in the side menu. Office Home opens.
2. Click the PlexiDiagrams tile. A new diagram called "Untitled diagram" opens, with one Start shape on it.

You can also start from Blank drawing under Start with a template on Office Home, which makes a new diagram, or, inside a diagram, choose File > New diagram. To open a diagram you already have, click it under Recent on Office Home. See Create a document, sheet, deck, diagram, design or artwork.

What you see

From top to bottom:

• The header: the arrow back to Office, the diagram's name, Share, and whether your changes are saved. See The editor header, saving and the File menu.
• The menu bar: File, Insert, View and Help.
• The shape groups: Flowchart, Basic shapes, Arrows and Containers. Click one to show its shapes in the toolbar below.
• The toolbar: the shapes in the chosen group, the colour swatches for new shapes, Dashed, Templates and AI map. On the right are Arrange, Export and Fit, and a reminder of the main gestures.
• The canvas, on a dotted grid, with zoom buttons in the bottom left corner and a small overview map in the bottom right.

The shapes

The Insert menu lists every shape too, and Insert > Widget from a desk puts a live widget from one of your desks into the diagram.

Work on a diagram

This is a short tour. Draw a flowchart goes through each step in full.

• Add a shape: click it in the toolbar. It appears in the middle of your view.
• Name it: double-click the shape, type, and press Enter.
• Connect two shapes: drag from one of the dots on a shape's sides to another shape.
• Label a connector: double-click the line.
• Move and resize: drag a shape to move it. Select it and drag its handles to resize it.
• Delete: select a shape or line and press Delete or Backspace.
• Tidy up: Arrange sets the whole diagram out in neat layers. Fit, or View > Fit to view, brings all of it into view.

Help > How to diagram lists these gestures.

Start from a template or AI

• Templates offers a Flowchart, an Org chart, a Mind map and an Approval flow with lanes.
• AI map builds a diagram from a description of a process or structure.

Both replace what is on the canvas. See Start a diagram from a template or AI.

Import and export

• Bring in a Visio .vsdx file from the Documents page with Import Visio.
• Export saves the diagram as a PNG image, SVG (vector), JPG image or PDF.

See Import Visio and export diagrams.

The file itself

File has Make a copy, Rename, Version history and Move to trash. See Version history and Delete and restore Office files. Insert > Meeting starts a meeting about the diagram.

Common questions

Can I undo a change? PlexiiDiagrams has no undo. Before a big change, such as picking a template, choose File > Make a copy. To go back to an earlier state, use File > Version history.

Where are my diagrams? In Office. Look under Recent on Office Home, or see Find, star and pin your Office files.

Can I put a diagram on a desk? Yes, with the Flowchart widget. See Flowchart widget.

What is the difference from the Diagram widget? The Diagram widget is a small drawing board that lives only on its desk. A PlexiiDiagrams diagram is a file in Office, with templates, AI and export. See Diagram widget.

Related tasks

• Draw a flowchart
• Start a diagram from a template or AI
• Import Visio and export diagrams
• Flowchart widget
• PlexiiOffice: your office suite