Create custom shape libraries in draw.io for Confluence Cloud

Save time with custom libraries

If you are using draw.io for Confluence Cloud, there is a quick and efficient way to add and share custom libraries. Custom libraries are ideal if you and your team are regularly using the same specific, complex, or custom shapes throughout your diagrams.

You can add shapes, groups of shapes, employee headshots, and even entire diagrams to your custom library.

In this blogpost, we’ll look at both creating a new custom library, and importing an existing one, in Confluence Cloud.

Create a custom library

To create a new custom library:

1. On a Confluence page, start typing “/draw” and select draw.io Diagram.

2. In the top menu, head to File > New Library > Confluence Cloud…

3. Clicking Confluence Cloud… will take you to the blank modal. This is also a good opportunity to rename the shape library.

4. If you already have the images you wish to use stored on your device, you can already add them to the custom shape library. Add images, including .JPEG, .PNG, .SVG, and even .GIF files, to the library.

5. To add your shapes, either:

   1. Click Import to import a shape library from your device, or,

   2. Drag images or URLs directly into the modal. Once you’ve performed this step, if there are any shapes you don’t want added to the library, simply click the black cross (x) icon to the top right of the shape.

6. Once you’re done, click Save.

7. Alternatively, you can add the shapes directly within the draw.io editor. To do this, click Save, without saving any shapes to the library.

8. Once in the draw.io editor and you’ve created or imported the shapes you wish to add to the library: Left-click to select one or more shapes, then clicking the plus (+) icon next to the library name.

9. Once you’ve hit save, your custom library will then automatically be available in the draw.io Configuration settings. Locate this by heading to the Settings cog in the top right, selecting draw.io add-on, and clicking on the Custom Libraries tab. Any existing custom libraries that have been shared in your Confluence space will also appear here.

Open an existing custom library from Confluence Cloud

There are two ways to open an existing custom library, either head to File in the top menu, or to the +More Shapes library:

1) Via File > Open Library from

1. In the top menu, head to File > Open Library from > Confluence Cloud…

2. Check the box next to the library or libraries you wish to open, then click OK.

2) Via +More shapes library

1. Head to +More Shapes at the bottom of the left side menu.

2. Scroll to the bottom to locate your Custom Libraries, and ones shared with you.

3. Check the box next to the library or libraries you wish to open, then click Apply.

4. The library will then appear in the shape panel on the left.

If you want to add more shapes to the existing library, select the shape on the draw.io canvas, then click on the plus (+) sign next to the library name.

Want to dive deeper into the world of draw.io? Access our linktr.ee page to follow us on social media and learn how others use draw.io, as well as pick up some helpful tips and tricks.