Open a SmartDraw Visual Template

To start a new visual, click on Basics.

In the Template Preview Area, you'll find a few of our most commonly used visual types. Simply click on a Template to start.

Or you can click the More folder to view more choices.

Search for Visuals Using Keywords

A search bar is available at the top of this window. Start typing to enter a keyword. As you type, suggestions based on your input appear below. Click on a suggestion, or finish typing what you want, and press Enter key to run the search.

To the right of the Search box, you'll find the number of results found for the search, along with Previous and Next buttons. Use these buttons to navigate from search result to search result, which appear in the Template Preview Area highlighted in their usual location in the files.

You can also press the N key on your keyboard for Next and the P key for Previous.

Click on a Template to start, or type a new keyword to start a new search.

Browse for Visuals Based on Their Function

To browse visual templates and examples, click Templates under New.

In the central Template Preview Area, you'll find a series of file folders labeled with categories of visual types.

Click on one of these folders to open it and view a choice of related Templates and Examples.

Custom Categories & Templates

Custom Categories allow you to group Templates together into Categories you define.

To create a Custom Category, click on the Add Category button at the bottom of the Template List and choose Create New Category from the menu. Name your category and click OK.

Once a Custom Category has been created you can right click on any Template or Template Category and choose Add to Custom Category and then choose the Category you wish to add it to from the list.

If you have saved a visual as a template you can also add those templates to a Custom Category. By Default the templates you create will be added to the My Templates Category.

Custom Categories can also be exported and then imported by another SmartDraw user. To export a Custom Category right click on the Category in the Left panel and choose Export from the menu. Choose a location save the exported Category to and click OK.

Navigate the template screen with just your keyboard. Press the B key to open Basics, the T for Templates, and R for Recently used.

Open a Recently Used Document

To open a saved visual you have recently worked on, click on Documents under Recent.

Your visuals appear in the central Template Preview Area as thumbnails. Click on the visual you wish to open.

Open a Recently Visited Template

SmartDraw keeps track of any visual template you open, even if you don't do anything in it. To find a template you opened recently, click Templates under Recent.

Click on a template button in the middle of the screen to open it.