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EdrawMax Guide

Create Your Own Symbols

Make New Symbol

If the built-in symbol library in EdrawMax can’t meet your needs, let’s start making your own symbol!

There are some options that are used for making combined shapes. Navigate to Symbols tab, select 2 or more shapes, then

combined shape tool
  • Union: Make a shape from several overlapping shapes and the lines in the overlapped area will disappear.
  • union shapes
  • Combine: Make a shape from several overlapping shapes, and you can still see where these shapes are overlapped.
  • combine shapes
  • Subtract (on the first line): Create a shape by subtracting the overlapped area from the selected upper shape.
  • subtract shape
  • Fragment: Divide multiple shapes into smaller parts based on intersecting lines or overlap.
  • fragment shapes
  • Intersect: Create a shape from the area where multiple selected shapes overlap.
  • intersect shapes
  • Subtract (on the second line): Create a shape by subtracting the overlapped area from the selected lower shape.
  • subtract shape

Tip: Don’t forget to save your symbol when it is done! Click Save Symbol button under the Symbols tab and there will open the Save Symbol window. When you have decided where to save the symbol and give it a new name, you will see an ede file and a PNG file, then you can import them into your own shape library.

Add Text Box

To add a text box on your symbol, you can select the shape and go to Symbols > Text Tool.

symbol text tool

Add Text with Control Point: After you click this option, double-click the shape, there will be a text box below, and you can see a yellow diamond, which is called Control Point. You are able to move the text box by dragging the control point.

add text with control point

Add Text Above the Shape: This option will add a text box above the symbol and when you type words, you will not see the symbol, but the text box.

Add Connection Point

To add connection points on your symbol, you can select the shape and go to Symbols > Point Tool.

symbol point tool

Add Connection Points Automatically: Click this option, 4 connection points will be added around the symbol.

add connection points automatically

Remove Connection Points: Click this option and all connection points on the symbols will be removed.

Connection Points Tool: Click this option, the cursor will look like a connection point, and you can choose to add connection points on any area of your symbol.