Diagram format and mode (BETA)

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The Diagram format in Miro helps you visualize complex ideas, brainstorm effectively, and collaborate with your team in a structured way. With easy access to essential tools like layers, Miro AI, and diagramming shapes, this new format is your complete workspace for diagramming.

What is the Diagram format?

The Diagram format in Miro is a dedicated workspace designed to enhance your diagramming experience. It provides a structured environment with tools like layers, Miro AI, and a comprehensive library of diagramming shapes. This format helps you create clear, organized, and professional diagrams for various purposes, such as process mapping, system design, or brainstorming.

Access the Diagram format

To add a new Diagram to your Miro board, follow these steps:

1. Click the plus (+) icon in the toolbar.
2. Select Diagram.
3. Click anywhere on the canvas to add it.

This creates a dedicated format for the Diagram where you can start to:

• Add shapes manually.
• Create with AI.

Create a Diagram manually

To add shapes to your Diagram manually, follow these steps:

1. Click Add shapes within the Diagram format.
   This automatically opens focus mode, where you can:
   • Add diagramming shapes or add custom shapes.
   • Connect elements with lines and arrows.
   • Add sticky notes and text for annotating diagrams.
   • Switch to the Create with AI tool.

Create a Diagram with AI

With Miro AI, you can generate diagrams quickly by automating shape placement and connections based on your input. Whether you're brainstorming, mapping processes, or structuring data, Miro AI saves time and ensures clarity in your visualizations.

You can use Miro AI to create diagrams in two ways depending on where you are on the canvas:

1. From the Diagram format itself.
2. From the Create with AI tool on the left side.

When you create a new diagram with AI, you can choose one of these types to get started:

• Flowchart
• Mind Map
• ER Diagram
• UML Sequence
• UML Class

Create a diagram from a Diagram format using AI

If you've just added a blank Diagram format to the board, you can use Miro AI to populate it:

1. Click Create with AI inside the Diagram. Focus mode opens.
2. Select the diagram type and describe the diagram. For example, "Online shop checkout flow".
3. Click Generate diagram.

Miro AI analyzes your input and generates a structured diagram based on predefined templates and connections. You can then edit, move, and connect AI-generated shapes just like manually added ones.

Create a diagram from the Create with AI panel

If you haven't added a Diagram yet, Miro AI can create one from scratch. To do this:

1. Open the Create with AI panel.
2. Select the Diagram content type.
3. Select one of the predefined diagram types.
4. Describe the diagram you want to create.
5. Select Generate diagram.

Your generated diagram will appear in a blank area on the canvas. You can edit, move, and connect AI-generated shapes just like manually added ones.

Create a Diagram format from an existing diagram

If you've already created a diagram on the canvas and want to structure it into a Diagram format, you can convert it with one click. This keeps all connections intact while adding Diagram-specific functionality.

To convert an existing diagram on the canvas into a Diagram format:

1. Select multiple connected shapes.
2. Click Wrap as diagram in the context menu.

Your selected shapes and connections will be structured into a Diagram. You can still move shapes in and out of the Diagram format.

Work on your Diagram

Once you've added or generated a Diagram, you can refine it using Focus mode, Layers, and the Context menu. These tools help you stay organized, minimize distractions, and efficiently structure your diagram.

Use Focus mode

Diagrams can be opened in focus mode (full screen) when you want to focus solely on the Diagram you're working on and not other content on the board. Focus mode is the diagramming workspace in Miro designed for efficient diagramming. To access this mode, click on the Focus mode icon above the Diagram you're working on.

While in focus mode, you can access all Diagram editing tools, including shape customization, layers, and AI-powered generation. Additionally, shapes snap to a grid, making it easier to align elements precisely.

Use Layers in Diagrams

Layers in Diagrams allow you to organize and manage content within a Diagram without affecting the rest of the board. Unlike canvas layers, which apply to the entire Miro board, Diagram layers are specific to the Diagram you're working on.

Layers in Diagrams work as follows:

• Layers can only be managed within the Diagram's focus mode. You can quickly access focus mode by clicking on any shape within the diagram and then selecting the "You are editing: Diagram layer name" button.
• Each Diagram has its own set of layers, separate from the canvas layers.
• Each Diagram starts with a default layer, where all new elements are placed. If needed, you can create additional layers to better structure complex Diagrams.
• You can add multiple layers to structure your Diagram.
• Elements inside a Diagram can be moved between layers.
• You can hide or lock layers to focus on specific parts of the Diagram while editing or presenting.
• If you copy and paste or duplicate a Diagram, all of its layers will be duplicated as well. This is particularly useful for creating different versions of a diagram without having to recreate the layer structure each time.

Add a new layer

To create a new layer inside a Diagram, follow these steps:

1. Open the Diagram's focus mode.
2. Click Layers in the top-right corner to open the Diagram layers sidebar.
3. Click + New layer to create a new layer.
4. Rename the layer (optional) to keep your Diagram organized.

Alternatively, you can right-click an element on a diagram and then select Move to layer > + New layer.

Manage layers

By default, all new elements are placed in the default layer. To better organize your Diagram, you can move elements between layers, hide or lock layers, and adjust layer settings.

Move elements between layers:

To move elements between layers:

1. Right-click the element(s) you want to move.
2. Select Move to layer and then select the layer you want to move your element to.

Hide layers:

Hiding layers can help simplify your view while editing or presenting a Diagram. To hide a layer:

• In the Diagram layers sidebar, click the eye icon next to a layer to hide or show it.

Lock layers:

Locking a layer prevents accidental edits. To lock a layer:

• In the Diagram layers sidebar, click the lock icon next to a layer to disable modifications. Click it again to unlock.

Modify layer settings:

You can rename, duplicate, move, or delete layers. To modify layer settings:

• In the Diagram layers sidebar, click the three-dots icon next to a layer to access additional options.

Set a Diagram as default view

When working on Diagrams, you can find additional functions through the context menu, accessed by clicking on the three dots icon.

For example, you can set a Diagram as the default view when opening a board. To do this:

1. Select the Diagram on the canvas.
2. Open the three dots (...) menu and select Set as default view.

Now the selected Diagram format will automatically open every time you open the board.

Add your Diagram to a Doc

1. Select the Diagram on the canvas.
2. Drag and drop your Diagram into a Doc.
3. Resize and position your Diagram within the Doc as needed.

✏️ Synced copies are view-only for everyone. To change the copy content, modify the content of the original Diagram.

Copy your Diagram to another board

When multiple teams collaborate across different boards, you can share the same Diagram in multiple places by creating a synced copy. This ensures everyone stays aligned around a single source of truth, no matter where they're working.

To copy a synced Diagram to another board, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Diagram you want to share.
2. Select Copy and sync.
3. Navigate to the target board and paste the Diagram.

The copied Diagram will stay synchronized with the original—any changes made to the source will be reflected automatically in the synced copy.

✏️ Synced copies are view-only for everyone. To change the copy content, modify the content of the original Diagram.

Share your Diagram

Frequently asked questions