Where each tool lives

A map of the palette's categories, now that the Tools tab has been split into Build, Write, Draw, Components, Data, Behaviour, Collaborate, and Media.

There is no longer a Tools tab. Every group it held is now a palette category of its own, one click away in the category picker rather than two, so this page is a map of where each tool went.

The categories are grouped into four bands: Common (Shapes, Write, Draw), Structure (Build, Components, Devices), Decorate (Icons, Stickers, Tech, Media), and Dynamic (Data, Behaviour, Collaborate), with your Favourites across the top.

PALETTE★ FavouritesCOMMONShapesWriteDrawSTRUCTUREBuildComponentsDevicesDECORATEIconsStickersTechMediaDYNAMICDataBehaviourCollaborate
The category picker: Favourites across the top, then the four bands the categories fall into.

Where each tool lives

Build holds the elements you lay a diagram out with, the ones that hold other work: Mind Node (Tab adds a child, Enter a sibling), Lane (a titled band that carries its steps), Frame (a labelled box that groups a section), Timeline (a track for sequencing events), and Table (an editable grid of cells).

Write holds the wordy elements: Text drops a free-standing label, Page is a paper-sized sheet you write into, Sticky Note is a coloured note card, and Annotation is a small note marker for callouts. The coloured Event Storming workshop stickies live in their own category.

Draw holds the gesture tools: Freehand sketches a stroke and keeps it exactly as drawn, the Shape Pen turns a rough sketch into a real shape, Polygon places straight-edged outlines point by point, and Arrow drops a plain connector you position by hand. See Drawing and Sketch. (Frame moved to Build, and the Highlighter became a canvas mode — see Highlighter.)

Components holds the ready-made pieces: Code Block, Checklist, Entity, and the themed composites (Banner, Callout, Stat row, Process, Hero, Header). (Timeline moved to Build.)

Data holds the charts and meters. See Data and Chart Elements. (Table moved to Build.)

Behaviour holds the elements that do something when somebody interacts with them, browsed in five groups: Selection Mode buttons, Run the room (Reveal zone, Done check, Picker), Get around (Portal, Chair, Link card), Session buttons for the timer, vote and poll, and Reactions (the five reaction pads). See Behaviour Elements.

Collaborate holds the elements that ask the room something: the Comment panel, estimate cards, a temperature check, an idea box, an agenda, a decision record and a roll call. See Collaborate Elements.

Media covers pictures, figures and other people's pages: Image, Avatar, and the embeds for YouTube, Vimeo, Loom, Figma, Google Docs and any website.

Each behaves like any other element once placed: select, restyle, group, and move it freely.

Guides for these tools

Several tools have their own walkthroughs, listed below and linked here:

  • Drawing and Sketch covers Freehand, the Shape Pen, and the Polygon tool.
  • Images covers uploading and placing pictures, avatars, and user figures.
  • Tables covers the editable grid: adding one, filling cells, and rows/columns.
  • Sticky Notes covers the coloured note card for short annotations.
  • Code Blocks covers the dark monospace card for syntax-highlighted snippets.
  • Checklists covers the card of checkable to-do rows you tick on the canvas.
  • Portals covers linking two portals and travelling between them, including across tabs.
  • Data and Chart Elements covers the Data category: Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Line Chart, Progress Bar, Progress Ring (a donut meter), and Rating (stars).
  • Behaviour Elements covers the Behaviour category: Selection Mode buttons, Reveal zones, Done checks, Pickers, Portals, Chairs, Link cards, Session buttons, and Reaction pads.

Arrows are deep enough to deserve their own guide: see Arrows.

Reach for a Frame when a diagram grows past one screen: it keeps a section labelled and easy to move as a unit.

Was this article helpful?