In ArcSite, creating a library of custom shapes is one of the most powerful ways to speed up your drawing process. By saving frequently used objects, symbols, and even complex assemblies, you can ensure consistency across your drawings and the team to save significant time on every project.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating, managing, and using your own shapes.
Creating a New Shape
You can create a new shape from almost any combination of elements on your drawing canvas.
To create a shape:
Place the objects you want to include in your shape on the canvas. This can include:
Lines, arcs, circles, and other drawn objects.
Text annotations.
Photos.
Existing shapes from the ArcSite library.
Use the multi-select tool to select all the elements that will make up your shape.
From the bottom menu, tap Create Shape.
Give your shape a descriptive name and tap Save.
Your new shape will now be available in your personal shape library under the "Created by Me" tab.
Advanced Shape Options
When saving a shape, you have several options to control its behavior.
Snap Points: For Perfect Alignment
Snap points allow you to define specific connection points on your shape. When you place the shape on a drawing, these points will snap to other objects, ensuring perfect alignment every time.
To set snap points:
After tapping "Create Shape," select Edit Snap Points.
Tap anywhere on or around your shape to add a new snap point.
Tap Done when you are finished.
Remember Size & Unit: For Fixed Dimensions
This option forces a shape to always be inserted at its original, saved size, ignoring any scale settings on the drawing. This is perfect for objects that have a standard dimension, like electrical outlets or appliances.
To use this, simply toggle on "Remember Size & Unit" when saving your shape.
Shapes with this option enabled will display a small ruler icon on their thumbnail in the library.
Editable Labels: For Dynamic Text
This feature turns any text within your shape into a dynamic placeholder. When you add the shape to a drawing, you will be prompted to enter new text, which can even be pre-populated with data from your project, such as "Client Name" or "Address."
To create an editable label:
Add a text box to the objects you are saving as a shape.
When saving, toggle on "Editable Shape Labels".
The text you originally wrote becomes the placeholder prompt.
Adding and Removing ArcSite Shape Libraries
ArcSite has constantly expanding sets of Pre-made Shape Libraries that you can add with just a few clicks. These libraries are broken down into logical categories to help you determine if they would be useful to you.
You can also remove these libraries, again with just a few clicks.
Managing Your Custom Shapes
Editing a Shape's Properties
Navigate to the "Created by Me" tab in the shape library.
Tap the Edit link in the bottom right of the shape panel.
Find the shape you wish to edit.
Tap the Circle to the bottom right of the shape
From here, you can delete the shape or edit its snap points.
Modifying a Shape's Appearance
IMPORTANT NOTE - You can select a shape and modify it but you will be saving a new shape rather than modifying the existing one.
If you need to change the visual appearance of a saved shape (e.g., change its color or add a new component):
Place the existing shape onto the drawing canvas.
Select the shape and from the bottom toolbar (iOS) left aligned toolbar (Windows and Android) tap Break Apart. This will separate it into its original, individual components.
Make your desired edits to the components.
Multi-select all the components again and use the Create Shape process to save it.
Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Here are answers to some of the most common questions and issues users run into when working with custom shapes.
Why can't I select certain objects when creating a shape?
Some objects on the canvas are "dynamic" or have special properties, and therefore cannot be included in a static shape.
What Doesn't Work: You cannot include the following objects in a shape:
Measurements / Dimensions: These are calculated values, not static objects.
Text Callouts: These are linked to specific points and are not part of a shape's structure.
Wall Segments: These are special objects with their own unique properties.
Solution: If you need to include a visual representation of a measurement or wall, you will need to draw it using standard lines and arcs first, and then include those drawn objects in your shape.
My shape keeps changing size when I place it on the drawing. How do I make it stay the same size?
This happens when the shape's size isn't locked. The shape is simply adapting to the scale of the drawing you are placing it on.
The Problem: You did not enable the "Remember Size & Unit" option when you first created the shape.
The Solution: You will need to re-save the shape. Place the shape on the canvas, get it to the exact size you want, and then use the Create Shape process again. This time, make sure to toggle ON the "Remember Size & Unit" option before saving.
How can I share my custom shapes with my coworkers?
Having a consistent shape library across your entire team is a huge time-saver.
The Process: Currently, sharing shape libraries is a process managed by the ArcSite team to ensure everything is set up correctly.
The Solution: Please reach out to our ArcSite Support team, and they will be happy to work with you to get your custom shape library shared across your company's user accounts.
I want to change an existing shape, not create a brand new one. How do I edit it?
While you can't "open and edit" a saved shape directly, the workflow is to break it apart, make your changes, and then re-save it, overwriting the old one.
The Process:
Place the shape you want to modify onto the drawing canvas.
Select the shape and tap the Break Apart button. This separates it back into its original, individual components.
Make any changes you need—delete parts, add new lines, change colors, etc.
Once you are done, multi-select all the components again.
Tap Create Shape and give it the exact same name as the original shape. ArcSite will ask if you want to overwrite the existing shape. Confirm, and your shape will be updated.
My shapes disappear when I place them on top of a blueprint or satellite image. Where did they go?
Your shapes are likely there, but they are "see-through" and are visually lost against the complex background.
The Problem: The shape was created without a background fill color, making it transparent.
The Solution: Before you save your shape, add a solid background fill. A white fill is most common. This ensures that when you place the shape on any background—whether it's a blueprint, a satellite map, or just the grid—it will be clearly visible and opaque.
I'm having trouble placing my shapes precisely where I want them. How can I make them connect perfectly?
This is a common issue when trying to align complex shapes with other objects on your drawing. The solution is to use one of the most powerful features of custom shapes: Snap Points.
The Problem: Without defined connection points, your shape can only snap using its basic geometry (like corners or midpoints), which may not be what you need for precise alignment.
The Solution: Use Snap Points. When you create or edit a shape, you can define your own snap points. These are specific spots on your shape that will "magnetically" connect to other lines and objects on your canvas. For example:
On an electrical symbol, you could add a snap point at the exact spot where the electrical line should connect.
On a custom door symbol, you could place snap points at the corners of the frame to ensure it snaps perfectly into a wall opening.
To add or change these, find the shape in your "Created by Me" library, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Edit Snap Points".