The Text Tool creates independent text objects that aren't attached to shapes. Use these for labels, titles, annotations, and any text that needs to float freely in your diagram.

Text Tool vs. Shape Text

Diagrammix3 offers two ways to add text:

Creating Standalone Text

Using the Text Tool

1. Click the Text Tool in the toolbar (or press T)
2. Click anywhere on the canvas
3. A text input area appears
4. Type your text
5. Click outside or press Esc to finish

The text object remains selected for immediate styling.

Alternative: Drag to Create

For text boxes with specific dimensions:

1. Select the Text Tool
2. Click and drag to define a text box area
3. Release to create the text box
4. Type your text

This creates a text object with fixed width—text wraps within the boundaries.

Editing Text Content

To edit existing text:

1. Double-click the text object
2. The text becomes editable
3. Make your changes
4. Click outside or press Esc to finish

Alternatively:

• Select the text and press Enter to edit
• Select the text and start typing to replace all content

Text Formatting

Basic Formatting

With text selected, use the Inspector panel's Text section:

Font Family

• Choose from all installed system fonts
• Common choices: Helvetica, Arial, Times, Courier

Font Size

• Range: 6pt to 200pt+
• Common sizes: 12pt (body), 18pt (headings), 24pt+ (titles)

Font Style

• Bold (Cmd+B)
• Italic (Cmd+I)
• Underline (Cmd+U)

Text Color

• Click the color well to choose a color
• Link to color schemes for consistency

Alignment

Control how text aligns within its boundaries:

• Left - Text aligns to left edge
• Center - Text centers horizontally
• Right - Text aligns to right edge

Use alignment for:

• Left: Body text, lists, standard labels
• Center: Titles, headings, callouts
• Right: Numerical data, alternate layouts

Text Rotation

Rotate text to any angle:

1. Select the text object
2. In the Inspector, find Rotation or Angle
3. Enter degrees (0-360)
4. Common angles:
   • 0°: Horizontal (default)
   • 90°: Vertical (top to bottom)
   • -90° or 270°: Vertical (bottom to top)
   • 45°: Diagonal

Rotated text is useful for:

• Axis labels on charts
• Vertical swim lane labels
• Diagonal emphasis
• Space-saving layouts

Auto-Size vs. Fixed Width

Text objects can behave in two ways:

Auto-Size Mode

• Text box grows to fit content
• Single line or multiple lines (based on line breaks)
• Width adjusts automatically
• Best for: Labels, single-line annotations

To enable auto-size:

1. Select text object
2. In Inspector, check Auto-size (or similar option)

Fixed Width Mode

• Text box has defined width
• Text wraps to fit within bounds
• Height adjusts to content
• Best for: Paragraphs, descriptions, multi-line labels

To set fixed width:

1. Create text by dragging (defines width)
2. Or: Resize text object handles to set width
3. Text wraps automatically

Text Padding

Control space between text and its boundaries:

1. Select text object
2. In Inspector's Text section
3. Adjust Padding values:
   • All sides: Uniform padding
   • Top/Bottom/Left/Right: Individual control

Padding is useful when:

• Adding background color or borders
• Creating button-like text objects
• Ensuring text doesn't touch edges

Adding Background and Borders

Though text objects are transparent by default, you can style them like shapes:

Adding a Background

1. Select the text object
2. In Inspector's Fill section
3. Choose a fill color
4. The text now has a colored background

Adding a Border

1. Select the text object
2. In Inspector's Stroke section
3. Set stroke color and width
4. The text object gains an outline

Use cases:

• Callouts and annotations
• Button-style labels
• Highlighted important notes
• Creating text badges

Connecting to Text Objects

Text objects can have connectors attached:

1. Use the Connector Tool
2. Connect from a shape to the text object
3. Or from text to text
4. Or from text to other elements

This is useful for:

• Pointing annotations to specific elements
• Creating labeled relationships
• Building concept maps with text nodes

Text Object as Shape Alternative

With background and borders, text objects work like labeled shapes:

Advantages over shapes with text:

• Text-first workflow (text sizing is primary)
• Simpler for text-heavy diagrams
• Auto-sizing to content

When to use shapes instead:

• Need specific shape (rectangle, ellipse, custom)
• Shape appearance is primary
• Using shape-specific features (gradients, effects)

Use Cases

Diagram Titles

Large, centered text at the top of your diagram:

╔═══════════════════════════════╗
║   System Architecture Diagram  ║
╚═══════════════════════════════╝

Annotations

Small text objects pointing to specific diagram elements:

[Shape] ← "This is the main component"

Swim Lane Labels

Vertical or horizontal text labeling diagram regions:

│ R&D  │ Marketing │ Sales │
├──────┼───────────┼───────┤
│      │           │       │

Legend or Key

Text objects explaining diagram symbols:

■ = Completed
□ = In Progress
○ = Not Started

Free-Form Notes

Multi-line text anywhere on the diagram:

Notes:
- Implementation starts Q3
- Requires approval
- Budget: $50K

Tips

1. Use layers - Place annotation text on a separate layer for easy show/hide
2. Consistent styling - Use the same font/size for similar text types
3. Link to color schemes - Ensure text colors work with diagram themes
4. Consider readability - Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background
5. Use fixed width for paragraphs - Let text wrap naturally for longer content

Keyboard Shortcuts

• T - Activate Text Tool
• Cmd+B - Bold
• Cmd+I - Italic
• Cmd+U - Underline
• Double-click - Edit text content
• Enter (when selected) - Edit text content
• Esc - Finish editing

Text vs. Text Element

Some diagram tools distinguish between "text" and "text elements." In Diagrammix3:

• Text Tool creates standalone text objects (this page)
• Shape text is text inside shapes (edited by double-clicking the shape)
• Both support full formatting, but have different behaviors

Related Topics

• Text Editing - General text features
• Shapes - Adding text to shapes
• Inspector Panel - Text formatting controls
• Connectors - Connecting text to elements