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Diagramming resources

Architecture diagrams are an important part of communicating your system design.

On this page you’ll find diagramming toolkits and guidelines to help you create clear, consistent diagrams for ArcGIS-based systems. To see examples of diagrams created using these resources, explore the reference architectures available in the Architecture Library. And if you’re not sure how to get started with your system design, learn more about architectural approaches and the architecture process.

Toolkits

Diagramming toolkits are currently available for Microsoft Visio.

Download Toolkit for Microsoft Visio (Updated July 26, 2024)

The ArcGIS architecture diagramming toolkit for Microsoft Visio contains multiple Visio stencil files, a README file with import instructions, a PDF with style guidelines, as well as the license file. Diagramming toolkits are governed by the Creative Commons license CC BY.

Other diagramming tools

The ArcGIS architecture diagramming toolkit for Microsoft Visio can be used in other diagramming tools. See below for tool-specific instructions.

Lucidchart

Follow these steps to use the toolkit for Microsoft Visio in Lucidchart:

  1. Download the toolkit to your computer, and unzip the file.
  2. Open a Lucidchart document and click “More Shapes” from the shape library on the left.
  3. From the panel on the left, click the “Import Shapes” button.
  4. Select the desired stencils (.vssx) from the files extracted in the first step, and click upload.
  5. Rename the library for your own use.

draw.io

Follow these steps to use the toolkit for Microsoft Visio in draw.io:

  1. Download the toolkit to your computer, and unzip the file.
  2. Open a draw.io diagram.
  3. Open the “File” menu > “Import from” > “Device”.
  4. Select the desired stencils (.vssx) from the files extracted in the first step, and click upload.

Guidelines

The icons provided in the toolkit above are designed to be easy to use. The guidelines below are recommendations for how best to apply the toolkit in creating diagrams for ArcGIS systems.

We recommend We don’t recommend
Using the icons as provided Changing the color of the icons
Favoring text over icons if space constrained Adjusting spacing between icon and text
Using a white or light background Stretching or skew the icons
Letting us know what you think! Removing parts of the icons
  Moving or removing labels

Style-related guidelines are toolkit specific and can be found in the toolkit files downloadable above.

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