Skip to main content
As you build and refine a diagram — whether through AI generation, chat instructions, or manual editing — elements can end up overlapping or connected by crossing flow lines. Auto-layout fixes this in one click. It analyzes the entire diagram and repositions every element into a clean, readable layout with evenly spaced shapes, right-angle connectors, and properly aligned pools and lanes — all without touching your labels, connections, or any other BPMN properties.

​
How to trigger auto-layout

1

Open your diagram

Navigate to the diagram you want to tidy and make sure it’s open in the editor.
2

Click the Auto-layout button

Locate the Auto-layout button in the editor toolbar — it looks like a grid or “tidy” icon. Click it once to apply the layout immediately.You can also trigger auto-layout with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+L on Windows/Linux, or Cmd+Shift+L on macOS.
3

Review the result

The diagram redraws with the new layout applied. Scroll and zoom to inspect the result. If you prefer the previous arrangement, press Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on macOS) to undo.

​
What auto-layout does

Removes crossing flows

Re-routes sequence flows and message flows so that connections no longer cross each other, making the process logic much easier to follow.

Spaces elements evenly

Applies consistent horizontal and vertical spacing between all tasks, events, and gateways so the diagram doesn’t feel crowded or uneven.

Aligns pools and lanes

Adjusts the width and height of pools and lanes to fit their contents, and aligns pool boundaries with the overall diagram grid.

Uses right-angle connectors

Converts diagonal or curved flow lines to clean orthogonal (right-angle) connectors that follow the grid, matching standard BPMN presentation conventions.

Preserves element labels

All task names, gateway conditions, event labels, and annotation text remain exactly as they were — only positions change.

Preserves all connections

No connections are added or removed. Auto-layout only changes how existing flows are routed, not what they connect.
Auto-layout never deletes or modifies any elements. It only changes the position and routing of shapes and connectors. Your BPMN structure, labels, and properties are completely untouched.

​
When to use auto-layout

Run auto-layout after any of the following situations to keep your diagram presentable:
  • After the initial AI generation — especially for complex processes with many elements, the first draft can benefit from a layout pass.
  • After a round of chat refinements — new elements added by the AI are placed logically but may not be optimally spaced relative to existing ones.
  • After adding several elements manually — when you’ve been dragging in new shapes and connections by hand, auto-layout tidies everything up in one step.
  • Before sharing or exporting — ensure the diagram looks polished before sending it to stakeholders or downloading it.

​
Frequently asked questions

By default, auto-layout arranges diagrams in a left-to-right flow, which matches the most common BPMN reading direction. If your process is naturally vertical, you can change the layout direction in Settings → Editor → Auto-layout direction before triggering it.
Yes — auto-layout repositions all elements on the canvas. If you have specific elements you’ve placed precisely, apply auto-layout first as a base and then manually reposition those elements afterward. Use Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z) immediately if the result isn’t what you expected.
Yes, there is no element-count limit for auto-layout. On very large diagrams (hundreds of elements), the layout calculation may take a second or two — a progress indicator will appear in the toolbar while it runs.