---
sourceDocument: Australia Enterprise Architecture
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-portfolio-management
Release :
- australia
ft:locale :
- en-US
ft:publication_title :
- Australia Enterprise Architecture
ft:clusterId :
- appportman
bundleId :
- appportman
workflow :
- Technology
---
# Custom shapes example
# Custom shapes example {#ariaid-title1}
Release version: Australia
Updated June 22, 2026
 5 minutes to read
Use custom shapes to represent specific elements that are unique to your organization, such as custom business processes, systems, or roles.
## Before you begin
Roles required: System Administrator (to upload images to the database), sn_apm.apm_admin (to create diagram actions, entity configurations, custom shape library, and add shape library elements),
sn_apm_mdtl_com.mdtl_com_admin (to create reference relationships).
## About this task
In this example, you will learn how to upload an image or shape to the database and create a diagram action for it. You will also create an entity configuration, a custom shape library, and a shape library element that maps the shape to the entity configuration. Finally, you will create a reference relationship between entities and create a diagram using the shapes.
Create the shapes that represent the elements you want to include in your diagrams. Ensure the images are clear, simple, and visually distinct. The compatible format is .SVG. In this example, we use the 'Database.svg'
image.
Tip:
To display a properties side panel when a shape is selected on the canvas, you must set the node type to CI Item in the diagram action, create an entity configuration for the target table, and map the entity configuration to the shape library element. Steps 4, 5, and 7 in this example cover this workflow.
## Procedure
1. Upload the image or shape to the database.
1. Navigate to AllSystem UIImages.
2. Select New.
{#eaw-modeling-custom-shape-example__substeps_efv_jg3_k2c}
2. In the New image record, enter the name of the image file (include file format extension) and fill in other details.
3. Select Click to add....
4. Create a diagram action for the image in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace.
1. Log in as an APM admin user (sn_apm.apm_admin), navigate to the Setup section.
2. Under the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization section, select Diagram Actions.
3. Select New to create a diagram action for the image (Database.svg).
4. In the Diagram Action form, enter the following details:
* Name --- Name for the diagram action.
* Diagram builder configuration --- Select APM diagram configuration from the list.
* Node type --- Select CI Item if you want the shape to display a properties side panel showing data from a platform entity when selected on the canvas. Select Image node container if you want the shape to be a standalone visual element with no entity data.
* Category --- Select Default.
* Sub category --- Select Default sub category.
* Icon --- Enter name of the image.
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5. Create an entity configuration to link the shape to a platform entity table.
An entity configuration defines the platform table that the shape represents. When you map an entity configuration to a shape library element, selecting the shape on the canvas opens a properties side panel. The side panel shows field data from the corresponding entity record. This step is required if you set the node type to CI Item in the previous step.
For field information, see [Entity configuration form](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PnwYcq9C~1zTmvhHBg_LIw "The entity configuration form helps you to configure entities that can be used in the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization.").
1. Open the Setup page by selecting the Setup icon (![setup icon.]()).
2. Select the expand row icon (![expand row icon.]()) next to Enterprise Modeling and Visualization.
3. Select Entity Configurations.
4. Select New.
5. On the Entity Configuration form, fill in the fields.
* Name --- Enter a name for the entity configuration. For example, Epic.
* Entity --- Select the platform table that this entity represents. For example, rm_epic for Epics.
* Display field --- Enter the field name to display in the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization. For example, name.
* Diagram action --- Select the diagram action that you created in step 4.
{#eaw-modeling-custom-shape-example__ul_entcfg_fields_k2c}
6. Select Save.
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6. Create a custom shape library specific to your Org to add all the shapes to create diagrams for your organization.
1. As an APM Admin user, navigate to SetupEnterprise Modeling and VisualizationShape Libraries.
2. Select New.
3. Enter a name for the shape library, then select Save.
{#eaw-modeling-custom-shape-example__substeps_b34_rnb_k2c}
7. Add a shape library element to associate the shape and its diagram action to the shape library.
1. As an APM Admin user, open the shape library you have created in the previous step.
2. Select the Shape Library Elements tab.
3. Select New.
4. In the Shape library element form, enter the following details:
* Tool tip --- Enter text that you want to see on hovering the image.
* Diagram action --- Select the diagram action that you created in step 4.
* Now icon --- Enter the name of the shape or image.
* Name --- Enter a name for the shape to be displayed in the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization.
* Shape library --- This field is automatically selected.
* Domain --- Optional field.
* Entity configuration --- Select the entity configuration that you created in step 5. This field is required if you set the node type to CI Item in step 4. Selecting an entity configuration maps this shape to the corresponding platform entity table. The properties side panel is displayed when the shape is selected on the canvas.
{#eaw-modeling-custom-shape-example__ul_qp2_mwk_k2c}
5. Select Save.
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8. Create a reference relationship between the entities to enable the shape to reference and retrieve entity records on the canvas.
A reference relationship defines how the entity associated with the custom shape relates to other entities in the platform. This step is required if you set the node type to CI Item in step
4.
For field information, see [Relationship configuration form](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/zajXo~1r6Y27hVA3ooGQJw "The entity configuration form helps you to configure entities that can be used in the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization.").
1. Open the Setup page by selecting the Setup icon (![setup icon.]()).
2. Select the expand row icon (![expand row icon.]()) next to Enterprise Modeling and Visualization.
3. Select Relationships.
4. Select New.
5. On the Relationship form, fill in the fields.
* Relationship Type --- Select Reference.
* Base Entity --- Select the entity that is the source of the relationship. For example, the entity representing the custom shape you created.
* Base Reference --- Define the reference field on the base entity table.
* Related Entity --- Select the entity that the base entity relates to.
* Base Entity Configuration --- Select the entity configuration that you created in step 5.
{#eaw-modeling-custom-shape-example__ul_refrel_fields_k2c}
6. Select Save.
{#eaw-modeling-custom-shape-example__substeps_refrel_k2c}
9. Create a diagram using the shape uploaded.
1. Navigate to Enterprise Modeling and Visualization page.
2. Select \> NewBlank diagram
3. Enter a name for the diagram and optionally, you can enter or select an existing architectural category for the diagram.
Observe that the shape library that you created appears in the Shapes pallet. It contains the shape that you uploaded.
4. Click on the shape to add it to the canvas.
The selected shape gets added to the canvas. If you configured the node type as CI Item and mapped an entity configuration to the shape library element, select the shape and then select the Info icon on the right side of the canvas to display the properties side panel showing entity record data.
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**Related tasks**
* [Storing shapes or images to the database](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/~9vtcsXjTOUBDg~5b3jbnQ "Upload the images to the database to configure them to show up in the diagrams page of the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization.")
* [Create a diagram action for a custom shape](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Fr325l0HcpHA97YF4M~~pA "Create diagram actions for newly added custom shapes that can be used in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization to create diagrams.")
* [Add a custom shape library](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/2RGW79O1W1T95Afzz7XFcw "Create a shape library to add custom shapes that are unique to your organization.")
* [Add a shape library element for a custom shape](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/_iXN_Ll~YkhRuDszWl7_0g "Create a shape library element to associate a custom shape and its diagram action to the custom shape library.")
* [Add or edit an entity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/gAFWNc6h5peW9AQI0Y20hA "Add an entity or edit an existing entity details that are included in the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagram.")
* [Add or edit a relationship](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/mexwhzOZNXKD6ilRFk9jYg "Add or edit a relationship configuration details available for the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace.")
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