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sourceDocument: Australia Enterprise Architecture
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-portfolio-management

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ft:locale :

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ft:publication_title :

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---

# Working with ArchiMate Shapes

# Working with ArchiMate Shapes {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated June 9, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Use ArchiMate® shapes to build enterprise architecture diagrams that represent the relationships between business, application, and technology domains across your organization.

ArchiMate® is an open, independent enterprise architecture modeling language standardized by The Open Group. In the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization, ArchiMate® shapes let you model the current and target state of your enterprise using a consistent, industry-standard notation.

ArchiMate® shapes are organized into the following categories in the Shapes palette:

* **Implementation and Migration**: Shapes for modeling transition states, work packages, deliverables, gaps, and plateaus.
* **Relationship Type**: Junction shapes (And Junction and Or Junction) for modeling branching and merging relationships.
* **Business Layer**: Shapes for actors, roles, processes, functions, services, and other business-layer elements.
* **Application Layer**: Shapes for application components, services, functions, interfaces, and data objects.
* **Motivation**: Shapes for goals, requirements, drivers, principles, stakeholders, and other motivational elements.
* **Physical**: Shapes for equipment, facilities, and materials.
* **Strategy**: Shapes for capabilities, courses of action, resources, and value streams.
* **Technology**: Shapes for nodes, devices, system software, technology services, functions, and interfaces.

When you connect two ArchiMate® shapes, a toolbar appears on the connector. Use the Relationship type drop-down in the toolbar to set the ArchiMate® 3.2 relationship type --- for example, Access, Assignment, Influence, or Serving. For the full list of relationship types and their visual styles, see [Shape connector properties in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/8KNA~T8OKqtMB0lRY5_~Lw "When you select a connector between two shapes in an enterprise modeling diagram, a toolbar appears above the connector. Use the toolbar to define the relationship type or visual style of the connector.").

Connector ports on ArchiMate® shapes are bi-directional. You can use any connector port --- top, bottom, left, or right --- as either an input or an output when connecting shapes.  
Tip:  
To keep connector ports permanently visible on all shapes without hovering, enable the Show all buttons without the need to hover preference in PreferencesAccessibility. For more information, see [Show shape controls without hovering](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/0QZWj3n5Tq36eziAs7fl6A "Enable an accessibility preference to keep all contextual buttons and controls on diagram shapes visible at all times, without requiring you to hover.").
* **[Create diagram using ArchiMate shapes and add relationships](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UObhkHgXwVdysKXmO0FLGg)**   
  Use the industry standard ArchiMate shapes to create modeling diagrams for your enterprise in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace.

**Related concepts**   

* [Shape connector properties in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/8KNA~T8OKqtMB0lRY5_~Lw "When you select a connector between two shapes in an enterprise modeling diagram, a toolbar appears above the connector. Use the toolbar to define the relationship type or visual style of the connector.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Create diagram using ArchiMate shapes and add relationships](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UObhkHgXwVdysKXmO0FLGg "Use the industry standard ArchiMate shapes to create modeling diagrams for your enterprise in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace.")
* [Show shape controls without hovering](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/0QZWj3n5Tq36eziAs7fl6A "Enable an accessibility preference to keep all contextual buttons and controls on diagram shapes visible at all times, without requiring you to hover.")  
**Related reference**   

* [ArchiMate shapes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1gsa8sPZuLxQsnS6PlL42w "ArchiMate shapes are industry-standard elements used by enterprise architects to create diagrams that represent relationships across different domains of an enterprise. These shapes are used to model the business, application, motivation, physical, strategy, and technology layers.")

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