draw-io_skill

Overview

This skill provides precise tools and guidance for creating, editing, and reviewing draw.io (.drawio) diagrams with production-quality PNG exports and AWS icon support. It enforces safe editing rules, layout conventions, and export commands to ensure consistent, accessible diagrams for slides and documentation. Use it to automate PNG conversion, adjust coordinates in XML, and validate visual rules before publishing.

How this skill works

The skill operates on .drawio XML files only — it edits mxCell and mxGeometry tags to adjust positions, sizes, and styles, and it runs drawio CLI commands to produce high-resolution transparent PNGs. It includes scripts and pre-commit hooks for bulk or per-file conversion, a small AWS icon search script, and a checklist to validate layout, fonts, arrows, and margins. It also codifies design principles and coordinate calculation techniques to align elements precisely.

When to use it

• Converting .drawio files to high-resolution PNGs for slides or docs
• Adjusting element coordinates, sizes, or layering directly in .drawio XML
• Enforcing consistent fonts, icon versions, and accessibility rules across diagrams
• Preparing diagrams for reveal.js slides or PDF export with correct sizing
• Validating that arrows, labels, and internal margins meet publishing standards

Best practices

• Edit only .drawio files; never edit generated .drawio.png files
• Specify defaultFontFamily and explicit fontFamily in each text style for consistent rendering
• Use drawio CLI with -x -f png -s 2 -t -o for high-resolution transparent PNGs
• Keep arrows on the back layer, avoid overlap with labels, and keep at least 20px clearance
• Ensure internal elements have at least 30px margin from background frames and account for rounded corners
• Remove unnecessary decorative elements and use official, up-to-date AWS icons

Example use cases

• Batch convert all .drawio diagrams to PNGs before a release or presentation
• Manually nudge a box by editing mxGeometry x/y/width/height to fix overlap or line breaks
• Search and insert the official AWS icon for a service using the included find_aws_icon.py helper
• Adjust arrow source/target points in XML for precise routing around labels
• Verify diagram accessibility: increase font size, ensure contrast, and add patterns for color-blind viewers