> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.staruml.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.staruml.io/master/user-guide/annotation-elements.md).

# Annotation Elements

## Text

To create a Text view:

1. Select **Text** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Drag on the diagram as the size of Text.

You can enter multiline text by double clicking the Text view element. If you want to add a newline character, press `Shift-Enter`.

You can align texts inside the TextBox (Text, Note) with **Text Alignment** buttons in **Style Editor**.

![Text alignments for textual annotations](/files/-MjrQzdl-ssviG1ZT4lm)

## Text Box

Text Box is a box has text inside. The difference from Text view, it has border line color and fill color.

To create a Text Box view:

1. Select **Text Box** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Drag on the diagram as the size of Text Box.

You can enter multiline text by double clicking the Text Box view element. If you want to add a newline character, press `Shift-Enter`.

## Note and Note Link

To create a Note with Link on a element:

1. Select **Note** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Drag on the diagram as the size of Note.
3. Select **Note Link** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
4. Drag on an element and drop on the Note.

You can enter multiline text by double clicking the Note view element. If you want to add a newline character, press `Shift-Enter`.

## Free Line

Free Line is a multi-point line supporting various line formatting including line style, line pattern, and line-end shapes. You can set these line format in **Style Editor**.

![Styles for Free Line element](/files/-Mjr34aLwPCnYZJODiBl)

To create a Free Line view:

1. Select Free**Free Line** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Drag from an end-point and drop on another end-point.

## Hyperlink

To create a Hyperlink view:

1. Select **Hyperlink** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Drag on the diagram as the size of Hyperlink.

You can enter a link for a model element or a URL. To link a model element, click `reference` property in **Property Editor** and select a model element to link in **Element Picker Dialog**. Or to link a URL, enter full URL in `url` property (e.g. `https://staruml.io`).

To open the URL in `url` or the diagram in `reference` property, double-clicking the Hyperlink.  `http://` or `https://` should be included to open in external web browser by double-clicking the Hyperlink. Link to a local file is not supported. If an element (not a diagram) is in `reference` property, it will be selected in **Model Explorer**.

## Shapes (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse)

To create a shape view:

1. Select a shape (**Rectangle, Round Rectangle, Ellipse**) in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Drag on the diagram as the size of shape.

## Image

You can embed an image file (PNG, JPEG, GIF). We recommend to embed an image smaller than 640x640.

To add an image:

1. Select **Image** in **Toolbox (Annotation)**.
2. Click on the diagram at the point you want to place an image.
3. Select an image file (.png, .jpeg/jpg, .gif) in Open Dialog.

You can change the image file by double-clicking on the Image view.