Patent ID: 8739068

Claim:
A method for selecting a diagram shape while creating a diagram, the method comprising: determining that a cursor is proximate to a user interface (UI) trigger on a drawing canvas adjacent to an off-canvas shape gallery, the UI trigger comprising a first diagram shape in the drawing canvas and a connection control comprising at least one selectable indicator representing a placement direction in which a second diagram shape is inserted into the diagram; in response to determining that the cursor is proximate to the UI trigger, displaying a dynamic UI on the drawing canvas within a minimal navigation distance of the UI trigger, the dynamic UI comprising a shape gallery having a plurality of selectable UI shape controls, wherein each selectable UI shape control corresponds to a different diagram shape that is available for placement within the diagram on the drawing canvas; receiving a selection of the second diagram shape from the plurality of selectable UI shape controls; if the UI trigger is the connection control, inserting the second diagram shape adjacent to the first diagram shape associated with the connection control, and inserting a connector between the first diagram shape and the second diagram shape; and if the UI trigger is the first diagram shape, replacing the first diagram shape with the second diagram shape.