Manage ERD Node Groups
Use node grouping in the ERD canvas to organize related entities, simplify complex diagrams, and manage layout more effectively. This section walks through common grouping tasks, including creating and modifying groups, managing node membership, and controlling group behavior such as collapsing, resizing, and persistence.
Create a group from selected nodes
- Select two or more nodes on the ERD canvas (use CMD + click to multi,select).
- Look for the Snackbar action that appears when nodes are selected.
- Click Wrap in new group to create a new group containing the selected nodes.
- Verify the group appears as a visually distinct container around the nodes, with a title/tab area at the top,left.
Rename a group
Locate the group’s title/tab at the top,left of the group.
Double,click the title.
Type the new name.
Press Enter (or click away) to save.
Title is always displayed at the top,left of the group.
Move a whole group (with its contents)
Click the group container to select it.
Drag the group to a new location.
Release to drop,all child nodes move together.
Move a node inside a group
Click a child node inside the group (not the group container).
Drag the node to reposition it within the group.
Release to drop.
Node repositioning within groups has known limitations. Complex layouts may require ungrouping and regrouping to achieve desired arrangements.
Resize a group
Select a node inside the group.
Drag the node toward or beyond the group boundary.
The group automatically expands or contracts to fit its contents.
What to expect
The group boundary adjusts dynamically as you move nodes.
You should see visual feedback while resizing.
Add a node to a group (drag in)
Select the target group first (click to select it).
Click and drag a node from outside the group toward the group container.
When the node is over the group, look for a highlight/visual indicator showing it can be dropped into the group.
Drop the node inside the group to add it.
What to expect:
The group boundary may adjust as the node is added to accommodate the new child node.
Remove a node from a group (drag out)
Select the node inside the group.
Right-click the node to open the context menu.
Click Remove from Group.
What to expect
The node is removed from the group container.
The node remains on the canvas as an independent entity.
The group boundary may automatically adjust to reflect the updated contents.
Collapse or expand a group
Select (or hover on) the group.
Use the group’s expand/collapse control (via click behavior and/or the group toolbar, depending on the UI).
Toggle:
Expanded: shows all child nodes inside the group.
Collapsed: shows the group as a single node with a summary of child nodes.
Important behavior (callout for users)
Collapsing does not delete anything, no data/state loss.
When a group is collapsed, relationships (edges) are managed as follows:
External relationships: Edges connecting child nodes to entities outside the group are elevated to the group level and shown connecting to the group container (not individual child nodes).
Internal relationships: Edges between child nodes within the same group are hidden when the group is collapsed.
Edge rendering during collapse is actively being improved. If relationships display unexpectedly when toggling collapse state, expanding the group again or ungrouping and regrouping.
Use the group toolbar (color, collapse/expand, ungroup)
Select a group to reveal the toolbar in the top,right corner.
Choose an action as available:
Change color , Click the color circle to open the color picker and select a new background color for the group.
Expand/Collapse , Click the expand (↗) or collapse (↙) icon to toggle between showing all child nodes and hiding them in a summary view.
Ungroup , Click the ungroup icon to dissolve the group and release all child nodes back to the canvas.
Ungroup
Select the group.
From the group toolbar, click Ungroup.
Confirm the group container is removed and the nodes remain on the canvas.
Persistence (saving your organization)
Group membership, titles, and collapsed or expanded state are saved as part of the ERD view. When you reload the diagram, the grouping is restored exactly as configured.
Known Limitations
Group nesting is not supported; you cannot create groups within groups.
Best Practices
Use groups to organize related nodes for cleaner diagrams, especially in complex models.
Name groups meaningfully to help team members understand the logical relationships.
Leverage collapse to simplify view when presenting or exporting diagrams.
Save frequently to ensure your group organization and collapsed states are persisted.