How do I install a custom stencil - (local file)

OmniGraffle OmniGraffle for Mac
#1

Hi,

I’ve got a stencil that I created. It’s a file. I’d like to keep this file in my Documents folder so that the stencil is always backed up. How do I install this stencil? I have Omnigraffle 7 and run macOS.

Many Thanks!

#2

You can add a stencil by opening the Resource Browser (File menu > Resource Browser), selecting the ‘Stencils’ header in the left-hand sidebar, clicking the gear/sprocket icon in the Resource Browser window’s toolbar, then selecting ‘Add Resources to Library’ from the menu:

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This will open a Finder sheet to locate and select the stencil.

You can also find more info about adding custom assets here. I hope this helps!

1 Like
#3

Thanks! That worked. Got a question though. The path of my stencil just prior to adding the resource (or importing) was

~/Documents/omnigraffle_stencils

Now that this stencil is installed - if I modify this stencil does it modify the file in the Documents folder or does Omnigraffle modify a copy of my stencil located elsewhere?

The reason why I ask is that I’d like to back up this stencil - and make sure I never lose the stencil.

Thanks,

David

#4

If you edit using the gear symbol next to the stencil name, it should update the version OG is using. Same if you do File -> Resource Browser to open the stencil file.

However, if you use File -> Open it may get another version of the file not in the stencil folder.

Does that help?

#5

Confused. I just want to make sure I don’t lose the custom stencil file that I’ve worked so hard to build. For example, if I reinstall the operating system (macOS) I want to be sure I know WHERE that file is. At the time of posting this I have a copy of the imported stencil file here:

~/Documents/omnigraffle_stencils

What I don’t know is if Omnigraffle made a copy of the stencil file during importing and stuck it somewhere else. (and as I update said stencil file then REAL copy is no longer here: ~/Documents/omnigraffle_stencils)

In that case then I’d need the correct path to back up.

David

#6

Okay, looks like once OmniGraffle imports a stencil it creates a second copy. After a stencil has been imported into OmniGraffle any editing of that stencil will modify the second copy - not the original. I verified this on my machine.

I used the Terminal / Linux command to find the stencil. Here is that command
find . -type f -iname "Electronics +*"

The name of my stencil is "Electronics +.gstencil"

The directory that the find command located was

./Library/Containers/com.omnigroup.OmniGraffle7/Data/Library/Application Support/The Omni Group/OmniGraffle/Stencils/Electronics +.gstencil

So, if I want to keep track of my stencil I’ll need to backup from the above path.