draw.io XML Generation Specification v2.0

1. Scope

This specification defines the rules for AI-generated draw.io XML files. It ensures consistent, high-quality output that renders correctly in draw.io desktop, web, and PNG export. Rules are categorized as:

MUST (Severity: ERROR) — Violations break rendering or structure
SHOULD (Severity: WARNING) — Violations degrade quality
INFORMATIONAL (Severity: INFO) — Suggestions for best practices

All rules are enforced by the draw-mcp-validate CLI tool with 23 validation rules.

2. Structural Rules (MUST)

2.1 File Hierarchy

mxfile > diagram > mxGraphModel > root > mxCell...

Every file MUST follow this hierarchy. The mxfile element is the root.

2.2 Root Cells

Two root cells MUST always be present:

<mxCell id="0"/>
<mxCell id="1" parent="0"/>

Cell id="0" is the invisible root. Cell id="1" is the default layer with parent="0".

2.3 Parent References

Every mxCell with a parent attribute MUST reference an existing cell id. Orphaned references cause rendering failures.

2.4 Vertex/Edge Exclusivity

A cell MUST NOT have both vertex="1" and edge="1". It is either a shape or a connection, never both.

2.5 Edge Geometry

Edge mxGeometry MUST have relative="1":

<mxCell id="e1" edge="1" parent="1" source="a" target="b"
  style="edgeStyle=orthogonalEdgeStyle;">
  <mxGeometry relative="1" as="geometry"/>
</mxCell>

2.6 Unique IDs

All mxCell elements MUST have unique id attributes.

2.7 XML Well-Formedness

MUST NOT use -- inside XML comments (illegal per XML spec)
MUST escape special characters in attribute values: &, <, >, "

3. Style String Rules (MUST)

3.1 Format

Style strings use key=value; pairs with a trailing semicolon:

style="rounded=1;whiteSpace=wrap;html=1;fontFamily=Noto Sans JP;fontSize=18;"

3.2 Boolean Values

Boolean style keys MUST use 0 or 1, never true or false:

<!-- CORRECT -->
style="rounded=1;html=1;"

<!-- WRONG -->
style="rounded=true;html=false;"

3.3 fontFamily on All Text

Every cell with a value attribute MUST include fontFamily=FontName; in its style:

<mxCell id="a" value="Label"
  style="rounded=1;fontFamily=Noto Sans JP;fontSize=18;"
  vertex="1" parent="1"/>

3.4 Font Size

Minimum font size is 14px (MUST). Recommended size is 18px (SHOULD).

3.5 Known Keys

Use only valid draw.io style keys. Common typos (e.g., storkeColor for strokeColor) are detected and flagged.

4. Layout Rules (SHOULD)

4.1 Grid Alignment

Align node positions to a 10px grid (multiples of 10).

4.2 Node Spacing

Minimum spacing: 60px between nodes
Recommended: 200px horizontal, 120px vertical

4.3 Edge Final Segment

The final straight segment of an edge MUST be at least 20px for arrowheads to render cleanly.

5. Edge Routing (SHOULD)

5.1 Z-Order

Edges SHOULD be declared before vertices in XML for correct Z-order (arrows behind shapes):

<root>
  <mxCell id="0"/><mxCell id="1" parent="0"/>
  <!-- EDGES FIRST -->
  <mxCell id="e1" edge="1" .../>
  <!-- VERTICES AFTER -->
  <mxCell id="a" vertex="1" .../>
</root>

5.2 Orthogonal Style

Use edgeStyle=orthogonalEdgeStyle for right-angle connectors. Add rounded=1 for cleaner bends.

5.3 jettySize

Use jettySize=auto for better port spacing on orthogonal edges.

5.4 jumpStyle

For crossing edges, use jumpStyle=arc or jumpStyle=gap to show crossings clearly.

5.5 Waypoints

Add explicit waypoints when edges would overlap:

<mxGeometry relative="1" as="geometry">
  <Array as="points">
    <mxPoint x="300" y="150"/>
  </Array>
</mxGeometry>

5.6 Connection Points

Use exitX/exitY and entryX/entryY (values 0-1) to control which side of a node an edge connects to. Spread connections across different sides to prevent overlap.

6. Containers (SHOULD)

6.1 Group Container

Invisible grouping with no visual border:

<mxCell id="grp1" style="group;" vertex="1" parent="1">
  <mxGeometry x="100" y="100" width="300" height="200" as="geometry"/>
</mxCell>

6.2 Swimlane Container

Visible title bar, ideal for service boundaries:

<mxCell id="svc1" value="User Service"
  style="swimlane;startSize=30;fillColor=#dae8fc;strokeColor=#6c8ebf;fontFamily=Noto Sans JP;fontSize=16;"
  vertex="1" parent="1">
  <mxGeometry x="100" y="100" width="300" height="200" as="geometry"/>
</mxCell>

Swimlanes SHOULD specify startSize for the title bar height.

6.3 Custom Container

Any shape acting as a container:

style="rounded=1;container=1;pointerEvents=0;"

Containers (except swimlanes) SHOULD include pointerEvents=0; to prevent connection capture.

6.4 Children Coordinates

Children MUST use relative coordinates within their parent container:

<!-- Child at (20, 40) relative to container origin -->
<mxCell id="child" vertex="1" parent="svc1">
  <mxGeometry x="20" y="40" width="120" height="60" as="geometry"/>
</mxCell>

Children SHOULD not extend beyond parent container bounds.

6.5 Collapsible

Consider adding collapsible=1 for interactive containers (INFO).

7. Layers (SUPPORTED)

Layers are additional cells with parent="0" (like cell id="1"):

<mxCell id="0"/>
<mxCell id="1" parent="0"/>                    <!-- Default layer -->
<mxCell id="layer-bg" value="Background" parent="0"/>  <!-- Custom layer -->
<mxCell id="layer-fg" value="Foreground" parent="0"/>  <!-- Custom layer -->

Assign elements to layers via parent="layerId". Layer cells do not require fontFamily.

8. Export Modes (INFORMATIONAL)

8.1 Transparent Background

Set page="0" on mxGraphModel for transparent background in PNG export.

8.2 PNG Verification

Always verify diagrams with PNG export:

drawio -x -f png -s 2 -t -o output.png input.drawio

8.3 Embed Diagram

For portable files, consider type="embed" on mxfile.

9. Japanese Text (SHOULD)

Allocate 30-40px width per Japanese character
Use Noto Sans JP as default font for cross-platform compatibility
Set defaultFontFamily="Noto Sans JP" on mxGraphModel

10. Validation

CLI Usage

# Validate a file (text output, warning+ severity)
draw-mcp-validate diagram.drawio

# JSON output
draw-mcp-validate diagram.drawio --format json

# Errors only
draw-mcp-validate diagram.drawio --severity error

# Multiple files
draw-mcp-validate *.drawio

Rule Summary (23 rules)

Module	Rules	Severity
structure	root-cells, hierarchy, vertex-edge-exclusivity, parent-reference, unique-ids	ERROR
style	trailing-semicolon (W), boolean-values (E), typo (W), font-family (E)	Mixed
edge	z-order (W), relative (E), arrowhead-segment (W), node-spacing (W)	Mixed
container	pointer-events (W), children-bounds (W), swimlane-start-size (W), collapsible (I)	Mixed
text	japanese-width (W), html-escape (W), font-size (E/W)	Mixed
export	page-setting (W), embed-diagram (I)	Mixed

Quick Decision Guide

Need	Approach
Custom styling, precise positioning, Japanese text	XML (this skill)
Simple flowchart, sequence, ER diagram	Mermaid.js via MCP
Inline preview in chat	MCP App Server (`mcp.draw.io/mcp`)

Supporting Files

reference.md — Complete XML structure reference
examples.md — 8 production-ready examples
checklist.md — Pre-commit validation checklist

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