Using the Element Library

The Element Library lets you insert reusable SVG artwork into the current icon without leaving the editor. Use it for common shapes, symbols, badges, interface glyphs, or your own custom SVG snippets.

Open the library with:

the Element Library button in the left toolbar
Element ‣ Add from Library…
Shift+Ctrl+E

The command is available when a document is open.

Finding Elements by Name

In IconVectors 2.10, start typing in the search field to filter the current tab. Search matches part of an element’s display name or SVG filename, ignoring letter case. For example, arrow finds names containing that word; this is a name filter, not a keyword or AI search.

The empty field shows Search by name or filename in a readable theme color. This hint is not part of your query: start typing to replace it, or clear the field to show it again.

The same search remains active when you switch tabs or change Filled / Line mode. If there are no matches, clear the field or try another tab. The clear button restores the complete list. Esc clears a nonempty search; with an empty search it closes the palette without changing the icon.

The palette opens within the usable area of the current monitor. On a smaller screen, the results area scrolls so the search and palette controls remain accessible.

Inserting Elements

The palette is organized as tabs. Choose Filled or Line, then click an element tile to insert it.

A normal click inserts the element and closes the palette.
Shift + click inserts the element and keeps the palette open.
The inserted artwork is selected and the Selection Tool becomes active.
Inserted elements are normal editable SVG objects.

If an element is selected before insertion, the new artwork is centered on the selection. Otherwise it is inserted near the center of the visible canvas.

Element Library Folder

IconVectors loads Element Library content from:

%APPDATA%\Axialis\IconVectors\Element Library

The palette’s folder button, Open Element Library in Explorer, opens this folder in IconVectors’ built-in Explorer, not the operating system’s file manager. The palette closes, but the current icon and its unsaved changes remain in the Editor; switch back to continue editing. The Explorer’s Element Library shortcut opens the same folder. You can also choose Help ‣ Open Element Library Folder… to open it in the built-in Explorer without opening the palette first. Add or edit SVG files there to customize the library.

Folder Structure

Each direct subfolder of the Element Library folder becomes one tab in the palette. SVG files directly inside that tab folder are the base, filled elements.

To provide a line variant, create a nested line folder and add an SVG with the exact same filename. The line folder itself is not shown as a tab.

Example:

Element Library\
  Shapes\
    rectangle.svg
    star.svg
    line\
      rectangle.svg
  Symbols\
    copyright.svg
    at.svg
    line\
      at.svg

Filled and Line Modes

In Filled mode, IconVectors uses the SVG file from the tab folder.

In Line mode, IconVectors first looks for a matching SVG in the nested line folder. If no matching line file exists, it falls back to the SVG in the parent tab folder.

The match uses the exact filename. For example, line\arrow-right.svg matches arrow-right.svg, but line\arrow_right.svg does not.

Colors and Styles

Element Library SVGs can define their own fill, stroke, gradients, stroke width, caps, joins, and dash styles. IconVectors preserves explicit colors and SVG paint servers such as url(#...) when inserting the element.

If an SVG uses currentColor, IconVectors can apply the current fill or stroke from the Control Bar. If no matching current color is selected, currentColor is kept.

Missing or Empty Libraries

If the Element Library folder is missing or empty, the palette shows the folder path so you can add SVG files. Invalid SVG files are ignored safely.