What you will learn in this article
You have built a clean network diagram or infrastructure drawing in NetPlottr DiagramTool. The next question is almost always the same: how do I keep this, and how do I share it with colleagues or drop it into a document? In this article we walk you calmly through every way to secure and export your work.
We will cover, in order:
- Saving your project as a .frank file (and reopening it)
- Exporting as a PNG image, automatically cropped
- Creating a GIF animation of your diagram
- Copying a PNG straight to your clipboard
- The handy shortcuts that save you time
NetPlottr is a Chrome extension that runs entirely locally in your browser. You can find the extension and more guidance at netplottr.com.
Everything stays on your own computer
Before we start, this is good to know: NetPlottr works 100 percent locally. There is no account, no login, and nothing is sent to a server in the cloud. When you save a project, the file simply lands on your own computer, just like a Word or Excel file. The only special permission the extension needs is clipboardWrite, and that is used solely to copy an image to your clipboard.
That means you decide entirely where your drawings live. Handy for sensitive network information such as IP addresses and internal structures, because none of it leaves your device.
Saving your project as a .frank file
The .frank file is the heart of your project. It is in fact a JSON file: a readable text format that holds everything you have drawn. Every component, every connection, every color, and every note is stored in it. Reopen the file later and your diagram appears exactly as you left it, ready to continue.
Always use this format if you want to edit your drawing again later. A PNG or GIF is a flat image you can no longer edit; a .frank file you can.
Saving a project as .frank
- Finish your diagram the way you want to keep it.
- Press Ctrl+S, or choose the save option in the toolbar.
- Pick a folder on your computer where you want to keep the file.
- Give the file a clear name, for example office-network-2026.
- Confirm the save. You now have a .frank file on your own computer.
Give your files recognizable names
Because the .frank file is JSON, you can also open it as a .json file. A clear name with a date in it (such as datacenter-north-2026-06) helps you find the right version quickly later on.
Reopening a saved project
If you want to continue an earlier drawing, you simply reopen your saved file in NetPlottr.
Opening an existing project
- Open NetPlottr in your browser.
- Choose the option to open a project.
- Browse to your .frank file (or a .json file you saved earlier).
- Select the file and confirm.
- Your diagram appears fully restored on screen, ready to keep editing.
Keep your .frank file safe
Because everything stays local, there is no automatic backup in the cloud. If you lose your .frank file, your project is gone. Save regularly with Ctrl+S and keep important projects somewhere that is backed up itself, such as a shared network drive.
Exporting as a PNG image
If you want your diagram in a report, presentation, or email, a PNG is usually the best choice. NetPlottr crops the image automatically, so you get no unnecessary whitespace around your drawing. The result is a clean, tight image you can use straight away.
A handy extra: you can choose a different interface theme for the export than the one you work in. That way you can draw in the calm NetPlottr Dark theme, for example, but export in Professional White if that fits your document better.
Exporting a PNG
- Check that your diagram looks the way you want to share it.
- Optionally pick a different theme for the export, such as Professional White for a document.
- Choose the export option and select PNG as the image.
- NetPlottr crops the image automatically around your drawing.
- Choose where to save the file and confirm.
Pick a theme that suits where the image will go
For a printout or a light presentation, a light theme like Professional White often reads more comfortably. For a screen or dashboard with a dark background, NetPlottr Dark or one of the Material variants fits better.
Creating a GIF animation
In NetPlottr you can make connections move, for example with a flow animation or moving packets traveling along the lines. You can capture that motion in a GIF. It is ideal for showing how traffic flows through your network, for instance in a presentation or an explanation on a wiki page.
A GIF is a moving image. Like a PNG, you cannot edit it afterward, so always keep your .frank file too if you want to make changes later.
Exporting a GIF animation
- Add animations to your connections, such as flow or packets.
- Check that the motion looks the way you want.
- Choose the export option and select GIF.
- Wait for NetPlottr to record the animation.
- Choose a location for the GIF file and confirm.
Keep GIF animations calm
A GIF with many moving parts can get large and feel busy. Use animations deliberately, for example only on the connections you really want to highlight, so the message stays clear.
Copying a PNG to your clipboard
Sometimes you do not want to save a file first; you want to paste your diagram somewhere right away. In a chat message, an email, or a document, for instance. For that, you copy a PNG straight to your clipboard. Then you simply paste it with Ctrl+V wherever you need it.
This is exactly what the extension's clipboardWrite permission is for: writing the image to your clipboard. Nothing else goes out.
Copying a PNG to your clipboard
- Get your diagram ready the way you want to share it.
- Choose the option to copy a PNG to the clipboard.
- NetPlottr places a cropped image on your clipboard.
- Go to where you want the image, such as an email or chat.
- Paste the image with Ctrl+V.
Clipboard versus a saved file
Copying to the clipboard is fastest for sharing something quickly. If you want to keep the image or use it more often, export it as a PNG file instead. And if you want to keep editing later, always save the project as a .frank file as well.
Handy shortcuts
A few shortcuts make you work noticeably faster in NetPlottr. These are the most important ones:
- Ctrl+Z: undo your last action. If you moved or deleted something by mistake, this brings it back.
- Ctrl+S: save your project as a .frank file.
- Shift+click: select multiple components at once. Handy for moving or aligning a group of items in one go.
- Right mouse button: open the context menu on a component, with options like Connect, Edit, Duplicate, and Delete.
Use Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+S together often
Feel free to use Ctrl+Z to experiment: you can undo every step. And save regularly with Ctrl+S in between, so you never lose much work if you accidentally close something.
In short
Use a .frank file to keep your project and edit it again later. Export a PNG for documents and presentations, a GIF to show motion, or copy a PNG to your clipboard to paste somewhere quickly. Because everything happens locally in your browser, you keep full control over your data. You can find more information at netplottr.com.
What exactly is a .frank file?
A .frank file is NetPlottr's project file, saved in JSON format. It holds everything you have drawn: components, connections, colors, and notes. Reopen it later and your diagram is fully restored, ready to continue. You cannot edit a PNG or GIF afterward, but you can edit a .frank file.
Can I still edit a PNG or GIF later?
No. A PNG and a GIF are flat images; the individual parts are no longer inside them. If you want to be able to change your diagram later, always save it as a .frank file too. That stays your editable source.
Are my diagrams stored online anywhere?
No. NetPlottr works entirely locally in your browser, with no login and no cloud. Your files land on your own computer and stay there. The extension's only permission, clipboardWrite, serves solely to copy an image to your clipboard.
Why is the exported PNG cropped automatically?
NetPlottr crops the image automatically around your drawing, so you have no unnecessary whitespace at the edges. The result is a clean image you can paste straight into a document or presentation.
Can I export in a different theme than the one I work in?
Yes. You can choose a different interface theme for the export than for editing. So you might draw in NetPlottr Dark but export in Professional White if that suits your document better.
How do I open a project I saved earlier?
Open NetPlottr, choose the option to open a project, and browse to your .frank file (or a .json file you saved earlier). After you confirm, your diagram appears fully restored on screen.