Beginner8 min
Canvas Basics
The workflow canvas is your visual workspace for building automations. This guide covers everything you need to know to work efficiently on the canvas.
Navigation
Panning and Zooming
- Pan: Click and drag on empty space to move around the canvas
- Zoom: Use the scroll wheel or pinch gesture to zoom in and out
- Fit to view: Click the fit button in the toolbar to see all nodes
Canvas Controls
The toolbar at the bottom of the canvas provides quick actions:
- Zoom controls - Zoom in, out, and fit to view
- Minimap toggle - Show/hide the navigation minimap
- Lock toggle - Prevent accidental node movement
Working with Nodes
Adding Nodes
There are several ways to add nodes to your canvas:
- Node palette - Click the + button to open the node palette
- Quick add - Double-click on empty canvas space
- Context menu - Right-click for node options
- Drag from sidebar - Drag nodes from the integrations sidebar
Selecting Nodes
- Single select: Click on a node to select it
- Multi-select: Hold Shift and click multiple nodes
- Box select: Click and drag to create a selection box
Moving Nodes
Simply drag selected nodes to reposition them. The canvas uses a smart grid to help align nodes automatically.
Connections
Creating Connections
- Hover over a node's output handle (right side)
- Click and drag to another node's input handle (left side)
- Release to create the connection
Removing Connections
- Click on a connection line to select it
- Press Delete or Backspace to remove it
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|--------|----------|
| Delete selected | Delete or Backspace |
| Select all | Cmd/Ctrl + A |
| Copy | Cmd/Ctrl + C |
| Paste | Cmd/Ctrl + V |
| Undo | Cmd/Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z |
| Zoom in | Cmd/Ctrl + + |
| Zoom out | Cmd/Ctrl + - |
| Fit to view | Cmd/Ctrl + 0 |
Tips for Better Workflows
- Keep it organized - Group related nodes together
- Use meaningful names - Rename nodes to describe their purpose
- Add notes - Use comment nodes to document complex logic
- Test frequently - Use the test panel to verify each step
- Start simple - Build incrementally, testing as you go
Next Steps
- Node Types Guide - Learn about all available nodes
- Testing Workflows - How to test your automations
Tags
canvasworkflowsbasics