| name | canvas-layout |
| description | Re-layout existing Obsidian Canvas nodes using 6 spatial algorithms: grid (galleries, mood boards), dagre (flowcharts, org charts), radial (mind maps), force-directed (knowledge graphs), linear (timelines), and auto-detect. Preserves group membership, snaps to 20px grid, refits zones around content. Triggers on: canvas layout, re-layout canvas, arrange canvas, auto-layout, organize canvas, fix canvas layout, canvas grid, canvas dagre.
|
| user-invocable | false |
canvas-layout: Re-Layout Canvas Nodes
Read ../canvas/references/layout-algorithms.md for algorithm details and selection guide.
Read ../canvas/references/performance-guide.md for node limits.
Workflow
- Identify target canvas: Use the active canvas or ask which one (
/canvas list to show options).
- Select algorithm: Use the user-specified algorithm, or run
auto detection.
- Confirm before applying: Show what will happen:
"Will apply [algorithm] layout to [canvas] ([N] nodes, [M] groups). Create backup? [Y/n]"
- Run the layout script:
python3 scripts/canvas_layout.py [canvas_path] [algorithm] [options]
- Report results: "Moved [N] of [M] nodes. [G] groups refitted. Backup at [path].bak"
- Validate: Run
python3 scripts/canvas_validate.py [canvas_path] to confirm valid output.
Algorithm Selection
When the user says /canvas layout auto or doesn't specify an algorithm, use the auto-detection in the script. It analyzes edge density, node types, and connection patterns.
For explicit requests, map user intent to algorithm:
| User says | Algorithm | Options |
|---|
| "organize these images" | grid | --sort-by type |
| "make a grid" | grid | |
| "flowchart layout" | dagre | --direction TB |
| "left to right flow" | dagre | --direction LR |
| "mind map layout" | radial | |
| "expand from [node]" | radial | --center [node-id] |
| "untangle this" | force | |
| "spread out the nodes" | force | |
| "make a timeline" | linear | --axis horizontal |
| "vertical sequence" | linear | --axis vertical |
| "auto-layout" | auto | |
| "fix the layout" | auto | |
Options Forwarding
Pass algorithm-specific options to the script:
- grid:
--columns N (override auto-detection), --sort-by type|size
- dagre:
--direction TB|LR|BT|RL
- radial:
--center node-id (override auto-detection of hub node)
- force:
--iterations N (default 100, reduce to 50 for 50+ nodes)
- linear:
--axis horizontal|vertical
Add --dry-run to preview without writing.
For Complex Layouts (30+ Nodes)
When a canvas has more than 30 nodes, dispatch the canvas-layout agent instead of running the script directly. The agent can:
- Analyze the canvas content to choose sub-groups for different algorithms
- Split large canvases into zone-by-zone layouts
- Handle edge crossing minimization that the basic dagre doesn't cover
- Refine positions after the algorithm runs for better visual balance
Edge Cases
- Empty canvas: Report "No nodes to layout" and skip.
- Single node: Center it at (0, 0) and skip.
- No edges + dagre requested: Warn "dagre works best with edges. Using grid instead." Fall back to grid.
- 100+ nodes: Warn about performance. Suggest splitting into sub-canvases.
- Backup conflict: If
.bak already exists, use .bak2, .bak3, etc.
