json-canvas

name	json-canvas
description	Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.

JSON Canvas Skill

File Structure

A canvas file (.canvas) contains two top-level arrays following the JSON Canvas Spec 1.0:

{
  "nodes": [],
  "edges": []
}

• nodes (optional): Array of node objects
• edges (optional): Array of edge objects connecting nodes

Common Workflows

1. Create a New Canvas

1. Create a .canvas file with the base structure {"nodes": [], "edges": []}
2. Generate unique 16-character hex IDs for each node (e.g., "6f0ad84f44ce9c17")
3. Add nodes with required fields: id, type, x, y, width, height
4. Add edges referencing valid node IDs via fromNode and toNode
5. Validate: Parse the JSON to confirm it is valid. Verify all fromNode/toNode values exist in the nodes array

2. Add a Node to an Existing Canvas

1. Read and parse the existing .canvas file
2. Generate a unique ID that does not collide with existing node or edge IDs
3. Choose position (x, y) that avoids overlapping existing nodes (leave 50-100px spacing)
4. Append the new node object to the nodes array
5. Optionally add edges connecting the new node to existing nodes
6. Validate: Confirm all IDs are unique and all edge references resolve to existing nodes

3. Connect Two Nodes

1. Identify the source and target node IDs
2. Generate a unique edge ID
3. Set fromNode and toNode to the source and target IDs
4. Optionally set fromSide/toSide (top, right, bottom, left) for anchor points
5. Optionally set label for descriptive text on the edge
6. Append the edge to the edges array
7. Validate: Confirm both fromNode and toNode reference existing node IDs

4. Edit an Existing Canvas

1. Read and parse the .canvas file as JSON
2. Locate the target node or edge by id
3. Modify the desired attributes (text, position, color, etc.)
4. Write the updated JSON back to the file
5. Validate: Re-check all ID uniqueness and edge reference integrity after editing

Reference Docs

• For node types, edge schema, colors, IDs, layout, and validation: references/SPEC.md
• For full canvas examples (mind maps, project boards, flowcharts): references/EXAMPLES.md

External Links

• JSON Canvas Spec 1.0
• JSON Canvas GitHub