How do I install the JSON Canvas skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/json-canvas-5 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the JSON Canvas skill do?

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. Use when this capability is needed. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is JSON Canvas safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with JSON Canvas?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is JSON Canvas free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published JSON Canvas?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

JSON Canvas by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: JSON Canvas
Author: tomevault-io

JSON Canvas Skill

This skill enables Claude Code to create and edit valid JSON Canvas files (.canvas) used in Obsidian and other applications.

Overview

JSON Canvas is an open file format for infinite canvas data. Canvas files use the .canvas extension and contain valid JSON following the JSON Canvas Spec 1.0.

File Structure

A canvas file contains two top-level arrays:

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

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

Nodes

Nodes are objects placed on the canvas. There are four node types:

text - Text content with Markdown
file - Reference to files/attachments
link - External URL
group - Visual container for other nodes

Z-Index Ordering

Nodes are ordered by z-index in the array:

First node = bottom layer (displayed below others)
Last node = top layer (displayed above others)

Generic Node Attributes

All nodes share these attributes:

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`id`	Yes	string	Unique identifier for the node
`type`	Yes	string	Node type: `text`, `file`, `link`, or `group`
`x`	Yes	integer	X position in pixels
`y`	Yes	integer	Y position in pixels
`width`	Yes	integer	Width in pixels
`height`	Yes	integer	Height in pixels
`color`	No	canvasColor	Node color (see Color section)

Text Nodes

Text nodes contain Markdown content.

{
  "id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
  "type": "text",
  "x": 0,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 200,
  "text": "# Hello World\n\nThis is **Markdown** content."
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`text`	Yes	string	Plain text with Markdown syntax

File Nodes

File nodes reference files or attachments (images, videos, PDFs, notes, etc.).

{
  "id": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890",
  "type": "file",
  "x": 500,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 300,
  "file": "Attachments/diagram.png"
}

{
  "id": "b2c3d4e5f6789012",
  "type": "file",
  "x": 500,
  "y": 400,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 300,
  "file": "Notes/Project Overview.md",
  "subpath": "#Implementation"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`file`	Yes	string	Path to file within the system
`subpath`	No	string	Link to heading or block (starts with `#`)

Link Nodes

Link nodes display external URLs.

{
  "id": "c3d4e5f678901234",
  "type": "link",
  "x": 1000,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 200,
  "url": "https://obsidian.md"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`url`	Yes	string	External URL

Group Nodes

Group nodes are visual containers for organizing other nodes.

{
  "id": "d4e5f6789012345a",
  "type": "group",
  "x": -50,
  "y": -50,
  "width": 1000,
  "height": 600,
  "label": "Project Overview",
  "color": "4"
}

{
  "id": "e5f67890123456ab",
  "type": "group",
  "x": 0,
  "y": 700,
  "width": 800,
  "height": 500,
  "label": "Resources",
  "background": "Attachments/background.png",
  "backgroundStyle": "cover"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`label`	No	string	Text label for the group
`background`	No	string	Path to background image
`backgroundStyle`	No	string	Background rendering style

Background Styles

Value	Description
`cover`	Fills entire width and height of node
`ratio`	Maintains aspect ratio of background image
`repeat`	Repeats image as pattern in both directions

Edges

Edges are lines connecting nodes.

{
  "id": "f67890123456789a",
  "fromNode": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
  "toNode": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890"
}

{
  "id": "0123456789abcdef",
  "fromNode": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
  "fromSide": "right",
  "fromEnd": "none",
  "toNode": "b2c3d4e5f6789012",
  "toSide": "left",
  "toEnd": "arrow",
  "color": "1",
  "label": "leads to"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Default	Description
`id`	Yes	string	-	Unique identifier for the edge
`fromNode`	Yes	string	-	Node ID where connection starts
`fromSide`	No	string	-	Side where edge starts
`fromEnd`	No	string	`none`	Shape at edge start
`toNode`	Yes	string	-	Node ID where connection ends
`toSide`	No	string	-	Side where edge ends
`toEnd`	No	string	`arrow`	Shape at edge end
`color`	No	canvasColor	-	Line color
`label`	No	string	-	Text label for the edge

Side Values

Value	Description
`top`	Top edge of node
`right`	Right edge of node
`bottom`	Bottom edge of node
`left`	Left edge of node

End Shapes

Value	Description
`none`	No endpoint shape
`arrow`	Arrow endpoint

Colors

The canvasColor type can be specified in two ways:

Hex Colors

{
  "color": "#FF0000"
}

Preset Colors

{
  "color": "1"
}

Preset	Color
`"1"`	Red
`"2"`	Orange
`"3"`	Yellow
`"4"`	Green
`"5"`	Cyan
`"6"`	Purple

Note: Specific color values for presets are intentionally undefined, allowing applications to use their own brand colors.

Complete Examples

Simple Canvas with Text and Connections

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 150,
      "text": "# Main Idea\n\nThis is the central concept."
    },
    {
      "id": "1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": -100,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "text": "## Supporting Point A\n\nDetails here."
    },
    {
      "id": "2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": 100,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "text": "## Supporting Point B\n\nMore details."
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d",
      "fromNode": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b",
      "toSide": "left"
    },
    {
      "id": "4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e",
      "fromNode": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c",
      "toSide": "left"
    }
  ]
}

Project Board with Groups

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 500,
      "label": "To Do",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 350,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 500,
      "label": "In Progress",
      "color": "3"
    },
    {
      "id": "7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 700,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 500,
      "label": "Done",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 20,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 1\n\nImplement feature X"
    },
    {
      "id": "9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 370,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 2\n\nReview PR #123",
      "color": "2"
    },
    {
      "id": "0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 720,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 3\n\n~~Setup CI/CD~~"
    }
  ],
  "edges": []
}

Research Canvas with Files and Links

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 300,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 400,
      "height": 200,
      "text": "# Research Topic\n\n## Key Questions\n\n- How does X affect Y?\n- What are the implications?",
      "color": "5"
    },
    {
      "id": "2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 150,
      "file": "Literature/Paper A.pdf"
    },
    {
      "id": "3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 150,
      "file": "Notes/Meeting Notes.md",
      "subpath": "#Key Insights"
    },
    {
      "id": "4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c",
      "type": "link",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 400,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "url": "https://example.com/research"
    },
    {
      "id": "5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 750,
      "y": 150,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 250,
      "file": "Attachments/diagram.png"
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e",
      "fromNode": "2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "supports"
    },
    {
      "id": "7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f",
      "fromNode": "3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "informs"
    },
    {
      "id": "8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a",
      "fromNode": "4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow",
      "color": "6"
    },
    {
      "id": "9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b",
      "fromNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "visualized by"
    }
  ]
}

Flowchart

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**Start**",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 100,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "Step 1:\nGather data"
    },
    {
      "id": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "**Decision**\n\nIs data valid?",
      "color": "3"
    },
    {
      "id": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "Process data"
    },
    {
      "id": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "Request new data",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": 320,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**End**",
      "color": "4"
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "a6b7c8d9e0f1a2b3",
      "fromNode": "a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "toSide": "top"
    },
    {
      "id": "b7c8d9e0f1a2b3c4",
      "fromNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "toSide": "top"
    },
    {
      "id": "c8d9e0f1a2b3c4d5",
      "fromNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "Yes",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "d9e0f1a2b3c4d5e6",
      "fromNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "fromSide": "left",
      "toNode": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
      "toSide": "right",
      "label": "No",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "e0f1a2b3c4d5e6f7",
      "fromNode": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
      "fromSide": "top",
      "fromEnd": "none",
      "toNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    },
    {
      "id": "f1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8",
      "fromNode": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2",
      "toSide": "top"
    }
  ]
}

ID Generation

Node and edge IDs must be unique strings. Obsidian generates 16-character hexadecimal IDs:

"id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17"
"id": "a3b2c1d0e9f8g7h6"
"id": "1234567890abcdef"

Workflow Automation

Note to Canvas Conversion

This section defines the configuration for a right-click menu action to convert Markdown notes into JSON Canvas files.

Context Menu Configuration

{
  "menuItem": {
    "id": "note-to-canvas",
    "label": "笔记转换Canvas",
    "command": "obsidian-skills:note-to-canvas",
    "condition": "resource.extension == '.md'",
    "group": "file-menu",
    "icon": "layout-dashboard"
  },
  "permissions": {
    "read": ["*.md"],
    "write": ["*.canvas"],
    "roles": ["editor", "admin"]
  }
}

Conversion Logic Specification

The "Note to Canvas" function parses a Markdown file and visualizes its structure:

Parsing Strategy:
- Central Node: The file title (filename) becomes the central group or text node.
- Sections: Top-level headings (H1/H2) become child nodes surrounding the center.
- Content: Text blocks under headings become details within nodes or attached notes.
- Links: Wikilinks [[...]] are converted to Edge connections if the target node exists, or new File nodes.
Layout Algorithm:
- Radial Layout: Place the main topic at (0,0).
- Orbit: Place section nodes in a circular orbit (radius ~400px) around the center.
- Spacing: Ensure width (300px) and height (200px) + margin to avoid overlap.
Error Handling:
- If file is empty: Show "Cannot convert empty note".
- If parsing fails: Log error to console and fallback to creating a single node with raw content.

Example Conversion

Input (Note.md):

# AI Platform
## Frontend
React app.
## Backend
Node.js server.

Output (Note.canvas):

{
  "nodes": [
    {"id":"1", "type":"text", "text":"# AI Platform", "x":0, "y":0, "width":300, "height":100, "color":"1"},
    {"id":"2", "type":"text", "text":"## Frontend\nReact app.", "x":-400, "y":0, "width":300, "height":200},
    {"id":"3", "type":"text", "text":"## Backend\nNode.js server.", "x":400, "y":0, "width":300, "height":200}
  ],
  "edges": [
    {"id":"e1", "fromNode":"1", "toNode":"2"},
    {"id":"e2", "fromNode":"1", "toNode":"3"}
  ]
}

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

JSON Canvas

File contents

JSON Canvas Skill

Overview

File Structure

Nodes

Z-Index Ordering

Generic Node Attributes

Text Nodes

File Nodes

Link Nodes

Group Nodes

Background Styles

Edges

Side Values

End Shapes

Colors

Hex Colors

Preset Colors

Complete Examples

Simple Canvas with Text and Connections

Project Board with Groups

Research Canvas with Files and Links

Flowchart

ID Generation

Workflow Automation

Note to Canvas Conversion

Context Menu Configuration

Conversion Logic Specification

Example Conversion

Frequently asked questions

JSON Canvas

File contents

JSON Canvas Skill

Overview

File Structure

Nodes

Z-Index Ordering

Generic Node Attributes

Text Nodes

File Nodes

Link Nodes

Group Nodes

Background Styles

Edges

Side Values

End Shapes

Colors

Hex Colors

Preset Colors

Complete Examples

Simple Canvas with Text and Connections

Project Board with Groups

Research Canvas with Files and Links

Flowchart

ID Generation

Workflow Automation

Note to Canvas Conversion

Context Menu Configuration

Conversion Logic Specification

Example Conversion

Related skills

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the JSON Canvas skill?

What does the JSON Canvas skill do?

Is JSON Canvas safe to use?

Which AI agents work with JSON Canvas?

Is JSON Canvas free to use?

Who published JSON Canvas?