A specialized skill for programmatically generating and managing .canvas files compatible with the JSON Canvas 1.0 specification.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install json-canvas
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install json-canvas using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is JSON Canvas Manager?
The JSON Canvas skill provides a robust interface for AI agents to create, modify, and manage infinite spatial canvases. By utilizing the open-source JSON Canvas format, this skill allows for the creation of complex visual diagrams, mind maps, and flowcharts that are natively compatible with tools like Obsidian.
Integrating this into the Openclaw Skills framework enables developers to transform unstructured data into structured visual knowledge graphs. It handles the complexities of coordinate-based layouts, node types (text, file, link, or group), and the relational logic of edges, ensuring that every generated canvas is both valid and aesthetically organized.
JSON Canvas Manager Use Cases
- Automatically generating mind maps from research notes or brainstorming sessions.
- Visualizing complex software architectures and data flows through programmatically created diagrams.
- Organizing project assets by grouping file previews, external links, and task descriptions on a single board.
- Translating hierarchical documentation into interactive, spatial maps for better knowledge discovery.
How JSON Canvas Manager Works
- Initialize a .canvas file structure with top-level nodes and edges arrays.
- Generate unique 16-character hexadecimal IDs to ensure every element remains distinct and linkable.
- Calculate spatial coordinates (x, y) and dimensions (width, height) to prevent node overlapping.
- Define node content, ranging from Markdown-formatted text to external URLs or local file references.
- Establish directional or non-directional edges between nodes using fromNode and toNode references.
- Validate the final JSON object against the 1.0 specification to ensure cross-platform compatibility.
JSON Canvas Manager Setup
To implement this within your Openclaw Skills workspace, ensure your agent has permissions to manage .canvas files.
# No external installation required beyond standard JSON support.
# Ensure your file system tool is configured to recognize .canvas extensions.
JSON Canvas Manager Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill organizes data according to the JSON Canvas Spec 1.0:
| Element | Key Attributes |
|---|---|
| Nodes | id, type (text/file/link/group), x, y, width, height, color |
| Edges | id, fromNode, toNode, fromSide, toSide, label, toEnd (arrow/none) |
| Colors | Preset IDs "1"-"6" (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Purple) or Hex codes |
| Groups | label, background, backgroundStyle (cover/ratio/repeat) |
JSON Canvas Manager Advanced Features
- Support for nested Group nodes to create sophisticated visual hierarchies and containers.
- Precise edge anchoring with top, bottom, left, and right attachment points.
- Intelligent layout guidelines that recommend specific node sizing for optimal readability.
- Markdown support within text nodes for rich-text formatting including headers, bolding, and lists.
SKILL.md
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