json-canvas skill | PlugMCP
Skip to content Questions
How do I install json-canvas? Download skills/obsidian-skills-integrated/json-canvas/SKILL.md from the publisher, or copy the path and open the repository. PlugMCP lists the skill and does not host the file.
Where does json-canvas live? The publisher keeps it at https://github.com/anbeime/skill.
Which agents can use json-canvas? Claude, Cursor, and Codex can read a SKILL.md you add from the publisher's repository. SKILL.md About FAQ
产品经理与内容创作者在构建Obsidian知识库或梳理复杂逻辑时，当需要创建思维导图、流程图等可视化画布，使用此技能可自动生成标准.canvas文件，精准配置节点、连线与层级，一键生成完美排版，彻底告别手写JSON的繁琐与报错。
name: json-canvas
description: 产品经理与内容创作者在构建Obsidian知识库或梳理复杂逻辑时，当需要创建思维导图、流程图等可视化画布，使用此技能可自动生成标准.canvas文件，精准配置节点、连线与层级，一键生成完美排版，彻底告别手写JSON的繁琐与报错。
JSON Canvas Skill
This skill enables skills-compatible agents 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": []
}
plugmcp Plug any tool into any agent. MCP servers for people who do not write servers. Gateway for volume, n8n for apps.
PlugMCP, 2026
nodes (optional): Array of node objectsedges (optional): Array of edge objects connecting nodes
Nodes Nodes are objects placed on the canvas. There are four node types:
text - Text content with Markdownfile - Reference to files/attachmentslink - External URLgroup - 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 idYes string Unique identifier for the node typeYes string Node type: text, file, link, or group xYes integer X position in pixels yYes integer Y position in pixels widthYes integer Width in pixels heightYes integer Height in pixels colorNo 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."
}
Newline Escaping (Common Pitfall) In JSON, newline characters inside strings must be represented as \n. Do not use the literal sequence \\n in a .canvas file—Obsidian will render it as the characters \ and n instead of a line break.
{ "type": "text", "text": "Line 1\nLine 2" }
{ "type": "text", "text": "Line 1\\nLine 2" }
Attribute Required Type Description textYes 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 fileYes string Path to file within the system subpathNo 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 urlYes 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 labelNo string Text label for the group backgroundNo string Path to background image backgroundStyleNo string Background rendering style
Background Styles Value Description coverFills entire width and height of node ratioMaintains aspect ratio of background image repeatRepeats 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 idYes string - Unique identifier for the edge fromNodeYes string - Node ID where connection starts fromSideNo string - Side where edge starts fromEndNo string noneShape at edge start toNodeYes string - Node ID where connection ends toSideNo string - Side where edge ends toEndNo string arrowShape at edge end colorNo canvasColor - Line color labelNo string - Text label for the edge
Side Values Value Description topTop edge of node rightRight edge of node bottomBottom edge of node leftLeft edge of node
End Shapes Value Description noneNo endpoint shape arrowArrow endpoint
Colors The canvasColor type can be specified in two ways:
Hex Colors
Preset Colors 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"
This format is a 16-character lowercase hex string (64-bit random value).
Layout Guidelines
Positioning
Coordinates can be negative (canvas extends infinitely)
x increases to the righty increases downwardPosition refers to top-left corner of node
Recommended Sizes Node Type Suggested Width Suggested Height Small text 200-300 80-150 Medium text 300-450 150-300 Large text 400-600 300-500 File preview 300-500 200-400 Link preview 250-400 100-200 Group Varies Varies
Spacing
Leave 20-50px padding inside groups
Space nodes 50-100px apart for readability
Align nodes to grid (multiples of 10 or 20) for cleaner layouts
Validation Rules
All id values must be unique across nodes and edges
fromNode and toNode must reference existing node IDsRequired fields must be present for each node type
type must be one of: text, file, link, groupbackgroundStyle must be one of: cover, ratio, repeatfromSide, toSide must be one of: top, right, bottom, leftfromEnd, toEnd must be one of: none, arrowColor presets must be "1" through "6" or valid hex color
References
How do I install json-canvas? Download skills/obsidian-skills-integrated/json-canvas/SKILL.md from the publisher, or copy the path and open the repository. PlugMCP lists the skill and does not host the file.
Where does json-canvas live? The publisher keeps it at https://github.com/anbeime/skill.
Which agents can use json-canvas? Claude, Cursor, and Codex can read a SKILL.md you add from the publisher's repository.