Visual Automation Builder

The automation builder is a visual, node-based editor where you design workflows by dragging nodes onto a canvas, configuring them, and connecting them together.

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Getting Started

To open the automation builder:

1. Navigate to Automations in the sidebar
2. Click Create Automation or New Automation
3. The builder opens with a blank canvas and a default trigger node

You can also open the builder by editing an existing automation or by applying a template from the templates page.

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The Builder Layout

The builder has three main areas:

• Left Panel — The node palette, where you browse and drag available nodes onto the canvas
• Canvas — The main workspace where you arrange and connect your nodes
• Right Panel — The configuration panel that appears when you click a node to edit its settings

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Canvas Controls

Navigate and organize your canvas with these tools:

• Zoom in/out using the scroll wheel or the controls in the bottom-left corner
• Pan by clicking and dragging on empty space
• Minimap in the corner for an overview of your entire workflow
• Auto-layout to automatically arrange your nodes in a clean layout (top-to-bottom or left-to-right)
• Align nodes to snap selected nodes into alignment

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Adding Nodes

Each node represents a step in your workflow. To add one:

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Node Categories

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Smart Suggestions

After adding a node, the builder may suggest what to add next — for example, a data selector after a trigger, or an action after a filter.

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Configuring Nodes

Click any node on the canvas to open its configuration panel on the right. Each node type has its own settings. For detailed configuration options, see the dedicated reference pages:

• Triggers — all 7 trigger types and their settings
• Action Nodes — imports, exports, AI enrichment, bulk edit, API calls, and notifications
• Data Nodes — select products, filter, and read files
• Logic Nodes — conditions, merge, and delay

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Connecting Nodes

Connections define how data flows through your automation. To connect two nodes:

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Connection Rules

• Triggers can only have outgoing connections — they are always starting points
• Self-connections are not allowed — a node cannot connect to itself
• Duplicate connections are prevented — you cannot create two connections between the same pair of nodes
• Branching is supported — one node can connect to multiple downstream nodes for parallel processing

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Removing Connections

Hover over a connection line to reveal a delete button. Click it to remove the connection. You can undo this action if needed.

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Working with Nodes

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Selecting Nodes

• Click a node to select it and open its configuration
• Ctrl+Click (Cmd+Click on Mac) to select multiple nodes
• Drag-select by clicking on empty canvas space and dragging to select a group

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Copying and Pasting

Select one or more nodes and use Ctrl+C to copy, then Ctrl+V to paste. The pasted nodes appear offset from the originals with all their configuration preserved.

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Enabling and Disabling Nodes

Disable individual nodes without removing them. Disabled nodes are skipped during execution and appear dimmed on the canvas — useful for temporarily bypassing a step without losing its configuration.

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Deleting Nodes

Select nodes and press Delete or Backspace to remove them. All connections to and from the deleted nodes are also removed. You can undo deletions with Ctrl+Z.

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Auto-Layout

Automatically arrange your nodes in a clean grid with top-to-bottom or left-to-right layout.

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Aligning Nodes

Select two or more nodes, then use the alignment tools to snap them into a horizontal or vertical line.

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Naming Your Automation

Click the automation name at the top of the builder to edit it. Use descriptive names like “Nightly Shopify Sync” or “Post-Import AI Enrichment”.

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Saving Your Automation

Click the Save button in the toolbar or press Ctrl+S to save your automation. Before saving, the builder validates that:

1. Your workflow has at least one trigger connected to at least one action
2. All enabled nodes have a complete path from trigger to action

If this is a new automation, saving creates it on the server and assigns it an ID. Subsequent saves update the existing automation in place.

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Testing Your Automation

Run a test directly from the builder before activating your automation.

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Execution Visualization

During a test run, the builder provides a live visualization:

• Node badges change to show running, completed, or failed status with animated indicators
• Connection lines animate to show the flow of data between nodes
• Execution panel shows timestamped log entries for each step
• Progress bar tracks overall completion percentage

You can pause, resume, or cancel a test run at any time using the execution panel controls.

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Importing and Exporting

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Exporting an Automation

You can export any automation as a JSON file for backup or sharing. Click the export button in the toolbar to download your workflow definition.

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Importing an Automation

Import a previously exported automation by clicking the import button and selecting a JSON file. The imported workflow replaces the current canvas contents.

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Undo and Redo

The builder keeps a history of your changes (up to 50 steps). Use Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Shift+Z to redo. Toast notifications include an Undo button for destructive actions.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

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Next Steps