/canvas

name: canvas
description: Create, inspect, and update Obsidian JSON Canvas boards with text, file, link, group, and edge nodes. Use for canvas status, canvas lists, visual maps, zones, spatial layouts, adding vault notes or media to a .canvas file, and requests such as create canvas, add to canvas, or put this on the canvas.

Canvas

Treat a canvas as a vault-scoped JSON Canvas document. Keep reads read-only and route every requested mutation through one recoverable transaction.

Resolve the installed product root from this skill's own location, not from the vault or current working directory:

PRODUCT_ROOT=/absolute/path/to/installed/claude-obsidian
CORE="$PRODUCT_ROOT/scripts/claude-obsidian.py"
test -f "$CORE"

Every `../wiki/references/` link in this file resolves the same way, relative to this skill's own directory under `$PRODUCT_ROOT`, never relative to the selected vault's `wiki/` directory.

Choose the syntax source

Prefer a separately installed `kepano/obsidian-skills` `json-canvas` skill for format details. Otherwise read [references/canvas-spec.md](references/canvas-spec.md). The open standard is [JSON Canvas 1.0](https://jsoncanvas.org/spec/1.0/).

Use this skill for vault workflow and transaction safety even when an upstream syntax skill is available.

Scope

• Resolve the user vault before reading. Never derive it from plugin files.
• Store boards under `wiki/canvases/`; use `wiki/canvases/main.canvas` only as

the default when the user did not name a board.

• Treat `wiki/canvases/_index.md` as an optional catalog. Add a new board to it

in the same transaction when a catalog exists. Node or edge edits inside an existing board do not require a catalog change.

• The transaction engine supports file creation and replacement only. A board

file cannot be deleted or renamed through this skill. Explain that boundary for a file-removal or file-rename request and return a separate cleanup plan; do not substitute host file tools or silently turn a rename into a copy.

• Use vault-relative paths in `file` and `background`; reject absolute paths,

`..` traversal, home shortcuts, and paths that escape through symlinks.

• Reference only files already inside the vault or created in the same reviewed

transaction. If an optional capture or media capability is detected, compose with it and consume its returned vault-relative path. Do not assume a particular plugin, command, or session log, and do not download or copy assets in this skill.

• Use `link` nodes for URLs. Accept HTTPS URLs only; a link node does not grant

permission to fetch the page. Creating its JSON makes no request, but opening it in Obsidian may fetch Open Graph metadata from that URL's host. Disclose that render-time egress and confirm it is acceptable; otherwise use a text node containing the URL.

Read-only operations

For status or list requests, parse the selected `.canvas` files and report node counts, group labels, broken edge endpoints, and missing vault-relative file targets. If the default canvas is absent, report that fact and offer a creation preview; do not create it during a status request.

Draft a mutation

1. Read the entire canvas and any catalog target. Record each expected SHA-256, or `null` for a file that must be absent. 2. Preserve unknown JSON fields and existing array order. The node array is bottom-to-top z-order. 3. Draft the requested nodes or edges:

• Give every node and edge a unique ID. Prefer a random 16-character

lowercase hexadecimal ID and verify it is unused.

• Require integer `x`, `y`, `width`, and `height` values for every node.
• Use `text`, `file`, `link`, or `group` exactly as defined by JSON Canvas.
• Require every `fromNode` and `toNode` to reference an existing or newly

drafted node. 4. Position new content deliberately. A group is a visual container, not a parent. Use 20 px inner padding and 40 px gaps, wrap to a new row when needed, and preview any group expansion. 5. Serialize valid UTF-8 JSON with top-level `nodes` and `edges` arrays.

Minimal node examples:

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
      "type": "text",
      "text": "# Research map\n\nA concise orientation card.",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 400,
      "height": 180
    },
    {
      "id": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890",
      "type": "file",
      "file": "wiki/concepts/Contextual Retrieval.md",
      "x": 460,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 400,
      "height": 240
    }
  ],
  "edges": []
}

Use `file` plus optional `subpath: "#Heading"` for notes, images, PDFs, and other vault files. Use `url` only on a `link` node. Escape line breaks in JSON strings as `\n`, not as literal backslash-plus-`n` text.

Preview and apply

Validate before showing the preview:

• JSON parses and uses supported node types.
• IDs are unique and edge endpoints exist.
• dimensions are positive integers;
• file and background paths are safe, vault-relative, and present;
• new nodes do not unintentionally overlap or overflow their requested group.

Build one `claude-obsidian.transaction.v1` bundle with operation type `canvas`. Include the canvas and the catalog in that same bundle when the catalog changes. Read [operation-transactions.md](../wiki/references/operation-transactions.md), then inspect the bundle before applying it:

python3 "$CORE" transaction inspect BUNDLE --vault VAULT
# Set APPROVAL_SHA256 to the inspect result's approval_sha256 after review.
python3 "$CORE" transaction apply BUNDLE --vault VAULT \
  --approved-plan-sha256 "$APPROVAL_SHA256"

For destructive edits within a board, including node or edge removal, obtain explicit consent after presenting the preview. These edits replace the board file through the transaction engine. Report the operation ID, exact changed paths, board name, node IDs, and final positions. Do not commit Git.