json-canvas

# 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](https://jsoncanvas.org/spec/1.0/).

## File Structure

A canvas file contains two top-level arrays:

```json
{
  "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.

```json
{
  "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.

Examples:

```json
{ "type": "text", "text": "Line 1\nLine 2" }
```

```json
{ "type": "text", "text": "Line 1\\nLine 2" }
```

| 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.).

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

```json
{
  "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.

```json
{
  "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.

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

```json
{
  "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.

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

```json
{
  "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

```json
{
  "color": "#FF0000"
}
```

### Preset Colors

```json
{
  "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, a