As an automation grows, the canvas fills up: twenty nodes, crossing connections and that "where was this going?" feeling. A messy flow isn't just ugly, it's hard to maintain and to review as a team. The Floogos editor includes tools to tidy the canvas without touching the logic: you only change how it looks, not what it does. Here's how to use them.
Align and distribute the selection
First to tidy up: keep nodes from sitting at random heights:
- Select several nodes and align them (left, center, right, top, bottom)
- Distribute the space between them evenly
- Clean rows and columns in seconds
- It only affects visual position, never the connections
💡 Tip: aligning to center and distributing horizontally leaves node chains perfectly straight.
Group what belongs together
Grouping gives visual structure to blocks of related nodes:
- Gather the nodes of one stage (e.g. "validation", "notifications")
- The group moves and reads as a single unit
- Makes the flow easy to read at a glance
- Ideal for long flows with clear phases
💡 Tip: name groups by their function. A canvas with labeled stages is reviewed much faster.
Auto-layout with one click
When the mess is big, let the editor rearrange everything for you:
- Auto-layout repositions nodes following the flow
- Respects the process direction (from trigger to result)
- Accounts for the agents' sub-nodes
- A chaotic canvas becomes readable instantly
💡 Tip: use auto-layout after importing a flow (e.g. from n8n) to leave it tidy from the start.
Fine-tune with snap and guides
For the finishing touch, the grid and guides help you square everything:
- Enable snap-to-grid for consistent positions
- Alignment guides appear as you drag a node
- Place nodes precisely without eyeballing
- Uniform spacing across the canvas
💡 Tip: with snap on, moving nodes by hand looks just as neat as automatic align.
Document with notes on the canvas
A well-organized flow also explains itself:
- Add notes to explain a decision or a stage
- Helps whoever reviews the flow later (or your future self)
- Notes are visual, they don't affect execution
- Turns the canvas into living documentation
💡 Tip: a note next to a tricky node saves the team hours of "why is this like this?".
Checklist for a clean canvas
Frequently asked questions
Does organizing the canvas change what the workflow does?
No. Aligning, grouping, auto-layout or moving nodes only changes their visual position; the connections and the flow's logic stay intact.
What does auto-layout do?
It automatically repositions nodes following the flow direction, accounting for the agents' sub-nodes, to leave a readable canvas with one click.
Is it useful after importing a flow?
Yes, it's one of the best moments to use it: after importing from n8n or Make, auto-layout leaves the canvas tidy from the start.
Can I align only some nodes?
Yes. You select the nodes you want and apply align or distribute to just that selection; the rest of the canvas is untouched.
A tidy canvas isn't cosmetic: it's what keeps a complex workflow maintainable and easy to review as a team. With align, group, auto-layout, snap and notes, the Floogos editor lets you go from a plate of spaghetti to a clear diagram in minutes, without touching a single connection. Tidy the canvas and your future self will thank you.