Canvas layout overview
The canvas is divided into four main areas:Canvas area
The large central space where your BPMN diagram is displayed and edited. You can pan by clicking and dragging on empty space, and zoom with the scroll wheel or the zoom controls in the bottom-right corner.
Toolbar
A horizontal bar at the top of the canvas. Contains actions for auto-layout, undo/redo, export, sharing, and diagram settings.
AI chat panel
A collapsible panel on the right side of the canvas. Type or speak a refinement instruction here and the AI edits the live diagram in response.
Element palette
A vertical sidebar on the left. Lists all BPMN 2.0 elements — events, tasks, gateways, pools, lanes — that you can drag onto the canvas manually.
The toolbar
The toolbar runs across the top of the canvas and contains the most frequently used actions:| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-layout | Automatically repositions all elements for maximum readability. Run this any time the diagram starts to look cluttered after manual edits or AI refinements. |
| Undo / Redo | Steps back or forward through your edit history. Keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z and Ctrl+Y / Cmd+Y also work. |
| Zoom | Fit the diagram to the screen, or enter a specific zoom percentage. Also accessible via the zoom controls in the bottom-right corner. |
| Export | Opens the export menu: download as a .bpmn file, PNG image, or SVG image. |
| Share | Generates a read-only share link you can send to anyone — no Just Flow It account required to view. |
| Diagram settings | Rename the diagram, change the canvas background, or delete the diagram. |
The AI chat panel
The AI chat panel is where you refine your diagram after the initial generation. Click the chat bubble icon on the right edge of the canvas to expand or collapse it.Type or speak your instruction
Describe the change you want in plain language — for example, “Add a notification email task after the approval gateway” — then press Enter or click Send.
Review the AI's edit
The diagram updates live on the canvas. Changed or newly added elements are briefly highlighted so you can spot exactly what the AI modified.
Each message sent to the AI chat panel uses one AI prompt credit on the Free plan. On Pro and Team plans, chat refinement is unlimited.
The element palette
The element palette sits on the left side of the canvas. It lists every standard BPMN 2.0 element you can add manually:- Events — Start, Intermediate, End (and their variants: Timer, Message, Error, and more)
- Tasks — User, Service, Business Rule, Manual, Sub-Process
- Gateways — Exclusive (XOR), Parallel (AND), Inclusive (OR)
- Containers — Pool, Lane
- Connectors — Sequence Flow, Message Flow
Zoom and pan controls
| Control | How to use |
|---|---|
| Pan | Click and drag on empty canvas space, or hold Space and drag anywhere. |
| Zoom in / out | Scroll the mouse wheel, or use the + / − buttons in the bottom-right corner. |
| Fit to screen | Click the fit icon in the bottom-right corner, or press Ctrl+Shift+F / Cmd+Shift+F. |
| Mini-map | A thumbnail of the full diagram in the bottom-right corner helps you navigate very large diagrams. Click any part of the mini-map to jump to that area. |
Auto-save and cloud storage
Every change you make — whether through the AI or by hand — is saved to the cloud automatically within seconds. There is no manual save button and no risk of losing work if you close the browser tab.Diagram limits by plan
The number of diagrams you can save depends on your plan:| Plan | Saved diagrams |
|---|---|
| Free | 3 |
| Pro | Unlimited |
| Team | Unlimited |
AI Generation
Learn how to write prompts and use the AI chat panel effectively.