Every guide in this collection
Guides for getting work out of Canvasola and back in: PNG, JPG, SVG, Markdown, OPML, JSON, HTML/CSS, .canv projects, backups and file naming.
How to use this collection
Each guide stands on its own, but the order below is the order that works. Start with the guide that matches the task in front of you, then use the checklist at the end of it to review the result. When a guide mentions a shortcut, the keyboard cheat sheet has the full list, and the complete guide explains where each tool lives.
Every guide here is written against the current version of the app, and each one names the specific capability it depends on, so you can check the claim in the product instead of trusting the page.
Start here
- Backing Up a Canvas App Without Losing a Single Node — Backing up a canvas app in Canvasola means saving the .canv project file, the only portable copy of your canvas, mind map, mockups, style and camera settings.
- Exporting App Mockups: PNG, JPG, JSON and HTML Compared — Exporting app mockups from Canvasola gives you PNG, JPG, re-importable JSON or static HTML and CSS, and the HTML version ships with no JavaScript at all.
- How to Export a Mind Map as an Image in Canvasola — Learn how to export a mind map as an image in Canvasola: SVG for a sharp master, PNG for a quick attachment, and the 4096 pixel ceiling to plan around.
- Mind Map Markdown Export: Nested Lists You Can Reuse — A mind map markdown export turns your map into nested lists you can paste into Notion, Obsidian or a repo, and Canvasola can import that file straight back in.
- How to Export a Mind Map to PDF (Without a PDF Button) — Canvasola has no direct PDF button. Print a canvas or mind map to PDF from the browser, then compare SVG, PNG, Markdown and OPML export.
- Importing a Mind Map From a Document, Step by Step — Importing a mind map from a document takes two steps in Canvasola: turn the Word or Google Doc into an indented outline, then build the map.
- Moving a Project Between Devices: Files, Cloud and Limits — Moving a project between devices in Canvasola means a .canv file or an opt-in cloud project, since local autosave never leaves the browser profile that made it.
- What Is an OPML File? Exporting Mind Maps With It — An OPML file is the XML outline format mind map tools use to exchange maps. See what a Canvasola OPML export contains and how to import one from another app.