The Workflow Canvas is Atlas's visual workflow builder. You can create powerful automations without writing code by connecting blocks on an interactive canvas.
Creating a Workflow
To create a new workflow, follow these steps:
- Open your Atlas project
- Navigate to the Workflows section in the left sidebar
- Click New Workflow to create a new workflow
- Choose to start from scratch or select a template
Canvas Interface
The canvas interface consists of several key areas that help you build and manage workflows.
The Canvas Area is the central workspace where you build workflows visually. It features a grid background and supports zooming and panning. You drag blocks from the sidebar onto this area and connect them to create your workflow logic.
The Blocks Panel appears in the right sidebar. It contains all available workflow blocks organized by category. You can browse categories or use the search bar to find specific blocks quickly.
The History Tab in the right sidebar shows previous workflow states. You can review changes and restore earlier versions of your workflow if needed.
The Layers Panel on the left displays your project's datasets. You can drag datasets directly onto the canvas to use them as workflow inputs.
The Toolbar at the top provides controls for running workflows, scheduling executions, and switching between table and map views of your data.
The Search Bar lets you quickly find specific blocks by name or function without browsing through categories.
Building Workflows
Workflows consist of connected blocks that process data in sequence. Each block performs a specific operation and can receive inputs from previous blocks.
To add a block to your workflow, click or drag it from the Blocks Panel onto the canvas. The block appears at the cursor position.
Connect blocks by clicking a block's output port and dragging to another block's input port. The connection shows how data flows through your workflow.
Configure each block by clicking it to open its settings panel. Required parameters are marked and must be filled before running the workflow.
Running Workflows
Click the Run button in the toolbar to execute your workflow. Atlas processes each block in sequence following the connections you created.
The workflow displays progress indicators as it runs. You can see which blocks are processing and which have completed.
Results appear in the connected output blocks. You can view results in table format or visualize them on the map depending on the data type.
Managing Workflows
Atlas automatically saves workflows as you make changes to prevent data loss.
Rename workflows by clicking the workflow title and entering a new name. Clear, descriptive names help you find workflows later.
Duplicate workflows to create variations without starting from scratch. Right-click the workflow in the Workflows list and select Duplicate.
Delete workflows by right-clicking them in the Workflows list and selecting Delete. Deleted workflows cannot be recovered.
For information on scheduling workflows to run automatically, see the Workflow Scheduling guide.
Viewing Results
Switch between table and map views using the toolbar buttons. Table view shows attribute data in rows and columns while map view displays spatial features.
Export results by connecting an Export block at the end of your workflow. Choose to save as a new dataset or overwrite an existing one.
Best Practices
Start with simple workflows and add complexity gradually. Test each section before adding more blocks to identify issues early.
Use clear naming for workflows and blocks. Descriptive names make workflows easier to understand when revisiting them later.
Comment complex sections using block descriptions. Explain why certain parameters were chosen or what the block accomplishes.
Group related operations together on the canvas. Organize blocks spatially to reflect the logical flow of your workflow.
Test with sample data before running on large datasets. This helps identify configuration errors without waiting for long processing times.
Save workflow templates for repeated tasks. Reusable templates speed up workflow creation and ensure consistency across projects.
