Sketch to Diagram
Sketch a flow by hand and let Circuitry turn it into a real diagram — shapes with labels become blocks that move as one, arrows become connections that follow, and the whole sketch can convert into live workflow nodes.
When you're planning, the fastest way to think is to draw. On any Workflow or Chatflow canvas, switch to drawing mode and sketch the way you would on a whiteboard. Circuitry quietly recognises the structure behind your sketch so it behaves like a diagram instead of loose ink.
Virtual nodes — a shape with a label
Draw a shape (rectangle, ellipse, circle, diamond, triangle) and write a word inside it — or write the word first and draw a shape around it. Circuitry recognises that the two belong together and groups them into a single block:
- The shape and its label move together as one object — drag either and both follow.
- The label is gently centered inside the shape.
- It's the same gesture you'd use to sketch a button for a UI mock-up.
Recognition is deliberately conservative: it only groups a shape with text that is clearly inside it, so unrelated notes that happen to overlap a big frame are left alone. If it ever groups something you didn't mean, just Ungroup (right-click, or ⌘⇧G) — nothing is permanent.
You can turn this off any time in Settings → Drawing → Sketch to Diagram → "Auto-group sketches into nodes" (it's on by default). With it off, you can still group manually with ⌘G.
Group blocks into groups
Blocks nest. Select a few button blocks and group them into a menu bar; group several menu bars into a header. Grouping is hierarchical, so ungrouping peels one level at a time — ungroup the header and the menu bars stay intact; ungroup a menu bar and the buttons stay intact. Your deliberate sub-groups never explode back into loose strokes.
Virtual connections — arrows that follow
Draw an arrow from one block toward another. The arrow doesn't need to touch perfectly — if it clearly points from one block to another, Circuitry tags it as a connection. From then on, whenever you move a block, its connections re-anchor to keep touching both ends. Rearrange your sketch freely; the arrows keep up.
Convert to workflow nodes
When the sketch captures what you want, make it real. Select your blocks and connections, then choose Convert to Workflow Nodes — from the selection toolbar ("To Nodes") or the right-click menu. Circuitry:
- Replaces each block with a real flow node (a no-op placeholder you can wire up or change later), keeping its label and position.
- Turns each connection into a real edge between the nodes.
The conversion is a single step you can undo (⌘Z) to bring your sketch back exactly as it was.
Flow nodes are neutral, non-executing placeholders — perfect for laying out a plan. Connect them, then change each to the node type you actually need.