The visual editor

The flow editor is a canvas where you drop blocks and link them together. Each block is configured in a side panel, without writing code. This page describes the interface and the building gestures; the details of each block are in the block reference.

Before you startCopy Anchor Link

Open a flow from the Flows page (Open button on a card) or create one with New flow. Each flow has its own address in the editor: you can bookmark it to come back to it directly.

Editor areasCopy Anchor Link

The libraryCopy Anchor Link

• Search a block… filters the list by name, tag (AGENT, SMS…) or description.
• The collapse button folds the library into a column of icons that you can still drag onto the canvas. Your choice is remembered.

The configuration panelCopy Anchor Link

• It opens automatically when you click a block.
• The collapse button shrinks it into a thin column to free up the canvas.
• Drag its left edge to widen it (useful for long prompts). The width is remembered.
• At the bottom of the panel: Duplicate and Delete the block.

Building a flowCopy Anchor Link

Add a blockCopy Anchor Link

1. Find the block in the Library.
2. Drag it onto the canvas, where you want it.
3. The block is added and selected: the configuration panel opens.
4. Fill in the Block label, then its fields.

Link two blocksCopy Anchor Link

1. Point at an output handle, on the right of a block.
2. Drag to the input handle, on the left of the next block.
3. Release: the link is created.

Some blocks have several outputs, each with its label shown on hover: Success (2xx) and Error / timeout for an HTTP request, Decision received and Timeout for a human approval. Conversational blocks (Trigger, LLM agent) show one row per function, each with its own output handle.

Select, move, deleteCopy Anchor Link

• Click a block to select it, click the canvas background to clear the selection.
• Drag a block to move it.
• Select a block or a link, then press Backspace or Delete to remove it. Functions that pointed to a deleted block lose their target.

Duplicate a blockCopy Anchor Link

Select a block, then press ⌘D / Ctrl+D, or click Duplicate in the panel. The copy, named "(copy)", takes over the full configuration and the outgoing links of the original block.

Rearrange the graphCopy Anchor Link

The Rearrange button in the top bar automatically lays out the blocks from left to right following the links. Handy after an import or when the canvas gets messy.

Automatic transitionsCopy Anchor Link

A conversational block only moves to the next block when the AI calls a transition function. To save you from declaring them one by one, Flowtative generates them from your links.

When you draw a link from the Reply output (or Start for the Trigger) to another block:

• a row appears on the source block, named after the target: a link to "Appointment booking" creates the aller_appointment_booking transition;
• the AI receives a generated instruction: move to that step once the goal is reached (or wrap up the call if the target is a Hang up block);
• renaming the target block renames the transition; deleting the link removes it.

These transitions are listed in the panel under Automatic transitions (links). Click Customize to turn one into an editable function: you can then change its description, add state writes or a conditional output. A customized transition carries the link badge.

Visual cuesCopy Anchor Link

Writing prompts and textsCopy Anchor Link

Long text fields (prompts, message, instruction) have an Expand button that opens a full-screen editor:

• the text is saved as you type, nothing to confirm;
• a Variables panel lists the flow variables; click one to insert it at the cursor;
• the block's functions are highlighted in the text;
• a counter shows characters, words, lines and an estimate in tokens;
• Undo changes restores the text as it was when you opened the editor;
• Esc or ⌘↵ / Ctrl+↵ close the editor, like the Done button.

Using variablesCopy Anchor Link

In fields that accept them, write {{path}}: the value is substituted each time the block is entered. Add a fallback value with {{path || default}}, for example Hello {{state.parameters.firstName || there}}.

The suggested variables come from:

• the state writes declared in the flow's functions;
• the Result variable of Datastore blocks;
• variables already used in other blocks.

See Variables and dynamic data.

ShortcutsCopy Anchor Link

The duplicate and delete shortcuts are inactive while the cursor is in an input field, and while previewing an older version.

SavingCopy Anchor Link

Every change is kept automatically in your browser (auto-saved badge). To publish your changes and create a new version, click Save. See Save and publish.

Best practicesCopy Anchor Link

• Draw the main path first, from the entry to the Hang up block, then add the special cases.
• Watch for No next step badges before saving.
• Use Rearrange after each batch of additions to keep the graph readable for the whole team.

Learn moreCopy Anchor Link