Automation Canvas Enhancements

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Automation Canvas Enhancements

Introduction

The **Automation Canvas Enhancements**, released in August 2024, represent a significant upgrade to the user experience within ActiveCampaign's automation builder. Designed with usability and efficiency in mind, these improvements introduce a series of thoughtful quality-of-life features that make building, navigating, and managing complex automations more intuitive and visually manageable.

From increased visualization capabilities with the new **Automation Minimap**, to improved precision with new **Zoom Controls**, these enhancements streamline the workflow for marketers and automation builders. Whether you're fine-tuning customer journeys or reviewing high-level automation strategy, the updated canvas provides the tools to work smarter, not harder.

This release also introduces a **simplified canvas design**, automatic flow-end detection, and the ability to **export workflows as PNGs**—ideal for team sharing, documentation, or strategy reviews. These updates align with ActiveCampaign’s continued effort to support marketing professionals in creating customer experiences that are both automated and personal.

How to Access the Automation Canvas Enhancements

The **Automation Canvas Enhancements** are automatically available across all ActiveCampaign plans with no additional setup required. Simply access the existing automation builder to start using the latest features.

Steps to access:

1. Log in to your ActiveCampaign account.
2. Navigate to the **Automations** section from the left-hand menu.
3. Click **Create an Automation** or open an existing one.
4. The enhancements will be visible in the updated canvas interface.

There is no need to activate features manually or upgrade your subscription tier to benefit from these enhancements.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below is a walkthrough of how to engage with each of the key features introduced in the Automation Canvas Enhancements.

Using the Automation Minimap

The **Automation Minimap** offers a bird’s-eye view of your entire workflow.

1. Open any automation.
2. Look in the corner of the automation builder for the visual **minimap overlay**.
3. Use this view to quickly identify where you're working within larger, complex automations.
4. Click and drag the minimap grid to navigate.

Adjusting Zoom Controls

Granular control over your automation view allows for better visibility and precision.

1. Find the **Zoom Controls** panel—usually located in the lower corner of the canvas interface.
2. Click the **plus ( + )** icon to zoom in for precise node adjustments.
3. Click the **minus ( – )** icon to zoom out for an overview.
4. Use the **scroll wheel** (on supported devices) for quick zoom.

Fitting to Screen

This is useful when working with large automations that extend beyond the default view.

1. Open your automation.
2. Click the **Fit to Screen** button (often represented by a magnifying glass or frame icon).
3. The automation canvas will auto-adjust to fit the entire workflow into view.

Downloading Your Automation as a PNG

Export and share workflows visually without granting platform access.

1. Open the desired automation.
2. Click the **Download as PNG** option from the toolbar.
3. Save the file to your device and share it in reports, presentations, or documentation.

Using Enhanced “Go To” Actions

“Go To” actions now provide a smoother experience when redirecting automation flow.

1. Drag a **“Go To”** action onto the canvas from the action menu.
2. Select your target step more intuitively, as improvements streamline this connection.
3. The system highlights eligible destinations and makes configuration more apparent.

Understanding the Automatic End Automation Indicator

Manual placement of an "End Automation" action is no longer required.

1. As you build, if a path concludes with no further actions, a subtle **end marker** will appear automatically.
2. This helps identify endpoints efficiently without the need to add a manual termination step.

Configuration Options and Settings

The enhancements are built directly into the automation canvas, so there are no standalone configuration menus required. However, key elements and controls include:

• Zoom Controls: Adjust viewing scale via buttons or scrollwheel
• Fit to Screen: Reframes automation to fit the visible canvas
• Automation Minimap: Provides a navigable overview map
• Go To Actions: Improved interface for redirecting flows
• Download as PNG: Export canvas snapshot for offline use
• End Automation Marker: Automatically added where flow concludes

These options appear contextually in the updated canvas, improving workflow responsiveness and minimizing clutter.

Best Practices and Tips

To get the most out of the Automation Canvas Enhancements, consider the following best practices:

• **Use the minimap when editing extensive workflows**: This helps you avoid getting lost in nested sequences or complex logic branches.
• **Zoom in when adding expressions or conditions**: Improving focus on intricate logic makes building error-free automations easier.
• **Export PNGs regularly**: Especially useful for documenting version changes or sharing strategy with stakeholders during team reviews.
• **Let the system end your flows**: Rely on the automatic end indicator instead of cluttering your automation with unnecessary end markers.
• **Label "Go To" actions descriptively**: Even though usability has improved, clear labels and structure prevent confusion during future edits.

Common Use Cases with Examples

Marketing Teams Reviewing Campaigns

Teams can now **export the automation as a PNG**, making it easy to include workflow structure in campaign planning meetings or slide decks.

Streamlining Complex Logic

If your automation branches extensively, the **minimap** and **zoom controls** help you stay oriented and avoid misplacements or redundancies.

Customer Experience Mapping

Brands mapping journey stages across touchpoints use **fit-to-screen** to review customer paths from start to finish.

Multiple Editors or Roles

Collaborators editing the same automation benefit from enhanced visibility and clarity using the **improved Go To actions** and overview features.

Compliance and Documentation

Marketing and compliance teams can now export visual workflow snapshots to document how data flows and decisions are automated.

Troubleshooting

While the Automation Canvas Enhancements are designed to improve usability, you may encounter the following scenarios:

• **Zoom controls not visible**: Confirm you're working in the automation canvas and that your browser or screen resolution supports the new interface.
• **Minimap missing**: Refresh the page or reopen the automation; the minimap should load by default in a supported workspace.
• **PNG download fails**: Ensure pop-ups and downloads are allowed in your browser settings.
• **Flow does not end where expected**: Check if any conditional branches continue beyond the last visible action; the automatic end indicator only appears when the system recognizes a terminal path.

For platform bugs or persistent UI issues, consider clearing your browser cache or trying a different browser.

Related Features

To learn more about automation functionality and enhancements, explore:

• 2024 Release Notes
• ActiveCampaign Release Notes
• Automation
• AI Campaign Follow Up
• Use Conditional Content
• Updated Link Modal

FAQ

Do I need to enable the Automation Canvas Enhancements?

No. These enhancements are automatically available on all ActiveCampaign plans without additional configuration.

Can I revert back to the old canvas?

No. The new automation canvas fully replaces the previous version and is designed to be backwards compatible with all workflows.

Where is the “Fit to Screen” button located?

The **Fit to Screen** button is part of the canvas toolbar. It is typically located near the **Zoom Controls**, depending on screen layout.

Can I share the automation PNG file with non-ActiveCampaign users?

Yes. Once downloaded, the image file can be shared freely outside of ActiveCampaign for collaboration or documentation purposes.

Is the download PNG feature available on all plans?

Yes, all Automation Canvas Enhancements, including PNG export, are enabled across all plan levels.

What determines when the End Automation Indicator appears?

The indicator appears automatically when the system detects the end of a branch or path within your workflow that has no further configurations.

Why did my “Go To” action not link properly?

Ensure the destination step exists and is valid for redirection. The enhanced interface highlights valid links dynamically as you set them up.

Conclusion

The **Automation Canvas Enhancements** embody ActiveCampaign's commitment to intuitive, feature-rich automation. By refining productivity features like zooming, flow visualization, and exportability, users can now create, review, and share complex workflows with more confidence and ease than ever.

These improvements not only increase operational speed but also expand the strategic visibility needed to scale successful automations. Explore these features in your account and experience a new standard in marketing automation firsthand.