> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.elitea.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Flow Editor

> The Flow Editor is ELITEA's visual pipeline builder that lets you design, configure, and manage pipelines without writing code. Create complex workflows by drag

## What is Flow Editor?

The **Flow Editor** is a visual workspace for building pipelines. It provides:

* **Drag-and-drop interface** for adding and arranging nodes
* **Visual connections** between nodes showing execution flow
* **Vertical layout** optimized for easy configuration
* **Instant YAML sync** - changes in Flow appear immediately in YAML (and vice versa)
* **Interactive configuration** - click nodes to configure their settings

***

## Accessing Flow Editor

1. Navigate to **Pipelines** menu
2. Open an existing pipeline or create a new one
3. Click the **Configuration** tab
4. Select **Flow** mode (appears alongside **YAML** tab)

<Info title="Flow and YAML Sync">
  Whatever you configure in Flow automatically appears in YAML format, and vice versa. Both views stay perfectly synchronized.
</Info>

***

## Flow Editor Interface

The Flow Editor consists of several key areas:

### Main Components

| # | Component           | Location      | Purpose                                       |
| - | ------------------- | ------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Canvas**          | Center        | Main workspace for arranging nodes            |
| 2 | **Toolbar**         | Left side     | Tools for canvas control (zoom, layout, etc.) |
| 3 | **Add Node Button** | Top right (➕) | Opens node palette to add new nodes           |
| 4 | **State Button**    | Top right     | Opens state configuration sidebar             |
| 5 | **Flow/YAML Tabs**  | Top center    | Switch between visual and code views          |

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/flow-editor-overview.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5&q=85&s=8320dccb7f5099aa029bf2008372c86f" alt="Flow Editor interface overview" width="1920" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/flow-editor-overview.png" />

### Left Toolbar Buttons

| Icon   | Action                    | Keyboard Shortcut |
| ------ | ------------------------- | ----------------- |
| **➕**  | Add new node              | -                 |
| **➖**  | Zoom out                  | -                 |
| **⛶**  | Fit view (auto-center)    | -                 |
| **🔒** | Lock/Unlock editing       | -                 |
| **⬜**  | Collapse/Expand all cards | -                 |
| **🔧** | Auto-fix layout           | -                 |

***

## Adding Nodes

### Method 1: Add Node Button

1. Click the **➕** button (top right corner)
2. A node palette appears showing all available node types
3. Select the node type you want to add
4. Node appears on the canvas

**Available Node Types:**

* Agent
* Code
* Custom
* Decision
* HITL
* LLM
* MCP
* Printer
* Router
* State modifier
* Toolkit

  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/hitl-node-add.gif?s=ce0a3ca2d76d09f54f1faf76f186f597" alt="Add node" width="1909" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/hitl-node-add.gif" />

### Method 2: Drag from Connection

You can also add nodes while creating connections:

1. Drag a connector from an existing node
2. Release it in empty space on the canvas
3. Select **Create New Node** from the dropdown
4. Choose node type
5. New node is created with connection already attached

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/drag-connector.gif?s=7965ded690fb65bb98e0314a000901a4" alt="Creating node from connection dropdown" width="1901" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/drag-connector.gif" />

***

## Configuring Nodes

Click on any node card to open its configuration panel:

### Node Configuration Options

Each node type has specific configuration fields. Common options include:

* **Node Name** (click card title to rename)
* **Input/Output** state variables
* **Node-specific settings** (prompts, toolkits, conditions, etc.)
* **Advanced options** (Interrupt Before/After, Structured Output)

<Tip title="Renaming Nodes">
  Click on the node card title to rename most nodes. **Decision** nodes cannot be renamed.
</Tip>

### Renaming a Node

1. Click the **node card title**
2. Type the new name
3. Press **Enter** or click outside to save

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/rename-node.gif?s=7f9d3898d8994a7944de90c68d84b28f" alt="Renaming a node by clicking title" width="1901" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/rename-node.gif" />

***

## Connecting Nodes

Nodes must be connected to define the execution flow. See the [Nodes Connectors Guide](./nodes-connectors) for complete details.

### Creating Connections

**Method 1: Drag and Drop**

1. Click and hold the **output port** (bottom of node card)
2. Drag the connector line to the **input port** (top of target node)
3. Release to create the connection

**Method 2: Drop on Canvas**

1. Drag connector from a node
2. Release in empty canvas space
3. Select existing node or create new node from dropdown
4. Connection auto-completes

### Deleting Connections

Click on the connection line to select it, then press **Delete** on keyboard

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/delete-connection.gif?s=c3b48a29e1012265a96ba0b9406e0268" alt="Selected connection line highlighted" width="1901" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/delete-connection.gif" />

***

## Managing Nodes

### Node Card Actions

Click the **three-dots menu (⋮)** on any node card to access node actions:

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/node-menu-options.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5&q=85&s=6e87df915bb5dabe8ecf85eaa26eb538" alt="Node card three-dots menu" width="371" height="253" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/node-menu-options.png" />

**Available Actions:**

| Action              | Description                               |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **Make entrypoint** | Set this node as the pipeline entry point |
| **Delete**          | Remove the node from the pipeline         |

<Warning title="Deleting Nodes">
  Deleting a node also removes all its connections. Make sure to reconnect remaining nodes after deletion.
</Warning>

### Moving Nodes

Rearrange nodes to improve visual clarity:

1. Click on a node card
2. Drag it to a new position on the canvas
3. Release to place

<Tip title="Vertical Layout">
  The Flow Editor uses a **vertical (top-to-bottom) layout** for optimal readability. Nodes execute from top to bottom following the connections.
</Tip>

***

## Canvas Controls

### Collapse/Expand Cards

Toggle between compact and detailed node views:

* **Collapsed**: Shows only node name and type icon
* **Expanded**: Shows all configuration fields

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/collapse-expand-cards.gif?s=82f120ef8aa01092fa9e8ecccb76cfb2" alt="Collapsed vs expanded node cards" width="1901" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/collapse-expand-cards.gif" />

Click the **State** button (top right) to open the state configuration sidebar.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/default-states-toggles.gif?s=cd8784abcb570160ff629c606434818a" alt="State sidebar panel" width="1901" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/default-states-toggles.gif" />

**In the State Sidebar:**

* View all pipeline state variables
* Add new custom states
* Configure default values
* Set state data types (String, Number, Array, Object)

See the [States Guide](./states) for complete state configuration details.

***

## Flow to YAML Synchronization

Changes made in Flow Editor **instantly appear in YAML**:

1. Add/modify nodes in Flow
2. Switch to **YAML** tab
3. See the updated YAML code
4. Switch back to **Flow** to continue visual editing

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/epam-a74ef051/DO68v7s2qqS2Wjw5/img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/flow-yaml-sync.gif?s=22e59a49f00bebd1b506552f5e999da1" alt="Flow and YAML tabs showing synchronized content" width="1901" height="911" data-path="img/how-tos/agents-pipelines/pipeline-building-blocks/nodes/flow-yaml-sync.gif" />

<Info title="Two-Way Sync">
  Edits in YAML also update the Flow view immediately. You can work in whichever mode you prefer.
</Info>

***

## Keyboard Shortcuts

| Action                          | Shortcut                    |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Delete selected node/connection | **Delete** or **Backspace** |
| Save pipeline                   | **Ctrl/Cmd + S**            |
| Undo                            | **Ctrl/Cmd + Z**            |
| Redo                            | **Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z**    |

***

## Best Practices

<Tip>
  * **Use Descriptive Node Names**: "Validate User Input" instead of "LLM Node"
  * **Organize Vertically**: Entry point at top, processing in middle, END at bottom
  * **Collapse Side Panels**: Maximize canvas space for complex pipelines
  * **Use Auto-Fix Layout**: Maintain clean alignment after adding/moving nodes
  * **Test Incrementally**: Build step-by-step, test after adding each node
  * **Save Frequently**: Prevent data loss by saving often
</Tip>

***

## Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="Nodes Not Connecting">
  **Problem**: Cannot create connection between nodes.

  **Solutions**:

  * Check if nodes are compatible (e.g., Router requires specific output nodes)
  * Verify you're dragging from output port (bottom) to input port (top)
  * Try **Auto-fix Layout** if nodes are overlapping
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Canvas is Blank">
  **Problem**: Flow Editor shows empty canvas.

  **Solutions**:

  * Switch to **YAML** tab to check if pipeline has nodes
  * Click **Fit View** to center nodes
  * Refresh the page
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Changes Not Saving">
  **Problem**: Edits disappear after closing pipeline.

  **Solutions**:

  * Click **Save** button before navigating away
  * Check for error messages at top of screen
  * Verify network connection
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Node Configuration Not Opening">
  **Problem**: Clicking node doesn't show configuration panel.

  **Solutions**:

  * Click directly on the node card (not the connection lines)
  * Unlock editing if canvas is locked (🔒 button)
  * Expand the **GENERAL** section if collapsed
</Accordion>

***

<Info title="Related Documentation">
  * **[Nodes Connectors](./nodes-connectors)**: Learn how to connect nodes and manage transitions
  * **[States Guide](./states)**: Configure state variables for data flow
  * **[YAML Configuration](./yaml)**: Work directly with YAML code
  * **[Nodes Overview](./nodes/overview)**: Understand all 11 node types
  * **[Entry Point Guide](./entry-point)**: Set up pipeline starting points
</Info>

***