Canvases and text artifacts

A canvas is an interactive preview for a site, dashboard, calculator, walkthrough or other visual experience created in chat. Text artifacts are separate files for writing or code. Both open beside the conversation, but their controls are intentionally different.

When you get one

Ask for an interactive layout when the arrangement and behavior matter as much as the words. A chart that belongs directly in a reply uses the chart view described in charts; a multi-screen or interactive result is better suited to a canvas.

Preview controls

The canvas pane is preview-only. Use Mobile, Tablet and Desktop to check the layout at different widths. Choose Reload to restart the current preview, Download to keep its source files, or Open to view the preview in a new tab. These controls do not edit the canvas.

Sharing a canvas

Choose Share to create a link anyone can open without an account. It always shows the latest version, and the canvas runs walled off from your account. The same menu copies the link or Stop sharing, which turns it off at once. Choose PDF to download the canvas as a PDF. On a phone, both are in the share button at the top of the canvas. You can also ask the chat to share a canvas or send you a PDF of it. Before chat makes a public link, a card asks you to Confirm, so nothing is shared until you say so.

Changing a canvas

Ask for the change in the chat, such as “Make the navigation easier on mobile” or “Add a filter for region”. When the update finishes, the same pane opens the new version. Use the version control in the pane header to revisit an earlier result. For the basics of asking and following up, see the composer.

Text artifacts are different

Plain text and code artifacts can be edited directly in their pane. Markdown opens as formatted, editable writing, while HTML and SVG files have Edit and Previewviews. When you have unsaved edits, a banner above the text offers Save and Discard changes; save before closing. A personal note can be opened as a text artifact, but a canvas does not convert into a note. To work with personal notes, see notes.

Keeping the result

Canvas versions stay attached to the chat that created them. Use Download when you need a copy outside Metir, and use Open when you want the preview in its own tab. Documents that need page-based formatting are covered in documents.