Excalidraw Canvas MCP Server (yctimlin): Setup for Claude and Cursor

• Draws many shapes and arrows at once

  Creates several elements in one call. Give shapes custom IDs so arrows can attach to them and route to their edges.

  Try: “Draw three boxes called API, Queue and Worker with arrows between them.”

  Write · batch_create_elements

• Draws one shape, text or arrow

  Adds a single element to the canvas. Arrows can bind to shapes by ID and route themselves to the edges.

  Try: “Add a blue rectangle labelled Database.”

  Write · create_element

• Turns Mermaid text into a diagram

  Converts a Mermaid diagram into Excalidraw elements and draws them on the canvas.

  Try: “Turn this Mermaid flowchart into an Excalidraw diagram.”

  Write · create_from_mermaid

• Describes what is on the canvas in words

  Returns the element types, positions, connections, labels and layout of the current canvas. The assistant uses it to see what exists before it changes anything.

  Try: “Describe what is on the canvas right now.”

  Network · describe_scene

• Takes a picture of the canvas

  Renders the canvas to a PNG and returns the image so the assistant can check how the diagram looks. It renders without a browser tab.

  Try: “Look at the diagram and fix any overlapping labels.”

  Network · get_canvas_screenshot

• Finds elements on the canvas by filter

  Returns elements that match filters you give, such as type.

  Try: “List all arrows on the canvas.”

  Network · query_elements

• Reads one element by its ID

  Returns the full details of a single canvas element.

  Try: “Show me the details of element a1.”

  Network · get_element

• Changes an existing element

  Edits an element that is already on the canvas, such as its text, colour, size or position.

  Try: “Make the Database box green.”

  Write · update_element

• Copies elements with an offset

  Duplicates the chosen elements and shifts the copies by an offset you set.

  Try: “Duplicate the Worker box twice, side by side.”

  Write · duplicate_elements

• Lines elements up

  Aligns the chosen elements to a position, for example to the left edge or to the middle.

  Try: “Align the three boxes along their top edge.”

  Write · align_elements

• Spaces elements evenly

  Spreads the chosen elements out with even gaps.

  Try: “Space these five boxes evenly across the canvas.”

  Write · distribute_elements

• Groups elements together

  Groups several elements so they move and select as one.

  Try: “Group the three database boxes.”

  Write · group_elements

• Splits a group apart

  Removes a group so its elements are separate again.

  Try: “Ungroup the database boxes.”

  Write · ungroup_elements

• Locks elements so they cannot change

  Locks the chosen elements to stop edits.

  Try: “Lock the title and legend.”

  Write · lock_elements

• Unlocks elements for editing

  Lets you edit elements that were locked.

  Try: “Unlock the legend.”

  Write · unlock_elements

• Moves and zooms the canvas view

  Fits all elements in view, zooms to a few elements, centres on one, or sets zoom and scroll. It needs the canvas open in a browser.

  Try: “Zoom to fit the whole diagram.”

  Write · set_viewport

• Removes one element

  Deletes a single element from the canvas.

  Try: “Delete the unused Cache box.”

  Delete · delete_element

• Empties the whole canvas

  Removes every element from the canvas. Take a snapshot first if you may want it back.

  Try: “Clear the canvas and start over.”

  Delete · clear_canvas

• Saves a named copy of the canvas

  Stores the canvas under a name so you can come back to it. Snapshots live in memory unless a data folder is set.

  Try: “Save a snapshot called v1.”

  Write · snapshot_scene

• Brings back a saved snapshot

  Restores the canvas from a named snapshot.

  Try: “Restore the snapshot called v1.”

  Write · restore_snapshot

• Saves the diagram as a .excalidraw file

  Exports the canvas as Excalidraw JSON, and can write it to a file. A path ending in .md uses the Obsidian Excalidraw format. File access is limited to one export folder.

  Try: “Save this diagram to docs/architecture.excalidraw.”

  Write · export_scene

• Loads a diagram from a file

  Reads a .excalidraw file, an Obsidian .excalidraw.md file or raw JSON onto the canvas.

  Try: “Import docs/architecture.excalidraw.”

  Write · import_scene

• Exports the diagram as PNG or SVG

  Renders the canvas to a PNG or SVG without a browser tab. SVGs embed the fonts they use.

  Try: “Export the diagram as an SVG.”

  Write · export_to_image

• Makes a shareable excalidraw.com link

  Encrypts the diagram and uploads it, then returns a link. Anyone with the link can view it.

  Try: “Give me a share link for this diagram.”

  Write · export_to_excalidraw_url

• Used by the assistant behind the scenes

  Gives the assistant drawing rules before it starts

  Returns a design guide with colours, sizes, layout patterns and arrow tips. The assistant reads it before it draws so results look tidy.

  Try: “Draw the architecture of this service as a clean diagram.”

  Read · read_diagram_guide

• Reads an Excalidraw resource

  Returns an Excalidraw resource by name.

  Try: “Get the library resource.”

  Network · get_resource

Watch out for

• It writes and reads diagram files

  The export and import tools read and write files, limited to one folder (your working directory by default) and to .excalidraw, .json, .md, .png and .svg types. github.com

• Share links upload your diagram

  The share-link tool encrypts the scene and uploads it to excalidraw.com's storage. Anyone with the link can view it. github.com

• clear_canvas and delete_element remove work with no undo

  clear_canvas deletes every element and delete_element deletes one. The canvas lives in memory by default, so call snapshot_scene or export_scene first if you want a copy. github.com

• Canvas page loads fonts from esm.sh

  The README says the canvas page loads Excalidraw's fonts from the esm.sh CDN. The canvas server itself listens on 127.0.0.1:3000 unless you set HOST. github.com

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