New Automation Builder Features: Inline Add and 100% Zoom View

The Automation Builder includes two enhancement features that change how you add elements to the canvas: Inline Add, which lets you add Whens and Thens directly on the canvas without using the side panel, and 100% Zoom View, which transforms small canvas icons into detailed cards with additional context when you zoom to 100%.

To enable these features, click your avatar in the left-hand navigation and toggle on Try new automation features at the top of any automation canvas.

How to Add Elements Inline on the Canvas

Inline Add lets you add Whens and Thens directly from the canvas — without dragging elements from the side panel — by clicking the + button that appears on each canvas element. The inline add menu shows only the element types that are valid at that position in the automation. For example, after a When element, the menu will show only Then options — preventing connection errors before they happen.

Click the + button on any canvas element to open the inline add menu. The menu displays all valid When or Then options for that position, listed alphabetically and searchable by name — the same options available in the side panel.

How to Add Elements Between Existing Canvas Elements

You can also use Inline Add to insert a new element between two elements that are already connected on the canvas. The new element is automatically connected to both the element before it and the element after it.

To insert an element between two existing elements, hover over the earlier element to reveal its + button. Click the + to open the inline add menu and select the element you want to insert. The new element will be placed between the two original elements and connected to both automatically.

Note: If the two original elements are very close together on the canvas, the newly inserted element may be obscured by the surrounding elements. Move the original elements farther apart before inserting a new element between them to ensure it appears clearly.

If you want to use the + button to draw a connection arrow rather than open the inline add menu, click and hold the + button to convert it into a connection arrow. You can then drag the arrow to connect the element to another element on the canvas.

How Inline Add Works When Only One + Is Visible

The inline add + button is only displayed by default on the most recently added element. Other elements on the canvas do not show the + button until you interact with them. To use Inline Add on any element that does not currently show the + button, hover over that element to reveal its + button.

100% Zoom View

When you zoom the canvas to 100%, canvas elements transform from compact icons into larger, detailed cards that display the element's name and up to three sub-elements — giving you more context about what each When or Then contains without having to open it.

The 100% Zoom View is also available inside the Then Sequence modal, so you can see detailed cards while editing a sequence without returning to the full canvas.

To maximize canvas working space while using Inline Add, collapse the side panel on the main canvas or inside the Then modal by clicking the collapse arrow on the panel edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prevent elements from opening automatically when I add them to the canvas?

Yes. By default, When and Then configuration panels open automatically when you add an element to the canvas. To disable this behavior:

1. Click the kebab menu (three-dot icon) in the upper-right corner of the automation canvas.

   

2. Click Builder Preferences.

   

3. Select Don't open elements upon adding to canvas.

   

4. Click Save to apply the preference.

   

Can I still drag elements onto the canvas instead of using Inline Add?

Yes. Dragging and dropping elements from the side panel onto the canvas works the same way it always has. Inline Add is an additional option, not a replacement for the side panel drag-and-drop workflow.

How do I turn off the new Automation Builder features?

Click the Try new automation features toggle in the upper-right corner of any automation canvas to turn the features off and return to the previous builder experience.

I added an element inline between two elements but I cannot see it on the canvas.

If the two original elements were placed close together on the canvas, the new element may be hidden behind one of them. Drag the original elements farther apart to give the inserted element enough space to appear between them. This issue is more likely to occur when building at a small zoom level and then zooming in to 100% — the larger cards in 100% Zoom View take more space than the smaller icons, which can cause elements to overlap. Rearrange your elements at the zoom level you plan to work in to avoid this.

Why are my canvas elements overlapping?

Element position on the canvas is fully manual — elements do not auto-arrange. Overlapping elements are not an error. To fix overlapping, drag each element to a position where it does not overlap with others. If you built an automation at a low zoom level and the elements appear close together at 100% zoom, drag them apart at 100% zoom to account for the larger card size in that view.

Why can't I find a specific When or Then in the inline add menu?

Some Then elements require a specific When to already be present on the canvas before they become available. If a required When is not on the canvas, the corresponding Then will not appear in the inline add menu. Add the required When element to the canvas first, then use Inline Add to select the Then.