Canva Automation

1---
2name: canva-automation
3description: "Automate Canva tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): designs, exports, folders, brand templates, autofill. Always search tools first for current schemas."
4requires:
5  mcp: [rube]
6---
7 
8# Canva Automation via Rube MCP
9 
10Automate Canva design operations through Composio's Canva toolkit via Rube MCP.
11 
12## Prerequisites
13 
14- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
15- Active Canva connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `canva`
16- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas
17 
18## Setup
19 
20**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.
21 
22 
231. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
242. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `canva`
253. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Canva OAuth
264. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
27 
28## Core Workflows
29 
30### 1. List and Browse Designs
31 
32**When to use**: User wants to find existing designs or browse their Canva library
33 
34**Tool sequence**:
351. `CANVA_LIST_USER_DESIGNS` - List all designs with optional filters [Required]
36 
37**Key parameters**:
38- `query`: Search term to filter designs by name
39- `continuation`: Pagination token from previous response
40- `ownership`: Filter by 'owned', 'shared', or 'any'
41- `sort_by`: Sort field (e.g., 'modified_at', 'title')
42 
43**Pitfalls**:
44- Results are paginated; follow `continuation` token until absent
45- Deleted designs may still appear briefly; check design status
46- Search is substring-based, not fuzzy matching
47 
48### 2. Create and Design
49 
50**When to use**: User wants to create a new Canva design from scratch or from a template
51 
52**Tool sequence**:
531. `CANVA_ACCESS_USER_SPECIFIC_BRAND_TEMPLATES_LIST` - Browse available brand templates [Optional]
542. `CANVA_CREATE_CANVA_DESIGN_WITH_OPTIONAL_ASSET` - Create a new design [Required]
55 
56**Key parameters**:
57- `design_type`: Type of design (e.g., 'Presentation', 'Poster', 'SocialMedia')
58- `title`: Name for the new design
59- `asset_id`: Optional asset to include in the design
60- `width` / `height`: Custom dimensions in pixels
61 
62**Pitfalls**:
63- Design type must match Canva's predefined types exactly
64- Custom dimensions have minimum and maximum limits
65- Asset must be uploaded first via CANVA_CREATE_ASSET_UPLOAD_JOB before referencing
66 
67### 3. Upload Assets
68 
69**When to use**: User wants to upload images or files to Canva for use in designs
70 
71**Tool sequence**:
721. `CANVA_CREATE_ASSET_UPLOAD_JOB` - Initiate the asset upload [Required]
732. `CANVA_FETCH_ASSET_UPLOAD_JOB_STATUS` - Poll until upload completes [Required]
74 
75**Key parameters**:
76- `name`: Display name for the asset
77- `url`: Public URL of the file to upload (for URL-based uploads)
78- `job_id`: Upload job ID returned from step 1 (for status polling)
79 
80**Pitfalls**:
81- Upload is asynchronous; you MUST poll the job status until it completes
82- Supported formats include PNG, JPG, SVG, MP4, GIF
83- File size limits apply; large files may take longer to process
84- The `job_id` from CREATE returns the ID needed for status polling
85- Status values: 'in_progress', 'success', 'failed'
86 
87### 4. Export Designs
88 
89**When to use**: User wants to download or export a Canva design as PDF, PNG, or other format
90 
91**Tool sequence**:
921. `CANVA_LIST_USER_DESIGNS` - Find the design to export [Prerequisite]
932. `CANVA_CREATE_CANVA_DESIGN_EXPORT_JOB` - Start the export process [Required]
943. `CANVA_GET_DESIGN_EXPORT_JOB_RESULT` - Poll until export completes and get download URL [Required]
95 
96**Key parameters**:
97- `design_id`: ID of the design to export
98- `format`: Export format ('pdf', 'png', 'jpg', 'svg', 'mp4', 'gif', 'pptx')
99- `pages`: Specific page numbers to export (array)
100- `quality`: Export quality ('regular', 'high')
101- `job_id`: Export job ID for polling status
102 
103**Pitfalls**:
104- Export is asynchronous; you MUST poll the job result until it completes
105- Download URLs from completed exports expire after a limited time
106- Large designs with many pages take longer to export
107- Not all formats support all design types (e.g., MP4 only for animations)
108- Poll interval: wait 2-3 seconds between status checks
109 
110### 5. Organize with Folders
111 
112**When to use**: User wants to create folders or organize designs into folders
113 
114**Tool sequence**:
1151. `CANVA_POST_FOLDERS` - Create a new folder [Required]
1162. `CANVA_MOVE_ITEM_TO_SPECIFIED_FOLDER` - Move designs into folders [Optional]
117 
118**Key parameters**:
119- `name`: Folder name
120- `parent_folder_id`: Parent folder for nested organization
121- `item_id`: ID of the design or asset to move
122- `folder_id`: Target folder ID
123 
124**Pitfalls**:
125- Folder names must be unique within the same parent folder
126- Moving items between folders updates their location immediately
127- Root-level folders have no parent_folder_id
128 
129### 6. Autofill from Brand Templates
130 
131**When to use**: User wants to generate designs by filling brand template placeholders with data
132 
133**Tool sequence**:
1341. `CANVA_ACCESS_USER_SPECIFIC_BRAND_TEMPLATES_LIST` - List available brand templates [Required]
1352. `CANVA_INITIATE_CANVA_DESIGN_AUTOFILL_JOB` - Start autofill with data [Required]
136 
137**Key parameters**:
138- `brand_template_id`: ID of the brand template to use
139- `title`: Title for the generated design
140- `data`: Key-value mapping of placeholder names to replacement values
141 
142**Pitfalls**:
143- Template placeholders must match exactly (case-sensitive)
144- Autofill is asynchronous; poll for completion
145- Only brand templates support autofill, not regular designs
146- Data values must match the expected type for each placeholder (text, image URL)
147 
148## Common Patterns
149 
150### Async Job Pattern
151 
152Many Canva operations are asynchronous:
153```
1541. Initiate job (upload, export, autofill) -> get job_id
1552. Poll status endpoint with job_id every 2-3 seconds
1563. Check for 'success' or 'failed' status
1574. On success, extract result (asset_id, download_url, design_id)
158```
159 
160### ID Resolution
161 
162**Design name -> Design ID**:
163```
1641. Call CANVA_LIST_USER_DESIGNS with query=design_name
1652. Find matching design in results
1663. Extract id field
167```
168 
169**Brand template name -> Template ID**:
170```
1711. Call CANVA_ACCESS_USER_SPECIFIC_BRAND_TEMPLATES_LIST
1722. Find template by name
1733. Extract brand_template_id
174```
175 
176### Pagination
177 
178- Check response for `continuation` token
179- Pass token in next request's `continuation` parameter
180- Continue until `continuation` is absent or empty
181 
182## Known Pitfalls
183 
184**Async Operations**:
185- Uploads, exports, and autofills are all asynchronous
186- Always poll job status; do not assume immediate completion
187- Download URLs from exports expire; use them promptly
188 
189**Asset Management**:
190- Assets must be uploaded before they can be used in designs
191- Upload job must reach 'success' status before the asset_id is valid
192- Supported formats vary; check Canva documentation for current limits
193 
194**Rate Limits**:
195- Canva API has rate limits per endpoint
196- Implement exponential backoff for bulk operations
197- Batch operations where possible to reduce API calls
198 
199**Response Parsing**:
200- Response data may be nested under `data` key
201- Job status responses include different fields based on completion state
202- Parse defensively with fallbacks for optional fields
203 
204## Quick Reference
205 
206| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
207|------|-----------|------------|
208| List designs | CANVA_LIST_USER_DESIGNS | query, continuation |
209| Create design | CANVA_CREATE_CANVA_DESIGN_WITH_OPTIONAL_ASSET | design_type, title |
210| Upload asset | CANVA_CREATE_ASSET_UPLOAD_JOB | name, url |
211| Check upload | CANVA_FETCH_ASSET_UPLOAD_JOB_STATUS | job_id |
212| Export design | CANVA_CREATE_CANVA_DESIGN_EXPORT_JOB | design_id, format |
213| Get export | CANVA_GET_DESIGN_EXPORT_JOB_RESULT | job_id |
214| Create folder | CANVA_POST_FOLDERS | name, parent_folder_id |
215| Move to folder | CANVA_MOVE_ITEM_TO_SPECIFIED_FOLDER | item_id, folder_id |
216| List templates | CANVA_ACCESS_USER_SPECIFIC_BRAND_TEMPLATES_LIST | (none) |
217| Autofill template | CANVA_INITIATE_CANVA_DESIGN_AUTOFILL_JOB | brand_template_id, data |
218