---
title: Tour of the workflow editor
display: 'Tour of the *workflow editor*'
thumb: workflows/workflow-editor-tour/thumb.webp
nav_title: Editor tour
summary:
  - "Find every control of the node editor: the Workflows page, the canvas, the palette, ports, models, runs and the menu."
  - "Read the cost badge next to the title before you click Run: it is the number to budget with."
  - "Opening and looking around is free; only Run spends credits, and edits save automatically."
description: "Find your way around the node editor: the Workflows page, the canvas, the node palette, ports, models, running, outputs and the workflow menu."
section: workflows
order: 20
type: guide
level: Build
roles: [all]
time: { read: 8, do: 10 }
needs: ["A Scenario account with access to Workflows"]
last_verified: 2026-10-12
models_checked: ["GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst"]
related: [what-are-workflows, nodes-reference, build-your-first-workflow, debug-a-workflow, build-with-the-node-agent]
updated: 2026-10-12
canonical: https://learn.scenario.com/workflows/workflow-editor-tour
---

Last updated: 2026-10-12

# Tour of the workflow editor

> Find your way around the node editor: the Workflows page, the canvas, the node palette, ports, models, running, outputs and the workflow menu.

In short:

- Find every control of the node editor: the Workflows page, the canvas, the palette, ports, models, runs and the menu.
- Read the cost badge next to the title before you click Run: it is the number to budget with.
- Opening and looking around is free; only Run spends credits, and edits save automatically.


Use this page the first time you open the editor, or when you cannot find a control. Labels match the product as of October 2026. Looking around is free; only **Run** spends credits.

:::note As of October 2026
The models, settings and screens in this article are the ones Scenario offered in October 2026. New models and updates arrive often, so check the app for newer options before you choose.
:::

:::steps Quick version
1. Open **Workflows** in the top bar, choose **Workflows**, and click a card on the **Platform** tab.
2. Read the cost badge next to the title: the estimated credits for one full run.
3. Duplicate a Platform workflow, or click **Switch to Edit Mode** on one in your project, then add a node with **Add node** (+).
4. Wire an output port to an input port of the same color.
5. Hover a node and use **Run This Node** to test one step before you **Run** the whole graph.
:::

:::video https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/d91328f0ca1fafb01b30ab6093d055df85eb2c601aacc0fb56c1c049cfece185.mp4
A 45-second walk through the editor, captured October 13, 2026: run-only mode, Switch to Edit Mode, the Add node palette, ports, Agent Mode and the app run page. Nothing was run.
:::


## The Workflows page

Open **Workflows** in the top bar, then **Workflows** (the same menu holds **Apps**), or use **Create** > AUTOMATE > **Node Editor**.

![The Workflows page: title and subtitle, Create and Import buttons, Platform and Project tabs, a search field, All and Date filters, a size slider, Most Relevant sorting and a grid of workflow cards](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/4c5500b242fe66fe9186a1c640a8f6aceeb894b5329f690526fa8a883c2bf970.webp "The Workflows page, Platform tab.")

| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Create** | Opens an empty **New Workflow** in your current project |
| **Import** | Loads a workflow from a JSON file exported earlier |
| **Platform** / **Project** | Workflows built by Scenario / workflows of the project you are in |
| **Search**, **All**, **Date**, size slider, **Most Relevant** | Find a card to open |

## The editor at a glance

![The editor with a workflow open: the title at top left, a cost badge, Edit App, Run and a more button at top right, a run-only banner with Switch to Edit Mode, an orange sticky note, labeled node groups with their own cost badges, and the vertical toolbar on the right](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/cf117b55b400489a30ca3d9633d5cfce3adf2636b1abaf428076bc408e49a5a9.webp "A workflow opens in run-only mode. Groups carry their own cost badges.")

**Top bar, left to right:**

- **Close** (x) and the title, which you click to rename your own workflow.
- **Cost badge:** the estimated credits for one full run; each group shows its own share. Budget with it: on the runs measured for this Academy, the bill came in at or a little under the badge.
- **Edit App** turns the workflow into an App. See [Publish a workflow as an App](https://learn.scenario.com/workflows/publish-a-workflow-as-an-app.md).
- **Run** runs the whole graph.
- **...** opens the workflow menu (below).

**Run-only banner.** A workflow opens in run-only mode: you can fill the inputs and run. A Platform workflow reads **Run-only Mode**, "The workflow cannot be edited": to change it, click **Duplicate Workflow** for a copy in your project (see [Platform workflows and templates](https://learn.scenario.com/workflows/platform-workflows-and-templates.md)). A workflow in your project reads **You're in run-only mode**: click **Switch to Edit Mode** to change it.

**Gear icon** at the top left opens the workflow settings.

**Right toolbar, top to bottom:** **Agent Mode** (sparkle icon, the Node Agent), **Add node** (+), **Select**, **Pan**, **Undo**, **Redo**, **Zoom in**, **Zoom out**.

## Add nodes

Click **Add node** (+). The palette opens with a search field and four categories.

![The node palette open on the Input category: Text, Image, Video, 3D Model and Audio, each with a short description](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/ed868c2a4820a81cc8b4bca6b67e3f8993649cc2ab5bb7dcaf1ee33db5cdb8a4.webp "Input nodes: Text, Image, Video, 3D Model, Audio.")

![The Generators category: Image Generator, Video Generator, 3D Generator, Audio Generator, Text Generator and LLM Node](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/c66f2153bde13dae563ccac50db8bd7b7e333ea53d672cf0caa55201afccea99.webp "Generators run a model. The description lists example model families.")

![The Composers category with Video Studio and Image Studio, followed by the start of Utilities](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/baa89154e50e8e739538b0d4fdeb7b7885b94348943c90153ceb0b3616770537.webp "Composers and the first utilities.")

![The rest of Utilities: Prompt Builder, Split Text, Group Items, Slice Items, Aspect Ratio, If-Else, Loop, Sticky Note and Approval](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/413a3f9f02777ae8f8d5cb114a740ed39a8563a18c78b70519a8ad7d142a21c0.webp "Utilities shape lists, branch, repeat, annotate and pause.")

- **Search finds nodes, models and tools.** Node types come first, then a **Models** group with providers.
- **Tool nodes are search-only:** **Video Cut**, **Video Split**, **Audio Cut**, upscalers (for example **Runway Upscale V1**), background removal and vectorizers.
- **Two shortcuts** from the help center: right-click the canvas to add a node, or drag a wire from an output onto empty canvas to list compatible nodes.

## Read a node

![A zoomed node graph: an Image Generator with input ports Is Active, Prompt, Reference Images, Mask, Aspect Ratio and Settings on the left and Approval and Output on the right, next to an LLM Node with Instruction, Images and Text Inputs in, First Result and All Results out](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/778f0c14f1fda69ad23f4a2d1395a079efbf6d7f4800fb69a9b4aaa1ddf267f6.webp "Inputs on the left, outputs on the right, colored by type.")

| Part | What it shows |
|---|---|
| **Title bar** | The node name. Rename it after the step ("Write variation prompt", not "LLM Node 1") |
| **Ports** | Inputs on the left, outputs on the right. Image green, video yellow, 3D red, audio purple, text blue; gray for settings and control |
| **Body** | The text, image or preview |
| **Model footer** (generators) | The model name. Click it to open **Choose a Model** |

![The Choose a Model dialog with tabs All, Generate, Edit, Expand, Upscale, Vectorize, Remove Background and Tools, filters for Category, Capabilities, Date, Tags, Collections, Privacy and Enterprise Status, and sorting by Quality: Highest First](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/9940b25c2eafafaa37288fa73ce6bddcdc3ddd22700bb08398ff7c00d99d81ca.webp "Choose a Model: tabs by task, filters, and quality sorting.")

The tabs filter by task, so an Image Generator can also run an upscaler or a background remover. Model parameters appear on the node as fields and gray ports.

## Connect nodes

- **Drag from an output port** to an input port of the same color. One output can feed several inputs.
- **Remove a wire** by hovering it and clicking it.
- **A wire that will not attach** means the types do not match: see [Debug a workflow](https://learn.scenario.com/workflows/debug-a-workflow.md).
- **Group nodes to label a stage.** A group has its own run button and cost badge, and can be locked against edits.

## Run and see results

- **Run** (top right) runs the whole graph; a node starts when its inputs are ready.
- **Test one step cheaply.** Hover a node for **Run This Node** or **Run From Here** (that node and everything after it).
- **Find the results** inside each node or in **View Outputs**; they are saved in your project like any generation.

## The workflow menu

![The more menu open: View Outputs, Lock Workflow, Export Workflow, Duplicate Workflow, Copy Workflow ID, Expand All, Collapse All, Clear All Node Contents, Hide Notes, Workflow Shortcuts and Delete](https://ufgc0c9mhl4ueq76.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/academy/b5bc84f7c3510a1fb2b94d9ed96b791caef06fda69c67894ae8122641ead031c.webp "Everything that acts on the whole workflow.")

| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| **View Outputs** | Lists the assets produced by runs of this workflow |
| **Lock Workflow** | Stops edits; people can still run it |
| **Export Workflow** | Downloads the graph as a JSON file |
| **Duplicate Workflow** | Makes an editable copy in your project |
| **Copy Workflow ID** | Copies the ID used by the API and the Scenario MCP |
| **Expand All** / **Collapse All** | Shows or folds node bodies |
| **Clear All Node Contents** | Empties prompts, inputs and results; keeps models and wires |
| **Hide Notes** | Hides sticky notes |
| **Workflow Shortcuts** | Lists keyboard shortcuts (H) |
| **Delete** | Deletes the workflow |

Edits save automatically.

:::check
**Accept when:** you can read a platform workflow's cost badge, open the **Add node** palette, open **Choose a Model** from a generator's footer, and find **Duplicate Workflow** and **Copy Workflow ID**.
**Reject when:** you cannot tell input ports from outputs, or you clicked **Run** without reading the badge.
:::

## If it breaks

| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| **Nothing happens when you edit a workflow** | It is in run-only mode. Duplicate a Platform workflow; on one in your project, click **Switch to Edit Mode** |
| **You cannot find a node in the palette** | Type its name in the search field |
| **The canvas is slow on a large graph** | Use **Collapse All**, or collapse finished groups |
| **The cost badge looks too high** | A loop, several outputs per node or a video model multiplies it. The group badges show the expensive stage; see [Control cost](https://learn.scenario.com/browse) |
| **You deleted a node by mistake** | Use **Undo** in the right toolbar |

Source: https://learn.scenario.com/workflows/workflow-editor-tour