Frames

Frames are a powerful way to organize and structure your canvas. They let you:

• Group related objects together for easier organisation.
• Define presentation-ready sections of your work, frames are the basis of what’s displayed in Present view.
• Hide frames to reduce clutter, and show them only when needed.

A common use case is to separate your canvas into planning, analysis, and findings frames. This makes it easier to work collaboratively, while keeping the end output clear and polished.

#Creating frames

There are two ways to create a frame:

• Insert from toolbar – Select the Frame tool or press F, then click and drag on the canvas.
• Frame selection – Select an object or group of objects, then right-click > Frame selection, or use the shortcut Cmd + ⌥ + G (Mac) / Ctrl + Alt + G (Windows).

Objects covered by a newly created frame are automatically added to it.

#Managing contents

• Add objects by dragging them inside the frame boundaries.
• Remove objects by dragging them out.
• When an object is about to be added, the frame border will highlight.
• Not sure if something is in a frame? Move the frame — if the object comes with it, it’s inside.

#Moving a frame

• Select the frame by clicking its name label or empty space inside its border.
• Drag to move the frame and all contained objects.
• Clicking directly on an object inside will move that object only.
• Drag the frame edges or corners to resize it.

#Hiding a frame

• Select the frame and click the eye icon to hide its contents.
• A hidden frame leaves only the handle visible.
• Click the eye icon again to un-hide.

#Formatting frames

Frames have additional formatting options in the design sidebar:

• Corners – Adjust the corner radius.
• Fill – Set a background color and opacity.
• Stroke – Set a border color, opacity, and width.
  • The stroke color also defines the background color of the frame title.
• Opacity – Adjust the overall transparency of the frame.

#Frame controls & permissions

In the design sidebar, additional frame controls are available:

• Show/hide the frame contents.
• Show/hide cell connectors within the frame.
• Lock or unlock the frame.

Analysts can also restrict these controls so only analysts can modify them. For example, an analyst may:

• Add a complex analysis inside a frame.
• Hide and lock the frame.
• Restrict editing to analysts.

Other users will only see the frame handle and cannot open or change it.

#Using frames for database management

Cells hidden in frames won't re-run unless a cell outside the frame depends on it. If you have completed some self-contained analysis, this can be a good way of 'storing' those cells while ensuring they don't refresh to optimize canvas performance.

#Exporting and templates

• Frames can be exported directly as PNG images.
• Frames can also be saved as templates, making them reusable in other canvases.

#Limitations

• Frames cannot contain other frames.
• If a frame overlaps another, they remain separate.
• However, in reports: if a frame spatially contains another frame, both may appear (hidden frames included), allowing readers to optionally reveal more context.