# Get Started

Welcome! 

With CanvasMate you can create multiple variations of images using a single template! All you need to do is add in a csv and set your variables. 

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/eDqD_YTit9I>" %}

**STEP 1:** Install the extension

Visit the link below and click the blue 'Add to Chrome' button.&#x20;

{% embed url="<https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/canva-automation-make-des/difanloajnlnchefpfpnblelbaaipahn>" %}

**STEP 2:** Pin the extension

* Click the puzzle piece icon next to your address bar&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2F3yKhO4bh5Q5U5ZGTPWtr%2FScreenshot%202023-03-23%20at%2018.48.49.png?alt=media&amp;token=cf7147e5-e08b-46b0-b6f8-acb82da13beb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Click the pin icon next to the canvasmate extension

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2FzDoAHuXi0eXbKyXHPdE9%2FScreenshot%202023-03-23%20at%2018.48.16.png?alt=media&amp;token=84a33bc4-e2c8-49cf-91e0-2320407c7639" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**STEP 3:** Click the extension icon and create an account.

Now the extension icon will show up next to your address bar. Click the icon and create an account with us!

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2Fy2TMG3AP9AesvzQBu5YL%2FScreenshot%202023-03-23%20at%2018.51.56.png?alt=media&amp;token=e623db3a-cca7-4c77-8739-f3e1c2646d23" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**STEP 4:** Create a design

After you have set up your account. You can start creating designs! please go to the next page to learn more about this&#x20;


# Features

## Create Designs

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/eDqD_YTit9I>" %}

### STEP 1: Allow the canva website to download multiple files

***NOTE:*** If you have already done this just skip this step!&#x20;

Firstly, you need to ensure that you have given the canva website the permission to download multiple files. It allows the extension to run and downlod your designs without running into issues.

* Put this url in your address bar and press enter: chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww\.canva.com&#x20;
* Find the option that says 'Automatic Downloads' and change that to 'Allow'

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2Fiql98F9zr1j77SHeXcns%2FScreenshot%202023-03-19%20at%2018.27.36.png?alt=media&amp;token=69f7a6e1-6945-4969-8eb7-d04e5a2effab" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### STEP 2: Prepare your CSV file

***NOTE:*** If you have already done this just skip this step!&#x20;

Here is an example csv file: <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FABM5vKstvoVKG9WxgZFUxuHyXWjir01S485uYVdPXI/edit?usp=sharing>

The csv file above contains 3 variables and custom filenames for each row. Each row represents a custom design.&#x20;

* Variable headings (\<number>):
  * Each variable heading must be in the format \<number>, for example if you want 5 variables then you will have 5 colums with the respective headings: <1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>
  * You can have as many variables as you want!&#x20;
  * You need to have at least one variable heading
  * Do not leave spaces in the variable heading&#x20;
* filename:&#x20;
  * Each filename must not contain special characters other than '\_' (underscore) and/or '-' (hyphen)
  * The filename heading should be in lowercase&#x20;
  * The filename column is not required

### STEP 3: Prepare your template on canva&#x20;

Now create a new design on canva and fill in the variables in the position that you want them to be

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2F23zUaUn9uOcqAJKL20af%2FScreenshot%202023-03-19%20at%2018.55.15.png?alt=media&amp;token=c5324d73-8ac5-4114-a505-f2c0e39018d7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### STEP 4: Open the extension popup and click 'Create New Design'

While you are still on the canva new design page.&#x20;

Click the extension icon in your address bar.&#x20;

Click the 'Create New Design' button&#x20;

### STEP 5: Upload your csv

Click the select file button and upload the csv that contains your variables.&#x20;

Add the csv file that you made in step 2.

If there are any formatting issues in the csv the extension should detect them and let you know how to fix it.

### STEP 6: Select the options

Below the select file button, you can select what options you want/

* **Transparent Background:** Selecting this option will have the extension select the transparent background canva option before downloading. &#x20;
* **Compress File:** Selecting this option will have the extension select the compress file canva option before downloading.&#x20;
* **Skip rows:** If you want the extension to ignore/skip rows in the csv file, add the number of rows to skip the input that shows up after selecting this option. This is useful if you had to stop the creation process prematurely and want to start from where you left off.&#x20;
* **Save to Folder:** If you want the images to be saved in a folder in your downloads, add the name of the folder in the input that shows up after selecting this option.&#x20;
* **File Type:** Pick the file type you want the downloaded images to be in.&#x20;

### STEP 6: Create!

Make sure you are on the canva template editing page from step 3 and then click the 'Create' button on the popup.&#x20;

The extension should start downloading your files&#x20;

Please:

* Do not click on the canva design editor page while the app runs
* Keep the page open in the background.&#x20;


# What's New on CanvasMate

1.0.1

* Fixed bugs&#x20;


# Debug

How to fix certain issues

## Option 1: Save your file type settings on canva first then try again.&#x20;

* Go to the canva template you want to use
* Click 'share'&#x20;

![](https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2FPiJYn3oZzQt0N6oTPlnr%2FScreenshot%202023-03-29%20at%2018.59.31.png?alt=media\&token=c440b624-53f9-430a-9c82-372e555b373e)

* Click 'download'

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2FpAJu0aGuNRpf1yPsXsT1%2FScreenshot%202023-03-29%20at%2019.00.36.png?alt=media&amp;token=9914163f-bbad-44ca-bca0-abd123a7895e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Select the desired file type then click 'save download settings'

<figure><img src="https://632215965-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fo68nyCgHfeMkyr6dAFuP%2Fuploads%2FqUiJvDaddqhcFyfoBkUD%2FScreenshot%202023-03-29%20at%2019.01.22.png?alt=media&amp;token=caab6255-9a5c-42a1-ad2f-2f66fef03885" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Try running the app again on the same page


# Contact

email: <hey@canvasmate.io>