Tips and Tricks

Shortcuts and efficiency tips for NodeTool.

Shortcuts, hidden features, and workflow efficiency tips.

Essential Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Space Open node menu
Ctrl/⌘ + Enter Run workflow
Ctrl/⌘ + S Save
F Fit view
Ctrl/⌘ + Z Undo
Alt/⌘ + K Command menu

Quick Node Actions

Adding Nodes Faster

  • Search by typing: Press Space, then just type what you need (“agent”, “image”, “whisper”)
  • Smart connect: Drag a connection to empty space → get compatible node suggestions
  • Duplicate quickly: Ctrl/⌘ + D copies selected nodes horizontally

Model Selection

  • Recommended Models: Click the “Recommended Models” button on AI nodes to see compatible options
  • Quick switch: Use the Model dropdown to change models without rewiring

Node Organization

  • Drag from header: Move nodes by grabbing the header bar (top of node)
  • Group related nodes: Select multiple, press Ctrl/⌘ + G
  • Align selection: Press A to align, Shift + A to align and distribute evenly

Canvas Navigation

Action How
Pan around Space + drag, or right-click drag
Zoom Ctrl/⌘ + scroll wheel
Fit to screen Press F
Focus on selection Select nodes, then press F
Reset zoom Ctrl/⌘ + 0
Snap to grid Enable in View menu

Connections

Making Connections

  • Type matching: Colors show compatible connections
  • Quick connect: Drop on empty space for auto-suggestions
  • Multi-output: One output can connect to multiple inputs

Connection Tips

  • Preview intermediate data: Add Preview nodes between connections
  • Disconnect: Right-click connection or drag it away
  • Re-route: Delete and recreate, or drag to a new target

Workflow Management

Organization

  • Save often: Ctrl/⌘ + S – your work auto-saves, but manual saves create versions
  • Use descriptive names: Rename workflows and nodes for clarity
  • Templates: Save common patterns as templates

History & Undo

Action Shortcut
Undo Ctrl/⌘ + Z
Redo Ctrl/⌘ + Shift + Z
Full history Available in Edit menu

Layout Recovery

  • Lost panels? View → Reset Layout restores default
  • Auto layout: Click the Auto Layout button to tidy up

Debugging Workflows

Finding Problems

  1. Add Preview nodes between steps to see data at each stage
  2. Check node errors – red borders or icons indicate issues
  3. Verify connections – ensure types match
  4. Test incrementally – run partial workflows first
  5. Bypass nodes – right-click → Bypass to skip suspicious nodes

Using Bypass for Debugging

Bypass is a powerful debugging tool:

  • Isolate issues: Bypass nodes one at a time to find the problem
  • Compare outputs: Toggle bypass to see before/after results
  • Skip slow steps: Temporarily bypass heavy processing during testing

Common Fixes

Problem Solution
“Missing Model” Click the indicator to install
Wrong output Check input data and node settings
Workflow won’t run Look for disconnected required inputs
Slow execution Try cloud providers for heavy tasks
Node causing errors Bypass it to test downstream nodes

Power User Features

Command Menu

Press Alt/⌘ + K to open the command menu – the fastest way to:

  • Open any workflow by name
  • Switch views and panels
  • Access settings
  • Search for anything

Multi-Tab Workflow

  • Multiple workflows: Open in tabs, switch with Ctrl/⌘ + 1-9
  • Reference between: Copy nodes from one workflow to another
  • Side by side: Drag tabs to split view

Keyboard Navigation

Shortcut Action
1-5 Switch left panel
i Toggle Inspector (right panel)
Ctrl/⌘ + F Search nodes on canvas by label
Arrow keys Nudge selected nodes
Shift + ? Open node documentation

AI Model Tips

Choosing Models

  • Local for privacy: Use local models for sensitive data
  • Cloud for speed: API models are faster
  • Mix both: Local preprocessing → cloud generation → local post-processing

Performance

  • Smaller models first: Test with fast models, upgrade for quality
  • Quantized models: Smaller files, similar quality (Q4, Q8)
  • Streaming nodes: See progress during execution

Asset Management

Working with Files

  • Drag and drop: Drop files directly onto the canvas
  • Asset panel: Press 3 to open (or click the Assets icon)
  • Preview: Click any asset to preview it

Organizing

  • Create folders: Keep projects organized
  • Name clearly: Descriptive names save time later
  • Clean up: Delete unused assets to save space

Collaboration Tips

Sharing Workflows

  1. Export workflow: Use the workflow export feature
  2. Mini-Apps: Share as simplified interfaces
  3. Screenshots: Document your workflows visually

Working with Teams

  • Consistent naming: Agree on conventions
  • Document: Add comment nodes to explain complex sections
  • Template library: Build shared templates

Troubleshooting

Quick Fixes

Issue Try This
Layout broken View → Reset Layout
Node menu won’t open Refresh page, check for modals
Connection won’t attach Check type compatibility
Workflow stuck Press Esc to stop, check error messages

Getting Help

  • Node docs: Hover ? on any node, or press Shift + ?
  • Discord: Ask the community
  • GitHub Issues: Report bugs

Cheat Sheet

Most Used Shortcuts

Windows/Linux Mac Action
Space Space Node menu
Ctrl + Enter ⌘ + Enter Run workflow
Ctrl + S ⌘ + S Save
Ctrl + Z ⌘ + Z Undo
Ctrl + D ⌘ + D Duplicate
F F Fit to screen
A A Align nodes
Alt + K ⌘ + K Command menu
i i Toggle Inspector

Next Steps