# Flow visual editor

> See and edit a rule's blocks as a diagram of connected steps, like Shopify Flow.

Source: https://backtrackhq.com/docs/building-rules/flow-visual-editor/

The flow visual editor shows your rule blocks as connected steps, like
Shopify Flow. Each block checks its conditions and applies its action when
they pass. You can preview the flow in the rule form, or open the editor to
change it on a canvas.

## Preview the flow

The **Flow visual editor** card sits above your rule blocks.

Click **Show flow preview**. The diagram of your rule opens inside the
card. Use **Zoom in**, **Zoom out**, **Fit view** and **Open in full
screen** to move around. Click **Hide flow preview** to close it.

(Screenshot: The Flow visual editor card with the flow preview open)

## Edit in the visual editor

1. **Click Open visual editor.**

   You can also click **View in flow editor** on any rule block. The **Flow
   Visual Editor** window opens. Read the steps from top to bottom:

   - **Start when...**: the start of the rule.
   - **Check if...**: a block's conditions.
   - **Do this...**: the block's action.
   - **Then** and **Otherwise**: the two paths after a check. **Then** runs
     when the conditions pass.

   (Screenshot: The Flow Visual Editor window with Start when, Check if and Do this steps)

2. **Click a step to edit it.**

   A side panel opens with the same fields as the form. Close it with
   **Close side panel**.

   (Screenshot: The Flow Visual Editor with a step's side panel open)

3. **Add or remove steps, then click Save.**

   Use **Add rule block**, **Add rule group to Then path** or **Add rule
   group to Otherwise path**. To delete a step, use **Delete this node**.
   **Save** puts your changes back into the rule form. **Cancel** throws
   them away. Then save the rule as usual.

   (Screenshot: The Flow Visual Editor with the add step buttons and Save)

## How the steps read

Conditions show as plain sentences built from the same labels as the form.
For example: "Order total amount is greater than or equals 100". Groups join
conditions with AND or OR. A condition with one-typo matching shows
"(typos allowed)".

## Limits

> **Caution:** Deleting a rule block node also deletes every node connected
> after it. This can't be undone.

- The number of rule blocks in a rule is limited. When you reach it, the
  editor shows "Rule block limit reached".
- When a path can't take more rule groups, you see "Cannot add more rule
  groups in this path".