Save an Excalidraw diagram

Saving is explicit, as it is in every editor here. The scene is written as Excalidraw JSON, including any embedded images.

One behaviour worth knowing: the canvas seeds once when the editor opens. It does not re-seed while you are working, which is what stops an incoming update from wiping your unsaved changes.


#What this is for

  • Understanding what is stored and where.

  • Restoring an earlier version of a sketch.

  • Working out why a restored version does not appear until you reopen.


#How it works

Action

How

Save

Explicit, from the editor.

Format

Excalidraw JSON, with image data embedded.

Seeding

The canvas loads once at mount and does not re-seed while open.

Version history

Every save creates a version that can be restored.

After restoring

Close and reopen the editor to see the restored version on the canvas.


#A few things that catch people out

  • Because the canvas seeds once, a version restored elsewhere will not appear in an already-open editor. Reopen it.

  • The close button is a cancel. Save first.

  • Embedded images make versions larger, which is worth knowing on image-heavy scenes.



Rough on purpose.