When creating a publish extension, the first decision you need to make is what layout you want to use for the extension.
The layout of a publish extension determines:
- The user experience of the extension.
- The features the extension can support.
- The time and effort required to develop the extension.
This guide provides an overview of the different layouts and when to use them. Refer to the linked tutorials to learn about the work required to support each layout.
Basic layout
When a user opens a publish extension that uses the Basic layout, they see a handful of options and a Save button. The available options depend on how the extension is configured and aren't dependent on the layout.
When the user clicks the Save button, Canva uploads their design to the destination platform.
The Basic layout is ideal for platforms that don't organize content into folders, such as social media platforms with a single feed for each user (for example, Twitter or Instagram).
To learn how to create a publish extension that uses the Basic layout, refer to Create a publish extension with the "Basic" layout.
Flat list layout
When a user opens a publish extension that uses the Flat list layout, they see a list of folders. The user must select a folder to proceed.
After selecting a folder, the user sees a handful of options and a Save button. The available options depend on how the extension is configured and aren't dependent on the layout.
When the user clicks the Save button, Canva uploads their design to the destination platform. Canva includes the ID of the selected folder in the upload request, which the platform can use to ensure the design is uploaded to the relevant location.
The Flat list layout is ideal for platforms that:
- Require users to put content into folders.
- Don't support nested folders.
To learn how to create a publish extension that uses the Flat list layout, refer to Create a publish extension with the "Flat list" layout.
Nested list layout
When a user opens a publish extension that uses the Nested list layout, they see a list of files and folders.
The user can select a folder to open it, revealing more files and folders.
At any level in the hierarchy, the user can click the Choose button. This indicates that they want to publish their design to the current folder.
After the user chooses a folder, they see a handful of options and a Save button. The available options depend on how the extension is configured and aren't dependent on the layout.
When the user clicks the Save button, Canva uploads their design to the destination platform. Canva includes the ID of the selected folder in the upload request, which the platform can use to ensure the design is uploaded to the relevant location.
If the user opens a folder that doesn't contain any additional folders, they're immediately taken to the screen with the Save button.
The Nested list layout is ideal for platforms that:
- Let users organize content into folders.
- Support nested folders.
To learn how to create a publish extension that uses the Nested list layout, refer to Create a publish extension with the "Nested list" layout.