Canvas Binding

Canvas Binding is the bridge between Lino's visual environment and your local computer. It allows you to link an entire infinite canvas workspace to a physical directory on your hard drive (such as an Obsidian vault or a coding project folder).

Why Bind a Canvas?

By binding a canvas to a local folder, you unlock powerful background features:

• Workspace Boundary: It establishes a clear directory root. Both the local sync watchers and Lino AI will know exactly which folder belongs to this canvas.
• Obsidian & Markdown Sync: Once a canvas is bound, you can link individual cards to specific .md files in that folder for real-time bi-directional sync.
• AI Repository Scan: Lino AI can scan the bound local directory, understanding its files, codebase structure, or personal markdown notes to answer queries or suggest connections.
• Local File Reading: The AI can safely open and read linked PDFs, EPUBs, or code files from the folder to assist you on the canvas.

Setting Up a Canvas Binding

To bind a canvas to a local folder:

1. Open the canvas you want to bind.
2. Open the Canvas Settings panel (from the top bar or canvas right-click menu).
3. Look for the Local Directory Binding (or Repository Binding) section.
4. Click Select Folder and choose the directory on your local machine.
5. Save your settings. The canvas is now connected.

File & Folder Permissions

Lino runs inside a local sandbox to protect your privacy:

• When a canvas is bound, Lino will request OS-level read/write permission to that specific folder.
• Access is restricted strictly to that chosen directory. Lino cannot access files or run background processes outside of the bound folder without explicit authorization.