# Navigate and select in the Graph Editor > Move around the Nodespell Graph Editor with a trackpad, mouse or keyboard, select nodes, use the minimap and View Settings, and read node parts. Source: https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/graph-editor/ · Last updated: 2026-11-10 The Graph Editor is the canvas in Nodespell where you place nodes, connect them and run them. Every gesture in the Graph Editor has a trackpad, mouse and keyboard path, so you can pan, zoom, select and frame your graph without a middle mouse button. ## Pan and zoom the canvas Nodespell detects whether you are using a trackpad or a mouse and reads the gesture to match. Turn on **Status Bar Hotkey Help** in **View Settings** to see the gestures for your current device in the status bar. **Trackpad** | To | Do this | | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------- | | Pan | Drag with two fingers | | Zoom | Pinch | | Pan without a gesture | Arrow keys; hold `Shift` to pan faster | | Zoom without a gesture | `=` to zoom in, `-` to zoom out | **Mouse** | To | Do this | | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Zoom | Scroll the wheel | | Pan | Drag with the middle button | | Pan without a middle button | Hold `Cmd` (macOS) or `Ctrl` (Windows) and drag with the right button | | Zoom by dragging | Hold `Shift` and drag with the right button, up/down or left/right | **Natural Scrolling** (Preferences, **Node Graph Editor** section) reverses the scroll direction. Open Preferences with `Cmd/Ctrl+,`. ## Frame nodes and jump around These keys work on any device and act on the current Level. | Key | Action | | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `F` | **Frame Selected Nodes** | | `A` | **Frame All Nodes** | | Hold `Z` | Zoom out to show the whole Level. Release `Z` to zoom in where the pointer is, or drag a box while holding `Z` to frame that region. | | `0` | **Reset Zoom** | | `Shift+0` | **Reset Pan** | | `Shift+[` / `Shift+]` | Previous view / next view | | `Option/Alt+1` … `Option/Alt+0` | Remember the selected nodes in a numbered slot | | `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+1` … `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+0` | Jump to the nodes in that slot | You can also right-click empty canvas and choose **Frame Selected Nodes** or **Frame All Nodes**. The full list of keys is on [Keyboard shortcuts](https://docs.nodespell.com/reference/shortcuts/). ## Use the minimap The minimap is a small overview of the nodes, groups and visible area of the current Level. It is off by default. 1. Open **View Settings** in the Graph Editor's menu bar and turn on **Minimap**. 2. Click or drag inside the minimap to move the view there. With the minimap focused, arrow keys pan the graph and `Shift` pans a full screen. 3. Drag the resize handle to make the minimap larger or smaller. The handle also responds to arrow keys. 4. Use the **Previous view** and **Next view** buttons to step back and forward through places you have looked at. 5. Click the pin button to switch between **Auto-hide minimap when not in use** and **Keep minimap open**. To show the minimap in every graph editor you open, turn on **Show Minimap** in Preferences under **Node Graph Editor**. **Auto-hide Minimap** is on by default. ## Select nodes | To | Do this | | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | Select one node | Click it | | Add or remove a node from the selection | `Shift`+click | | Select an area | Drag on empty canvas (box selection) | | Toggle nodes in an area | `Shift`+drag on empty canvas | | Switch between box and lasso selection | `Shift+B` | | Select everything on the Level | `Cmd/Ctrl+A` | | Clear the selection | `Esc` | | Select everything upstream, downstream or connected | `Shift+U`, `Shift+D`, `Shift+C` | | Step through earlier selections | `[` and `]` | | Walk the selection along connections | `Cmd/Ctrl` + arrow keys | Clicking and dragging is always done with the primary button, so a trackpad click works for every selection action. ## Move, align and duplicate nodes - Drag a node to move it. **Snap To Other Nodes** (on by default) lines its edges or centre up with nearby nodes. - Nudge the selection with `Option/Alt` + arrow keys; add `Shift` for larger steps. - Hold `Option/Alt` while dragging to drag out a copy. - `H` and `V` align the selection horizontally or vertically; `Shift+H` and `Shift+V` distribute it evenly. - `Shift+=` and `Shift+-` make the selected nodes larger or smaller. - `L` tidies the selection or the whole Level. See [Organize your graph](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/organize/). Undo any edit with `Cmd/Ctrl+Z` and redo with `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z`. ## What are the parts of a node? | Part | What it is | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Input sockets | Where connections arrive. In the default top-to-bottom flow they sit on the top edge. | | Output sockets | Where results leave. In the default flow they sit on the bottom edge. | | Body | The node's preview: an image, video, text or audio result, or its prompt text. | | Name tag | The node's name, shown above it when **Node Name Tags** is on. | | Badges | Small markers for state such as errors or warnings, shown when **Node Badges** is on. | | Comment | A note you add with **Edit Comment**, shown when **Node Comment** is on. | Socket colour shows the content type: image, video, audio, text, 3D or any. Hover a socket to see its name, direction and type. When you change the [flow direction](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/levels-and-folders/), sockets move to the matching edges; node content stays upright and connections keep working. ## What is in View Settings? **View Settings** sits in the Graph Editor's menu bar next to **Nodes**. | Section | Setting | Effect | | ------------ | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | Display | **Minimap** | Shows the overview map | | Display | **Background Grid** | Shows the canvas grid | | Display | **Docked Parameter Editor** (`Q`) | Shows Parameters docked beside the graph | | Node Display | **Node Name Tags** | Shows node names above nodes | | Node Display | **Node Badges** | Shows status badges | | Node Display | **Node Comment** | Shows node comments | | Node Display | **Node Glance** | Shows quick information when you hover nodes | | Interaction | **Reference Links** | Draws links between nodes and what they reference | | Interaction | **Snap To Other Nodes** | Snaps while dragging or resizing | | Interaction | **Keystroke Indicator** | Shows the last shortcut you pressed | | Interaction | **Status Bar Hotkey Help** | Lists keys and gestures for what you are doing | `Shift+S` cycles the connection line style. Grid style, line type and socket colouring are also in Preferences under **Node Graph Editor**. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I use the Graph Editor without a middle mouse button? Yes. On a trackpad, drag with two fingers to pan and pinch to zoom. With a mouse, hold `Cmd` (macOS) or `Ctrl` (Windows) and right-drag to pan, and use the arrow keys, `F`, `A` and `Z` to move and frame. ### How do I find a node I cannot see? Press `A` to frame every node on the Level, hold `Z` for a quick overview, or open the minimap from **View Settings**. To search by name, use [Find in graph](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/organize/) with `Cmd/Ctrl+F`. ### Does changing the flow direction move my nodes? No. Changing the flow direction moves sockets to different edges but leaves node positions as they are. Press `L` afterwards if you want Nodespell to rearrange the Level. ### Can I change the keyboard shortcuts? No. Preferences has a **Hotkeys** section where you can view and search every shortcut, but the keys cannot be reassigned. ## Related - [Add nodes](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/add-nodes/): the Tab menu, Node Browser and Assets - [Connect nodes](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/connections/): sockets, content types and cutting connections - [Edit parameters](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/parameters/): the Parameters panel beside the graph - [Organize your graph](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/organize/): groups, tidying and Find in graph - [Keyboard shortcuts](https://docs.nodespell.com/reference/shortcuts/): every Graph Editor key