# Excalidraw Diagrams

Generates Excalidraw diagrams as Obsidian, standard or animated files from text.

- Repository: https://github.com/breferrari/obsidian-mind (5467 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-17
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add breferrari/obsidian-mind --skill excalidraw-diagram -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add breferrari/obsidian-mind --skill excalidraw-diagram -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add breferrari/obsidian-mind --skill excalidraw-diagram -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add breferrari/obsidian-mind --skill excalidraw-diagram -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add breferrari/obsidian-mind`

## Description

Generate Excalidraw diagrams from text content. Supports three output modes - Obsidian (.md), Standard (.excalidraw), and Animated (.excalidraw with animation order). Triggers on "Excalidraw", "diagram", "standard excalidraw", "animate".

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Excalidraw Diagram Generator

Create Excalidraw diagrams from text content with multiple output formats.

## Output Modes

Select output mode based on the user's trigger words:

| Trigger Words | Output Mode | File Format | Use Case |
|---------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
| `Excalidraw`, `diagram`, `flowchart`, `mind map` | **Obsidian** (default) | `.md` | Open directly in Obsidian |
| `standard excalidraw` | **Standard** | `.excalidraw` | Open/edit/share on excalidraw.com |
| `animate`, `animated excalidraw` | **Animated** | `.excalidraw` | Drag to excalidraw-animate to generate animation |

## Workflow

1. **Detect output mode** from trigger words (see Output Modes table above)
2. Analyze content - identify concepts, relationships, hierarchy
3. Choose diagram type (see Diagram Types below)
4. Generate Excalidraw JSON (add animation order if Animated mode)
5. Output in correct format based on mode
6. **Automatically save to current working directory**
7. Notify user with file path and usage instructions

## Output Formats

### Mode 1: Obsidian Format (Default)

**Output strictly in the following structure, with no modifications:**

```markdown
---
excalidraw-plugin: parsed
tags: [excalidraw]
---
==⚠  Switch to EXCALIDRAW VIEW in the MORE OPTIONS menu of this document. ⚠== You can decompress Drawing data with the command palette: 'Decompress current Excalidraw file'. For more info check in plugin settings under 'Saving'

# Excalidraw Data

## Text Elements
%%
## Drawing
\`\`\`json
{complete JSON data}
\`\`\`
%%
```

**Key points:**
- Frontmatter must include `tags: [excalidraw]`
- Warning message must be included in full
- JSON must be wrapped in `%%` markers
- No `excalidraw-*` plugin settings in frontmatter other than `excalidraw-plugin: parsed` (the `tags: [excalidraw]` entry above is separate and still required)
- **File extension**: `.md`

### Mode 2: Standard Excalidraw Format

Output pure JSON file, openable on excalidraw.com:

The rest: https://github.com/breferrari/obsidian-mind/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/excalidraw-diagram/SKILL.md