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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://parabola.io/docs/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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Flows and the Canvas

A flow in Parabola is a series of steps that pull data in, transform it, and send it somewhere. Steps live on the canvas, connected by arrows that define how data moves through your process. You can build flows with Prowork (describe what you need and the AI builds it), manually from the step toolbar, or a mix of both. This page covers how flows and the canvas work regardless of how you build.

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Anatomy of a flow

Every flow follows the same structure: 
Source steps → Transform steps → Destination steps
      ↓                ↓                 ↓
  Pull data      Clean, combine,     Send results
into Parabola      calculate          somewhere

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Source steps (pull data in)

Connect to external systems or upload files. Examples: Google Sheets, Shopify, Salesforce, CSV upload, email inbox, API endpoint, PDF file.

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Transform steps (process data)

Clean, filter, combine, calculate, categorize, extract, and reshape your data. This is where the logic lives. In addition to Prowork steps, Parabola has 70+ transformation steps, including AI-powered steps for unstructured data. Browse the full step reference.

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Destination steps (send data out)

Push results to another system, send an email, update a database, or generate a file. Examples: Google Sheets, Slack, NetSuite, Salesforce, email, CSV, API endpoint.

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Key concepts

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Steps

Every step either pulls data into Parabola, pushes data out, or transforms data within Parabola. Each step shows a live preview of its output: the rows, columns, and values at that stage of the flow. Click any step to open its settings panel, where you configure the logic, map columns, set conditions, and preview results.

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Arrows

Arrows connect steps and define the data flow. Data moves from left to right through the arrows. A step can receive input from multiple sources and send output to multiple destinations.

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Canvas

The workspace where you arrange steps and arrows. Use the mini-map (bottom-right) for navigation, auto-layout to organize steps, and zoom controls for large flow.

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Cards

Organizational containers that group related steps together. Cards don’t affect how the flow runs. They’re for structure: label a section, add notes for your team, collapse a group of steps to reduce visual clutter. See Cards for details.

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Working with steps

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Finding steps

  • Prowork: Describe what you need in the chat and Prowork picks the right step
  • Toolbar search: Click + and type a keyword (e.g., “filter,” “shopify,” “pdf”)
  • Category browse: Steps are organized into Integrations and Transforms

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Configuring steps

Double-click a step (or click the pencil icon) to open its settings. Each step type has its own configuration panel. Common elements:
  • Column selection: Choose which columns to operate on
  • Conditions and rules: Set filters, matching criteria, or transformation logic
  • Preview: See the output before running the full flow

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Integration authentication

Steps that connect to external systems require authentication. Click “Edit Accounts” in the step settings to add or manage connections. Authentications can be shared across your team.

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Pinning data

Pin specific cells, rows, or columns in the step preview to keep them visible as you scroll through large datasets. Useful for monitoring specific values while configuring transformations.

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Running a flow

  • Manual run: Click “Run” to execute the flow once with current data
  • Scheduled run: Set the flow to run automatically (hourly, daily, weekly, or custom cron)
  • Triggered run: Start the flow when a new email arrives, a file appears, or a webhook fires
  • Draft mode: Edit a flow without affecting the published version. Publish when you’re ready.

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Organizing flows

  • Cards: Group related steps with labels and notes
  • Folders: Organize flows in your workspace
  • Snippets: Copy a group of steps (with settings) and paste them into other flows. Works across flows and teams.
  • Card templates: Save a card as a reusable template for your team
See Organizing Flows for the full guide.

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Next steps

Build a Flow with Prowork

Describe what you need and Prowork builds it.

Step reference

Browse all 70+ data transformation steps.

Integrations

Browse all 50+ supported data sources and destinations.

Step reference

Browse all 70+ data transformation steps.
Last modified on May 18, 2026