Troubleshooting
Catalyst Canvas: Troubleshooting and Recovery
Diagnose and recover common Catalyst Canvas failures without losing state.
Catalyst Canvas · Troubleshooting
Problem framing, stakeholders, personas, journeys, evidence, assumptions, research, concepts, prototypes, tests, learning, review, and handoffs.
Purpose
This guide uses an evidence-first diagnostic sequence for Catalyst Canvas. Preserve state before changing configuration. Determine whether the failure comes from input data, permissions, version identity, browser assets, backend health, schema compatibility, external dependencies, or a product defect.
Prerequisites
- Exact error message and time
- Product, backend, package, and schema versions
- Affected route, feature, record ID, and user role
- A safe backup or export
- The synthetic sample for a reference test
Sample data
This article uses a fictional Resilient Community Retrofit Program. The files contain one demonstration row for every documented feature, so each capability can be tested without private or production data.
Download CSV feature examples · Download JSON workspace example
Preview
| # | Feature | Sample action | Expected result | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project Workspace | create CANVAS-RETROFIT-001 with owner and status | a persistent project | synthetic-demo |
| 2 | Challenge Frame | describe energy, comfort, users, desired change, and boundaries | a concise challenge statement | synthetic-demo |
| 3 | Stakeholder Map | map visitors, staff, facilities, funders, and contractors | a stakeholder network | synthetic-demo |
| 4 | Personas | create an evidence-bounded facilities-manager persona | a persona separating evidence from inference | synthetic-demo |
| 5 | Journey Map | map room booking, comfort complaints, and facilities response | a stage-based journey | synthetic-demo |
The downloadable files include all 18 feature rows.
Procedure
- Stop repeated imports, submissions, migrations, or destructive retries.
- Record URL, feature, action, role, versions, browser/runtime, and expected result.
- Run the same feature row in a new synthetic workspace.
- If the sample fails, inspect health, logs, browser console, network response, and validation details.
- If the sample succeeds, compare real input schema, units, permissions, size, source, and status with the sample.
- Check version and schema identity before clearing caches or reinstalling.
- Apply the smallest reversible change.
- Repeat the sample and real workflow, then document the result.
Common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Safe response |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas feels generic | frame, stakeholder, or evidence context is too broad | add a specific user, situation, need, boundary, and source |
| Assumption presented as fact | inference is stored as evidence | move it and define a test |
| Comparison unavailable | records or criteria are incomplete | complete required fields and align dimensions |
| Handoff rejected | receiving schema cannot validate the artifact | update version or export a compatibility bundle |
Escalation package
- Product and version
- Feature and component
- Exact error text
- Reproduction steps using synthetic data
- Expected and actual result
- Redacted log excerpt without secrets or personal data
- Whether a clean sample reproduces the problem
Expected output
- A reproducible diagnosis or bounded unresolved issue
- Preserved user and system state
- A documented workaround when available
- A support-ready issue summary without private data
Verification
- The synthetic feature succeeds after the fix.
- The original workflow succeeds or remains safely isolated.
- Version and health identity are consistent.
- No duplicates, stale locks, or unintended cache artifacts remain.
- The resolution is reflected in a support article, known issue, or release record when appropriate.
Responsible use
Avoid fabricated personas, extractive research, sensitive-data collection without safeguards, and claims unsupported by evidence.
Never place credentials, API keys, private URLs, personal records, client documents, or confidential logs in a public article or issue.
