Parse shared documents from course discussions
Turn a document link in a Canvas discussion into an Affinda parsing task, so key details do not get lost in the conversation.
Trigger
New Canvas Discussion Message
Polls Canvas discussion topics for new messages.
Action
Create Document
Tool to upload a new document for parsing. use when you have the document file or a public url and need to extract structured data immediately.
Why this helps
Useful document links can disappear into busy discussion threads and never make it into the document workflow.
- Bring linked documents into Affinda from discussion context.
- Reduce context switching from a thread to document processing.
- Get a report when a link cannot be accessed.
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Canvas and Affinda once in the Notis portal.
- 2Confirm shared links are public URLs that Affinda can access.
- 3Create a named automation in Automations, New Automation.
- 4In one instruction, ask Notis to identify document URLs in new messages and submit eligible URLs to Affinda.
- 5Pick New Canvas Discussion Message, choose a report destination, and test with one accessible link.
Questions about this workflow
Can this parse private Canvas file links?
The Create Document action supports a file or public URL. Private links may not be accessible to Affinda.
Will every link be submitted?
Tell Notis to submit only links that point to relevant documents and report other links as skipped.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Canvas to Affinda. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Canvas triggers
Affinda actions
Recurring trigger
Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.
Batch Update Annotations
Tool to update multiple annotations in one request. use when you need to modify parsed values or other fields across many annotations at once.
Webhook trigger
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Create Collection
Tool to create a new collection. use after you have a valid workspace id and want to group documents by a specific extractor within that workspace.
Canvas Assignment Graded
Polls Canvas for newly graded submissions for a specific assignment.
Create Document
Tool to upload a new document for parsing. use when you have the document file or a public url and need to extract structured data immediately.
New Canvas Assignment Submission
Polls Canvas for new submissions to a specific assignment.
Create Organization
Tool to create a new organization. use when you have a unique organization name and want to group resources under it.
New Canvas Discussion Message
Polls Canvas discussion topics for new messages.
Create RESTHook Subscription
Tool to create a new resthook subscription. use after confirming your webhook endpoint is ready to receive document event notifications.
New Canvas Discussion Topic
Polls a Canvas course for new discussion topics.
Create Tag
Tool to create a new tag. use when you need to label documents in a specific workspace.
New Course Created for User
Polls Canvas for newly created courses for a specific user.
Create Validation Result
Tool to create a validation result. use when recording validation outcomes for a document after parsing.
New Canvas File Upload
Polls a Canvas course for new file uploads.
Create Workspace
Tool to create a new workspace. use when you need to programmatically create a workspace container within an organization.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Canvas and Affinda, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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