Open specific boards, community boards, components, screens, elements, and the sitemap scanner in the Chrome Extension via URL
The Infa Chrome Extension supports deep linking, allowing you to open specific content directly from URLs, emails, documentation, or other web screens.
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URL Format
All deep links use the /open route on the Infa web app:
https://infa.ai/open?[parameters]
The parameters are the same ones the side panel writes into its own address (see Side Panel URLs), so a side panel URL and a deep link name the same place.
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Side Panel Views
view names what the side panel shows. It is the main parameter of every deep link below.
View
What it shows
Its parameters
select
The Select tab
url, xpath: an element to select
components
The Components tab
componentView: a component view to highlight
tokens
The Design Tokens tab
patterns
The Patterns tab
comments
The Comments tab
threadId, replyId: a comment to highlight
report
The Measure tab
nav
The side navigation menu
ai
The AI chat
screen
The screen editor
screenId: the screen to edit (else a new one)
sitemap
The sitemap scanner
startingUrl, autoStartScan=1
Older spellings still work: mode= for view=, inspect for select, action=screen, action=page and action=sitemap. A link without view still opens the view its parameters imply: url + xpath → select, componentView → components, screenId → screen, threadId → comments.
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Supported Deep Links
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Open Board
Open a specific board in the Chrome Extension side panel, optionally navigating to a URL and showing a view.
# Basic - just open a board
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD
# With URL navigation - navigate to a page, then open the board
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD&openUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com
# With a view - open the board in report mode
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD&view=report
# Full - navigate to URL, open board, and show report mode
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD&openUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&view=report
Parameters:
board (required): The board ID (format: b_*)
openUrl (optional): URL to navigate the current tab to before opening the board (URL-encoded)
view (optional): The side panel view to show after opening the board (mode is the older name and still works)
Behavior:
Opens the Chrome Extension side panel
Navigates current tab to the specified URL (if openUrl provided)
Waits for page to fully load
Switches to the specified board
Shows the specified view (if view provided)
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Open a View
Show a side panel view on whatever board the side panel has open.
componentView (required): The component view ID (format: cv_*)
Behavior:
Opens the Chrome Extension side panel
Switches to the specified board
Switches toolbar to "Components" mode
Highlights the specified component view
Scrolls the component into view
Fallback for Inaccessible Components:
If the component's page is not accessible (requires login, different domain, etc.), the extension shows a notification with a "View Anyway" button that:
Navigates to the component's page
Switches to the Select tab
Displays the component screenshot
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Open Element (XPath)
Open a specific DOM element on a page using its XPath.
xpath (required): The XPath to the element (URL-encoded)
Behavior:
Opens the Chrome Extension side panel
If not already on the page, navigates to the specified URL
Switches to the Select tab
Selects and highlights the element
Scrolls the element into view
Error Handling:
If the element is not found, shows an error notification
If navigation fails, shows an error notification
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Open the Screen Editor
Open the screen editor for a specific screen within a board. This allows users to directly edit screen details (title, URL pattern, variables) from a deep link.
# Open sitemap scanner for a board
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD&view=sitemap
# Pre-fill starting URL
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD&view=sitemap&startingUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com
# Pre-fill URL and auto-start scan
https://infa.ai/open?board=b_9jypTUvD&view=sitemap&startingUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&autoStartScan=1
Parameters:
board (required): The board ID (format: b_*)
view (required): sitemap (action=sitemap is the older form and still works)
startingUrl (optional): URL to pre-fill in the scanner input (URL-encoded)
autoStartScan (optional): Set to 1 to automatically start scanning after the modal opens
Behavior:
Opens the Chrome Extension side panel
Switches to the specified board
Opens the Sitemap Scanner modal
Pre-fills the starting URL (if startingUrl provided)
Automatically starts the scan (if autoStartScan=1)
Use Cases:
Canvas toolbar "Scan sitemap" button for quick page discovery
Sharing a scannable sitemap link in documentation or team chat
Automated workflows that need to populate a board's page hierarchy
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Authentication
Deep links work for both authenticated and unauthenticated users:
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Authenticated Users
Can access private boards
Can open components from authenticated screens
Credentials are automatically passed to the extension
As you switch tabs or open the side nav, the screen editor, the sitemap scanner or the AI chat, view changes with it. It is the view in front and nothing else: no board or item ids, so each view has one URL. Two things follow:
Captures tell side panel views apart. Saving the side panel with Infa Capture's "Save screen" records sidepanel.html?view=components, …?view=nav and so on, so each view becomes its own screen on the board.
A side panel URL is a link. Loading sidepanel.html?view=… opens that view, and a reload keeps it. The same query works as a deep link: sidepanel.html?view=nav is https://infa.ai/open?view=nav.
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How It Works
One module defines the parameters: src/utils/sidePanelLocation.ts in the web app, which the extension imports as infa-app/sidePanelLocation. It reads every form a link has taken (view, mode, action, implied views) and writes one canonical query string, view first.
/open reads the link with it and sends the extension one message: openBoard, openComponent, openElement, openComment, openScreenModal (still sent under its older name, openPageModal), openCommunityBoard, or openView for a view without a board.
For openView, and for the side nav, AI chat and screen editor views of openBoard, the background hands the side panel a query string.
The side panel applies that query string with the same code that applies its own ?view= when it loads.
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Error Handling
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Common Errors
Error
Cause
Solution
"Extension is not installed"
Chrome Extension not installed
Install from Chrome Web Store
"Board Not Found"
Invalid board ID or no access
Verify board ID and authentication
"Community board not found"
Invalid file route or board unavailable
Verify the file route URL is correct
"Component view not found"
Invalid component view ID
Verify component view ID
"Page not found"
Invalid page ID or page not in board
Verify page ID belongs to the board
"Element not found"
Invalid XPath or element removed
Verify XPath is correct
"Failed to navigate"
Invalid URL or network error
Check URL and internet connection
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Retry Behavior
The system automatically retries failed operations:
Deep Links
The Infa Chrome Extension supports deep linking, allowing you to open specific content directly from URLs, emails, documentation, or other web screens.
All deep links use the
/openroute on the Infa web app:The parameters are the same ones the side panel writes into its own address (see Side Panel URLs), so a side panel URL and a deep link name the same place.
viewnames what the side panel shows. It is the main parameter of every deep link below.selecturl,xpath: an element to selectcomponentscomponentView: a component view to highlighttokenspatternscommentsthreadId,replyId: a comment to highlightreportnavaiscreenscreenId: the screen to edit (else a new one)sitemapstartingUrl,autoStartScan=1Older spellings still work:
mode=forview=,inspectforselect,action=screen,action=pageandaction=sitemap. A link withoutviewstill opens the view its parameters imply:url+xpath→select,componentView→components,screenId→screen,threadId→comments.Open a specific board in the Chrome Extension side panel, optionally navigating to a URL and showing a view.
URL Format:
Examples:
Parameters:
board(required): The board ID (format:b_*)openUrl(optional): URL to navigate the current tab to before opening the board (URL-encoded)view(optional): The side panel view to show after opening the board (modeis the older name and still works)Behavior:
openUrlprovided)viewprovided)Show a side panel view on whatever board the side panel has open.
URL Format:
Examples:
Parameters:
view(required): The side panel view to show, with its parametersBehavior:
Open a community board directly in the Chrome Extension using the community handle and board URL handle.
URL Format:
Example:
Parameters:
community(required): The community identifier in format{handle}/{boardHandle}handle: The community profile handle (e.g., "infa")boardHandle: The board's URL handle (e.g., "primer", "design-system")Behavior:
Note:
https://infa.ai/in/{handle}/{boardHandle}Open a specific component view within a board and highlight it.
URL Format:
Example:
Parameters:
board(required): The board ID (format:b_*)componentView(required): The component view ID (format:cv_*)Behavior:
Fallback for Inaccessible Components:
If the component's page is not accessible (requires login, different domain, etc.), the extension shows a notification with a "View Anyway" button that:
Open a specific DOM element on a page using its XPath.
URL Format:
Example:
Parameters:
url(required): The page URL (URL-encoded)xpath(required): The XPath to the element (URL-encoded)Behavior:
Error Handling:
Open the screen editor for a specific screen within a board. This allows users to directly edit screen details (title, URL pattern, variables) from a deep link.
URL Format:
Example:
Parameters:
board(required): The board ID (format:b_*)view(optional):screen. Older links useaction=screenoraction=page, which still work; ascreenIdalone implies itscreenId(optional): The screen ID to edit (format:s_*). Without it the editor opens to create a new screenBehavior:
Use Cases:
Error Handling:
Open a comment thread (optionally a reply in it) on a board, in the Comments tab.
URL Format:
Parameters:
board(required): The board ID (format:b_*)threadId(required): The comment thread to highlightreplyId(optional): A reply within the thread to highlightBehavior:
Open the Sitemap Scanner modal for a board, optionally pre-filling a starting URL and auto-starting the scan.
URL Format:
Examples:
Parameters:
board(required): The board ID (format:b_*)view(required):sitemap(action=sitemapis the older form and still works)startingUrl(optional): URL to pre-fill in the scanner input (URL-encoded)autoStartScan(optional): Set to1to automatically start scanning after the modal opensBehavior:
startingUrlprovided)autoStartScan=1)Use Cases:
Deep links work for both authenticated and unauthenticated users:
If the Chrome Extension side panel is already open, the deep link:
If the Chrome Extension side panel is closed, the deep link:
The side panel keeps its own address in step with what it shows:
As you switch tabs or open the side nav, the screen editor, the sitemap scanner or the AI chat,
viewchanges with it. It is the view in front and nothing else: no board or item ids, so each view has one URL. Two things follow:sidepanel.html?view=components,…?view=navand so on, so each view becomes its own screen on the board.sidepanel.html?view=…opens that view, and a reload keeps it. The same query works as a deep link:sidepanel.html?view=navishttps://infa.ai/open?view=nav.One module defines the parameters:
src/utils/sidePanelLocation.tsin the web app, which the extension imports asinfa-app/sidePanelLocation. It reads every form a link has taken (view,mode,action, implied views) and writes one canonical query string,viewfirst./openreads the link with it and sends the extension one message:openBoard,openComponent,openElement,openComment,openScreenModal(still sent under its older name,openPageModal),openCommunityBoard, oropenViewfor a view without a board.openView, and for the side nav, AI chat and screen editor views ofopenBoard, the background hands the side panel a query string.?view=when it loads.The system automatically retries failed operations: