How to use Application Composer in CloudFormation console mode - AWS Application Composer
Visualize a deployed stack/templateCreate and visualize a new templateUpdate an existing template/stack

How to use Application Composer in CloudFormation console mode

When you Open Application Composer from the AWS CloudFormation console, Application Composer opens in CloudFormation console mode. In this mode, you can use Application Composer to visualize, create, and update your templates.

Note

For general information on using Application Composer, refer to Where you can use Application Composer.

Visualize a deployed stack/template

  1. Go to the AWS CloudFormation console and log in.

  2. Select the stack you want to edit.

  3. Select the Template tab.

  4. Select Application Composer.

Application Composer will visualize your stack/template. Changes can be made here as well.

Create and visualize a new template

  1. Go to the AWS CloudFormation console and log in.

  2. Select Application Composer from the left-side navigation menu. This will open Application Composer in CloudFormation console mode.

  3. Drag, drop, configure, and connect the resources (cards) you need from the Resources pallete.

    Note

    See How to compose for details on using Application Composer, and note that Lambda-related cards (Lambda Function and Lambda Layer) require code builds and packaging solutions that are not available in Application Composer in CloudFormation console mode. These cards can be used in the Application Composer console or the AWS Toolkit for VS Code. For information on using these tools, refer to Where you can use Application Composer.

  4. Double click cards to use the Resource properties panel to specify how cards are configured.

  5. Connect your cards to specify your application’s event-driven workflow.

  6. Select Template to view and edit your infrastructure code. Changes are automatically synced with your canvas view.

  7. Once your template is ready to be exported into a stack, select Create template.

  8. Select the Confirm and export to CloudFormation button. This will take you back to the create stack workflow with a message confirming your template was successfully imported.

    Note

    Only templates with resources in them can be exported.

  9. In the Create stack workflow, select Next.

  10. Provide a stack name, review any listed parameters, and select Next.

    Note

    The stack name must start with a letter and contain only letters, numbers, dashes.

  11. Select Next after providing the following information:

    • Tags associated with the stack

    • Stack permissions

    • The stack's failure options

    Note

    Advanced options are available for your stack. For details on advanced options, see Setting AWS CloudFormation stack options in the AWS CloudFormation User Guide.

  12. Confirm your stack details are correct, check acknowledgements at the bottom of the page, and select the Submit button.

AWS CloudFormation will begin creating the stack based on the data in your template.

Update an existing template/stack

Note

If your file is saved locally, we recommend using AWS Toolkit for Visual Studio Code.

  1. Go to the AWS CloudFormation console and log in.

  2. Select the stack you want to edit.

  3. Select the Update button. Doing this will take you to the update stack wizard.

  4. On the right, select Edit in Application Composer.

  5. Select the button below that's labeled Edit in Application Composer. This will take you to Application Composer in CloudFormation console mode.

  6. Here, you can drag, drop, configure, and connect resources (cards) from the Resources pallete.

    Note

    See How to compose for details on using Application Composer, and note that Lambda-related cards (Lambda Function and Lambda Layer) require code builds and packaging solutions that are not available in Application Composer in CloudFormation console mode. These cards can be used in the Application Composer console or the AWS Toolkit for VS Code. For information on using these tools, refer to Where you can use Application Composer.

  7. When you’re ready to export changes to AWS CloudFormation, select Update template.

  8. Select Confirm and continue to CloudFormation. This will take you back to the Update stack workflow with a message confirming your template was successfully imported.

    Note

    Only templates with resources in them can be exported.

  9. In the Update stack workflow, select Next.

  10. Review any listed parameters and select Next.

  11. Select Next after providing the following information:

    • Tags associated with the stack

    • Stack permissions

    • The stack's failure options

    Note

    Advanced options are available for your stack. For details on advanced options, see Setting AWS CloudFormation stack options in the AWS CloudFormation User Guide.

  12. Confirm your stack details are correct, check acknowledgements at the bottom of the page, and select the Submit button.

AWS CloudFormation will begin updating the stack based on the updates you made in your template.