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Concepts

Core concepts

This section explains what each part of PropUI is and why it exists, so the detailed manual and reference pages make sense. If you just want to build something, start with the Quickstart.

The two layers

PropUI has two separate layers, and almost everything else builds on this idea:

  •  The Entry List

    The source list of controls you author. Hierarchical, organized your way.

    Entry List

  •  The Generated Layout

    Decides where entries appear in the output: rows, shared rows, row boxes, sub-panels.

    Generated Layout

The Entry List is what you have. The Generated Layout is what gets built. They are independent on purpose — you can author entries one way and arrange a completely different panel from them.

The editor sections

The PropUI editor is split into native collapsible sections:

Section Purpose
Diagnostics Appears when PropUI has recent warnings.
Output Setup Generation, variants, generated-UI lifecycle, panel visibility, and storage.
Entry List The authored source entries.
Selected Entry Settings for the active Entry List item.
Generated Layout The output layout editor.
Editor Settings Display settings, confirmations, import/export, saved defaults, reset tools.
Editor Layout Reorder and hide editor sections (staged, then applied).

Hiding is not deleting

Editor Layout only reorders and hides editor controls. It does not delete data, generated panels, entries, row boxes, variants, or settings. See the Editor Layout reference.

The normal workflow

The typical path from nothing to a working panel:

  1. Pick Property Storage in Output Setup — the default owner for managed custom properties.
  2. Add entries in the Entry List.
  3. Configure the selected entry in Selected Entry.
  4. Import or add entries into Generated Layout.
  5. Arrange rows, shared rows, row boxes, and sub-panels.
  6. Set the generated panel title, tab, location, and visibility.
  7. Press Generate UI.
  8. Use the generated panel like a native Blender panel.

Properties without a panel

Apply Properties can be used without generating a panel, if you only want to create or update the managed custom properties on the chosen storage target.

Read the concepts in order