title: How PropUI works description: The practical model behind izom PropUI: entries, layouts, storage, and generated panels.
Full edition
How PropUI works
PropUI has four main parts:
| Part | Role |
|---|---|
| Entry List | The controls you author. |
| Generated Layout | Where those controls appear in the generated panel. |
| Property Storage | The Blender data owner that receives managed custom properties, when a setup has them. |
| Generated UI | The standalone Blender panel written from the current setup. |
The editor lets you create and organize entries, choose where their data lives,
arrange the output, then press Generate UI. The generated result is normal
Blender Python UI stored in the .blend as a Text datablock, or exported as a
portable .py file.
The two-layer model
The most important rule is that authoring and output are separate:
-
1. Entry List
The source list of entries. It can be hierarchical and organized for your editing workflow.
-
2. Generated Layout
The output structure: rows, shared rows, row boxes, and sub-panels.
An entry does not appear in the generated panel just because it exists. Add or import it into the Generated Layout first. Removing a row from the Generated Layout does not delete the source entry.
Why this matters
You can keep the Entry List organized for authoring while building a different output order for artists, animators, or a specific tool panel.
What entries can be
Entries cover values, links, labels, and actions:
| Entry type | What it makes |
|---|---|
| Float | A floating-point custom property |
| Integer | A whole-number custom property |
| Boolean | An on/off custom property |
| String | A text custom property |
| Array | A typed vector, color, or multi-component property |
| Data-Block | A reference to a Blender data-block |
| Python | A Python / IDProperty value |
| Display Link | Draws another entry again, without new storage |
| Custom | Draws an existing Blender RNA path or internal control |
| Text | A label, divider, or spacer |
| Operator Button | A button that runs a Blender operator |
For the concept-level overview, see Entry Types. For every field and range, use the Entry type reference.
Where generated panels can appear
Full-edition generated panels can live in supported sidebar tabs or Properties editor tabs. The output location is configured in Visibility, separately from where the PropUI editor itself appears.
Supported output areas include the 3D Viewport sidebar, Graph Editor / Drivers, Dope Sheet, NLA, Video Sequencer, Image / UV Editor, Node Editor, Movie Clip Editor, Text Editor, File Browser, Spreadsheet, and common Properties tabs such as Object, Modifiers, Material, Scene, World, Bone, Constraints, and Physics.
Normal workflow
- Pick a Property Storage target if the setup contains managed custom-property entries.
- Add and configure entries in the Entry List.
- Add or import entries into the Generated Layout.
- Arrange rows, shared rows, row boxes, and sub-panels.
- Set the panel title, tab, output location, and visibility.
- Press Generate UI.
Next: build your first panel.