With Widget Designer you can create a custom user interface (UI) to remote control or monitor other devices or systems such as Pandoras Box. The entire background area can be used for placing controls, also called widgets, or nodes. When working and interacting with those controls, the following operating modes are fundamental.

Widget Designer has three operating modes:
The default "run mode" makes the function of each control available. For example, buttons may be clicked, fader bars may be dragged. Controls that are controlled by incoming data behave accordingly.

Shortcut to enter the run mode: [F8]
Or click the play symbol in the toolbar.

In the "edit mode", also called "move mode" you may move, resize and copy any controls and - if talking about nodes - connect them.

In order to select an item, simply click on it. To select multiple elements, left-click and drag a selection frame or click on additional items whilst holding the [Ctrl] key.

To draw a selection frame, hold the left mouse button whilst dragging the mouse. If you start somewhere and drag to the bottom right side, a blue selection frame appears selecting all items completely surrounded by the frame. All other directions create a green frame, selecting all items it touches.

Most widgets will show a small diagonal double arrow icon at their bottom right corner. Click and drag it to change the size.

All standard user control and nodes support copy and paste with [Ctrl + C] and [Ctrl + V].

If you need to delete an item, right-click on the element and click "Delete" or select it and press the delete key on the keyboard.

Even though data is still calculated and processed in the background whilst being in the edit mode, controls and labels will only be updated as soon as you switch back into the run mode.

Shortcut to enter the edit / move mode: [F9]
Or click the arrow cross symbol in the toolbar.

The third operating mode is only active if you have chosen an item from the widgets menu or nodes menu. WD will automatically change the mouse cursor to a crosshairs icon. Wherever you left-click now, the chosen item is generated. When you have as many copies from the item as you need, enter the edit mode to edit, e.g. resize them or enter run mode in order to use them.

It is possible to deactivate the create mode after creating a widget per default, please refer to Profile Settings.

Shortcut to enter create mode (last widget created): [Ctrl + Shift]
Or click the crosshairs symbol in the toolbar.