The designer interface and keyboard shortcuts

The designer is laid out like desktop design software: a model in the middle, a feature tree on the left, properties on the right and a status bar at the bottom. On narrow screens the Browser panel is hidden and the inspector moves below the model.

#Top bar

#Toolbar

In the Model tab the toolbar holds, from left to right: Undo and Redo; the standard views Isometric, Top, Front and Right; Zoom to fit; Perspective and Orthographic projection; the display modes Shaded with edges, Shaded, Wireframe and X-ray; Explode layers; and Grid. On the right is the Units switch (in or mm).

In the Drawing tab the view buttons are replaced by the sheet description, "ANSI B · 17 × 11 in · third-angle projection". Zoom controls (−, percentage, +) sit in the lower-right corner of the sheet. Click the percentage to reset to fit.

#Keyboard shortcuts

Single-key shortcuts are ignored while you are typing in a field.

#The 3D viewport

The viewport shows the pallet at actual size. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom and right-drag to pan. The view cube in the top-right corner shows orientation. The grid is 1 in with a 1 ft major line.

Explode layers lifts the top deck and the middle layer (stringers, blocks or feet) apart so you can see the bottom deck and the joints. The label in the lower-left corner shows the projection and overall size, and says "REPRESENTATIVE GEOMETRY" for pallet types whose shape is indicative rather than exact (molded plastic, presswood and "anything else").

Click any part to select its group, for example all five top interior boards. The selection highlights in blue in the model, the drawing and the Parts tab, and a summary appears at the top of the Properties tab with quantity, size, board feet and material. Click empty space, the ✕, or press Esc to clear it.

#Browser panel

The Browser panel on the left is a feature tree. It lists the parts by layer: Top deck; Stringers (or Runners for a skid, or Stringerboards & blocks for a block pallet, or Base for other types); Bottom deck; and Other. Each row shows a part group and its quantity. Click a row to select it. Hover and click the eye icon to hide or show a group or a whole layer.

Below the tree is the Templates list. Clicking a template replaces the current design.

#Inspector

The inspector on the right has three tabs:

• Properties: the editable design, in sections. Pallet (type, template, length, width) comes first, then the construction sections for the pallet type, then Load & handling, Compliance & marking and Order. Sections collapse and expand by clicking their headers. A Request quote button sits at the bottom.
• Checks: every design check that applies, sorted errors first, then warnings, then passes. The tab badge counts errors plus warnings and turns red when there is an error. See Design checks.
• Parts: the parts list with quantity, size and board feet. Click a row to select those parts. See Parts list and board feet.

A field that a check refers to is outlined, and hovering over it shows the message.

#Status bar

The status bar shows, left to right: the current selection or "Ready"; the pallet type; the part count; board feet (wood only); estimated weight (wood only); fastener count; the check summary; the display units; and "Rev A · draft saved locally". Click the check summary to jump to the Checks tab.

"Draft saved locally" means the current design is kept in this browser's storage. Open pallet.design/draft to return to it. It is not uploaded anywhere, and opening a template link replaces it. See Sharing and printing.