Introducing Manage PODs 2.0 Editor

Once you have chosen a POD template, the next step is to configure the POD by using the visual editor in the Manage PODs 2.0 app. The user interface of the editor has three main areas: the Configuration panel (left), the Canvas (center) and the Properties panel (right).

The Configuration panel (area 1. in the figure below) is organized around the left panel, which contains three tabs: Pages, Structure, and Plugins.

The Pages tab is where you can configure the pages and dialogs of your POD. Here, you can add and delete pages or dialogs and view a list of each. When you select a page or dialog from the Pages tab, its canvas appears in the middle of the editor, and its settings are visible in the Properties panel.

The Structure tab lists all the plugins that are on the page or dialog you've selected. This tab also displays the hierarchical parent child relationships between the plugins, which you can rearrange by dragging and dropping the plugins. You can place plugins nearly anywhere on a page or dialog instead of being limited to predefined locations or plugin container. Use the tab’s search to find plugins by ID or plugin type.

In the Plugins tab, you can drag and drop plugins onto the canvas of the current page or dialog. Here, plugins are sorted by function, and you can search for specific plugins by name using the search bar. You can also right click an available plugin to see placement options relative to any plugin you have selected on the canvas. The Plugins tab contains Elements plugins, Layout plugins, and a number of other manufacturing process specific plugins. You can further extend the functionality of the plugins in your POD by developing your own plugins or extending existing plugins. You may use the same plugin multiple times within a POD.

The Canvas (area 2. in the figure below) is the editor’s central visual design workspace and provides a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) interface, so what you build in the Canvas appears the same in the final POD. It supports drag‑and‑drop placement of plugins from the Configuration panel and direct manipulation of page elements, dialogs, and plugin layouts, giving immediate visual feedback as you configure. Selected plugins show their properties in the Properties panel, enabling on‑the‑fly adjustments while you preview the final user experience.

Every page, dialog and plugin has a Properties panel on the right (area 3. in the figure below). In the Properties panel, you can review and edit the settings for the plugin you've selected in the Canvas or in the Structure tab, such as how its Appearance and Dimension is displayed in your POD. Changes you make are reflected immediately in the WYSIWYG Canvas, which also shows sample data where applicable, so you can see how the plugin will appear to a production operator. When a plugin’s Properties panel is open, the plugin is outlined on the Canvas and highlighted in blue in the Structure tab to ensure clear visual consistency.