Layout Component

Overview

Thunkable’s layout component allows for more precise positioning of UI components on an app screen, by allowing you to position UI components dependent on other UI components on the screen. For example, in a typical sign-in screen, if a user inputs an incorrect email address or password, a screen built with a layout component allows you to shift the UI components on the screen to display the error messaging to the user.

Add a Layout to a Screen

To add a layout component to a screen:

1. Drag and drop the layout UI component onto a screen. You’ll notice it is composed of two containers, one on top of the other.

2. Click and drag the sizing handles in the corners to resize the layout UI component.

3. Click and drag to reposition it.

Insert Additional Containers

By default, a newly added layout has two horizontal containers arranged vertically, one on top of the other. To insert additional containers to a layout:

1. Click to select the layout UI component in the component tree or within the screen.

2. At the top of the layout's properties panel, select whether you want to insert a horizontal or vertical Container. ∙ Horizontal Container - UI components within the container are aligned horizontally, side by side ∙ Vertical Container - UI components within the container are aligned vertically, on top of each other

3. Identify into which layout or container you want to insert the new container.

4. Click Add.

Add UI Components

To add UI components to a layout:

1. Drag and drop UI components into a container on a screen.

2. Once UI components are in a container, rearrange their order by dragging and dropping their component names in the component tree.

   

Layout Properties

The following properties are configured on the right in the layout's properties panel.

Alignment

Property	Value	Description
Direction	vertical	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are aligned vertically, on top of each other.
Direction	horizontal	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are aligned horizontally, side by side.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	top	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned at the top of the layout.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	bottom	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned at the bottom of the layout.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	left	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned at the left of the layout.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	right	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned at the right of the layout.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	center	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned in the center of the layout (either top to bottom or left to right, depending on the selected direction).
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	space-between	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned with an equal amount of space between them.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	space-around	The elements directly within the layout (could be a UI component or a container) are positioned with an equal amount of space between them, including at the top and bottom for a vertical direction layout or left and right for a horizontal direction layout.
Scrollable	true/on	The user can scroll within the layout.
Scrollable	false/off	The user cannot scroll within the layout.
Scroll Bar Visible	true/on	The scroll bar is visible to the user.
Scroll Bar Visible	false/off	The scroll bar is not visible to the user.

Horizontal Alignment Examples

Vertical Alignment Examples

Layout

Property	Value	Description
X	coordinate value	Position of the upper left corner of the layout on the X-axis, where the left side of the screen is X=0.
Y	coordinate value	Position of the upper left corner of the layout on the Y-axis, where the top of the screen is Y=0.
Height	number in pixels	The layout’s height is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Width	number in pixels	The layout’s width is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Resize Mode	Stretch	Stretches the layout to fit the dimensions of the device's screen.
Resize Mode	Float in Place	Renders the layout in the same aspect ratio as the design, regardless of the device size.

Image

Property	Value	Description
Background Picture	Upload files	Click to upload an image file.
Background Picture	Type in URL	Type in an image URL.
Background Picture Resize Mode	cover	Fills the entire layout without changing the height and width ratio of the image.
Background Picture Resize Mode	contain	The entire image is scaled down to fit inside the layout, without changing the height and width ratio of the image.
Background Picture Resize Mode	stretch	The image's height will change to fill the layout length-wise.
Background Picture Resize Mode	repeat	The image repeats to cover the layout. The image's height and width ratio do not change.
Background Picture Resize Mode	center	The image is positioned in the middle of the layout.

Style

Property	Value	Description
Visible	visible	Users can see the layout.
Visible	invisible	Users cannot see the layout.
Background Color	color	The background color of the layout.
Border: Style	solid	The layout’s border is a solid line.
Border: Style	dotted	The layoutt’s border is a dotted line.
Border: Style	dashed	The layout’s border is a dashed line.
Border: Color	color	The layout’s border is the color selected.
Border: Width	number in pixels	The width of the layout’s border is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Border: Radius	number in pixels	The radius of the layout border’s corners is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Shadow: Color	color	The layout’s shadow is the color selected.
Shadow: Opacity	number between 0 and 100	The opacity of the layout’s shadow.
Shadow: Radius	number in pixels	The radius of the layout shadow’s corners is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Shadow: Offset	number in pixels	How far the layout’s shadow should be offset, in height and width, is defined by a custom number of pixels.

Spacing

Property	Value	Description
Margin	top	The margin between the layout’s top border and the next UI component as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Margin	bottom	The margin between the layout’s bottom border and the next UI component as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Margin	left	The margin between the layout’s left border and the next UI component as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Margin	right	The margin between the layout’s right border and the next UI component as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	top	The padding between the layout and its top border as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	bottom	The padding between the layout and its bottom border as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	left	The padding between the layout and its left border as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	right	The padding between the layout and its right border as defined by a custom number of pixels.

Container Properties

The following properties are configured on the right in the container's properties panel.

Alignment

Property	Value	Description
Direction	vertical	UI components within the container are aligned vertically, on top of each other.
Direction	horizontal	UI components within the containerntainer are aligned horizontally, side by side.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	top	UI components are positioned at the top of the container.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	bottom	UI components are positioned at the bottom of the container.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	left	UI components are positioned at the left of the container.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	right	UI components are positioned at the right of the container.
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	center	UI components are positioned in the center of the container (either top to bottom or left to right depending on the selected direction).
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	space-between	UI components are positioned with an equal amount of space between them
Vertical / Horizontal Alignment	space-around	UI components are positioned with an equal amount of space between them, including at the top and bottom for vertical direction containers or left and right for horizontal direction containers.
Scrollable	true/on	The user can scroll within the container. Note: When setting a container as scrollable, we recommend the size of the UI components within it be set to an absolute pixel value or Fit Contents.
Scrollable	false/off	The user cannot scroll within the container.
Scroll Bar Visible	true/on	The scroll bar is visible to the user.
Scroll Bar Visible	false/off	The scroll bar is not visible to the user.

Layout

Property	Value	Description
Height	Fit contents	The container’s height is the same as the tallest UI component or container within it (horizontal direction) or the stacked UI components or containers within it (vertical direction).
Height	Fill container	The elements directly within the container (could be a UI component or another container) fill the container vertically.
Height	Size (e.g. 50px or 50%)	The container’s height is defined by a custom number of pixels or percentage of the screen.
Width	Fit contents	The container’s width is the same as the widest UI component or container within it (vertical direction) or the side-by-side UI components or containers within it (horizontal direction).
Width	Fill container	The elements directly within the container (could be a UI component or another container) fill the container horizontally.
Width	Size (e.g. 50px or 50%)	The container’s width is defined by a custom number of pixels or percentage of the screen.

Image

Property	Value	Description
Background Picture	Upload files	Click to upload an image file.
Background Picture	Type in URL	Type in an image URL.
Background Picture Resize Mode	cover	Fills the entire screen without changing the height and width ratio of the image.
Background Picture Resize Mode	contain	The entire image is scaled down to fit inside the screen, without changing the height and width ratio of the image.
Background Picture Resize Mode	stretch	The image's height will change to fill the screen length-wise.
Background Picture Resize Mode	repeat	The image repeats to cover the screen. The image's height and width ratio do not change.
Background Picture Resize Mode	center	The image is positioned in the middle of the frame.

Style

Property	Value	Description
Visible	visible	Users can see the container.
Visible	invisible	Users cannot see the container.
Background Color	color	The background color of the container.
Visible	solid	The container’s border is a solid line.
Visible	dotted	The container’s border is a dotted line.
Visible	dashed	The container’s border is a dashed line.
Border: Color	color	The container’s border is the color selected.
Border: Width	number in pixels	The width of the container’s border is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Border: Radius	number in pixels	The radius of the container border’s corners is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Shadow: Color	color	The container’s shadow is the color selected.
Shadow: Opacity	number between 0 and 100	The opacity of the container’s shadow.
Shadow: Radius	number in pixels	The radius of the container shadow’s corners is defined by a custom number of pixels.
Shadow: Offset	number in pixels	How far the container’s shadow should be offset, in height and width, is defined by a custom number of pixels.

Spacing

Property	Value	Description
Margin	top	The margin between the container’s top border and the next container as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Margin	bottom	The margin between the container’s bottom border and the next container as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Margin	left	The margin between the container’s left border and the next container as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Margin	right	The margin between the container’s right border and the next container as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	top	The padding between the container and its top border as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	bottom	The padding between the container and its bottom border as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	left	The padding between the container and its left border as defined by a custom number of pixels.
Padding	right	The padding between the container and its right border as defined by a custom number of pixels.

Layout Blocks

To access the blocks specific to the layout component:

1. Navigate to the Blocks tab.

2. In the component tree on the left, click the Layout component.

3. A drawer of layout-specific blocks opens.

Block Image	Description
	If the layout is scrollable, you can use this block to scroll the user to the end of the layout. For example, a user clicks a button in a chat app, and the layout scrolls to the end of the chat history to see the most recent messages.
	If the layout is scrollable, you can use this block to scroll the user to the start of the layout.
	Sets the layout’s height to a custom number of pixels.
	Gets the layout’s height in pixels.
	Gets the layout’s computed height, the on-screen dimensions of the layout, after it has been rendered on-screen. The value returned is an integer, representing the layout's height in pixels.
	Sets the layout’s width to a custom number of pixels.
	Gets the layout’s width in pixels.
	Gets the layout’s computed width, the on-screen dimensions of the layout, after it has been rendered on-screen. The value returned is an integer, representing the layout's width in pixels.
	When set to true, it sets the layout to visible, meaning the layout is visible to users. When set to false, it sets the layout to invisible, meaning the layout is not visible to users.
	Gets the layout’s visibility status. Returns true (visible) or false (invisible).
	Set the position of the upper left corner of the layout on the X-axis, where the left side of the screen is X=0.
	Get the position of the upper left corner of the layout on the X-axis, where the left side of the screen is X=0.
	Set the position of the upper left corner of the layout on the Y-axis, where the top of the screen is Y=0.
	Get the position of the upper left corner of the layout on the Y-axis, where the top of the screen is Y=0.
	Set the layout’s background color.
	Get the layout’s background color.
	Set the layout's background picture. Click the dropdown menu to select an image from your computer.
	Get the layout's background picture.
	Set the layout’s background picture resize mode. See the layout Properties section for definitions of the acceptable values.
	Get the layout’s background picture resize mode.
	When set to true, it sets the layout to scrollable for users. When set to false, it sets the layout to scrollable for users.
	Gets the Layout’s scrollable status. Returns true (scrollable) or false (not scrollable).
	When set to true, it sets the layout’s scroll bar to be visible to users. When set to false, it sets the layout’s scroll bar to invisible for users.
	Gets the layout’s scroll bar visibility status. Returns true (visible) or false (invisible).

Container Blocks

To access the blocks specific to the container component:

1. Navigate to the Blocks tab.

2. In the component tree on the left, click the Container component that is nested under the layout component.

3. A drawer of container-specific blocks opens.

4. The blocks are the same as the ones above in the Layout Blocks section, but specific to the container instead of the layout.

Related Docs

Custom Data Viewer

The layout component is the foundation of custom data viewers, which allows for more precise positioning of UI components on an app screen.

Custom Data Viewer

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