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Layouts screen

The Layouts screen allows you to create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) the JSON structures used to compose invoice and quote PDFs. Layouts control document structure, while colors, fonts, labels, table styling, and page settings remain configured in the invoice or quote customization options.

Layouts support two schema versions:

  • V1: ordered invoice sections with nested header rows and columns.
  • V2: customizable page-level JSON composition with independent regions, sidebars, landscape orientation, recursive rows/columns/grids, configured sections, and controlled region overflow.

V2 layout schemas continue to use the application's whitelisted content blocks and sections. They do not contain React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, custom fonts, or arbitrary executable content. See Layout JSON reference for V1 and V2 examples and validation rules.

Layout records can be archived and selected from invoice or quote page setup. Existing invoices and quotes keep a snapshot of the layout used when they were saved, so later layout changes do not alter historical documents.

Adding a Layout​

Click Add to create a new layout. The Visual tab is the default editing mode. Use its controls to add sections, header blocks, regions, rows, columns, and grids, then reorder or reparent them with buttons, menus, keyboard actions, or drag and drop.

You can also use Upload schema to import a valid V1 or V2 JSON layout. The JSON must contain a layout name and use the supported schema version and properties documented in the Layout JSON reference. Ready-made examples are available in layouts.

Layouts creation Layouts visual_builder Layouts preview

Editing / deleting a Layout​

Select a layout from the list to edit it visually. The JSON tab is a read-only inspection view of the generated schema; use Upload schema to replace it with a validated JSON layout.

Use the Preview mode to see a representative invoice rendered through the same PDF interpreter used for invoice and quote output. Layout edits support undo and redo, and the builder warns when V2 nesting or node-count limits are reached.

The upload is checked before it is applied. Invalid JSON, unsupported properties, duplicate sections, and unsupported values are rejected with validation errors. Layout JSON files are limited to 64 KB.

You can also:

  • Search layouts by name
  • Delete a layout by clicking the red trash icon

Layouts editing

Filters​

Layouts have filters to control what is displayed. By default:

  • Active: shows all layouts except archived

The archived flag can be toggled during creation or editing. This flag only affects filtering and does not delete the layout.

Layouts filters

Sorting​

Layouts can be sorted by:

  • Schema name
  • Last updated date

Layouts sort

Export​

You can export a saved layout as a .json file for reuse or transfer to another compatible database.

Layout JSON export is available from the download icon on each layout in the list. Layouts are exported individually, not as an XLSX file.

Layouts export

Selecting a Layout​

In an invoice or quote, open page setup and select an active, non-archived layout. The selected layout determines the order and composition of the PDF sections, including the header, items table, totals, payment information, notes, signature, watermark, and page counter.

Layouts selection Layouts selection

For the complete JSON structure, supported sections, header blocks, composition examples, and limitations, see the Layout JSON reference.

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