Every component in the Module Builder shares a common set of settings and actions, regardless of type. This guide covers the settings panel header, canvas actions, and the Tags, Notes, and Permissions views available on every component.
For component-specific settings, see the Component Reference.
Settings Panel Header
Selecting a component on the canvas opens the right panel with that component's settings. The header displays the component name and a row of controls that apply to every component.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Component name | Displays the component type. |
| Settings | Displays the component's settings in the right panel. This is the default view when a component is selected. |
| Tags | Opens the Tags view to manage labels for the component. |
| Notes | Opens the Notes view to add internal documentation. |
| Copy Settings | Copies the component's settings configuration to the clipboard (⌘C / Ctrl+C). |
| Paste Settings | Pastes a previously copied component's settings onto the selected component (⌘V / Ctrl+V). |
| Pin | Pins the component's settings panel so it remains open while navigating the canvas. Available only after required settings are completed and the component is saved. |
| Vertical ellipsis | Opens a menu with two options: Permissions to configure per-role access control, and Documentation to open the component's documentation in a new tab. |
The settings panel can be resized by grabbing and dragging its left edge.
Tags
Tags group and identify components across a module. Each tag must be at least three characters. Spaces are converted to hyphens automatically. Duplicate tags are not allowed.
Some tags have functional significance—UDLC tools like the API Docs Dashboard and schema Docs Dashboard tool query components by tag to filter and document specific modules. Common examples:
api: Marks components used in API-facing modules queried by the API Docs Dashboard tool.schema: Marks components used in schema modules queried by the Schema Docs Dashboard tool.
Notes
The Notes view provides a free-form text field for internal documentation about the component—its purpose, logic, or any context useful for other Creators. Notes are not visible to end-users and have a maximum of 1,000 characters.
Permissions
The Permissions panel controls what each Express role can do with the component. Permissions are set per role and can be inherited from parent components, the module, or role defaults.
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
| Inherit | Inherits the permission from the parent component, module, or role default. |
| No Access | Hides the component from end-users in that role. |
| Read-Only | Displays the component but prevents end-users from editing it. |
| Write | Grants full access to view and edit the component. |
| Obfuscate | Replaces the component's value with asterisks. End-users cannot read or write the value. |
Canvas Actions
Selecting a component on the canvas opens its settings in the right panel. Hovering over a component displays four quick-access icons on the right side of the component row:
| Icon | Action |
|---|---|
| Settings | Opens the component's settings in the right panel. This is the same as clicking the component row — the icon is a shortcut that can appear redundant but behaves identically. |
| Copy | Copies the component to the clipboard (⌘C / Ctrl+C). |
| Paste Below | Pastes a copied component below the selected component (⌘V / Ctrl+V). |
| Delete | Permanently removes the component from the module (⌫). |
The vertical ellipsis at the end of the row expands to a full menu with additional options:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Copy | Copies the component to the clipboard (⌘C / Ctrl+C). |
| Paste Above | Pastes a copied component above the selected component (⌘V / Ctrl+V). |
| Paste Below | Pastes a copied component below the selected component (⌘V / Ctrl+V). |
| Move | Activates keyboard-based repositioning (⌘⌥M / Ctrl+Alt+M). Move up (⌘⌥↑ / Ctrl+Alt+↑) or down (⌘⌥↓ / Ctrl+Alt+↓), confirm (⏎), or cancel (Esc). |
| Delete | Permanently removes the component from the module (⌫). |
Tip: When the Properties panel is in focus, use keyboard shortcuts to save (
⌘S / Ctrl+S), undo (⌘Z / Ctrl+Z), redo (⌘⇧Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z), or cancel (Esc) without leaving your keyboard.
Changelog
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| — | Initial publication. |