Use the YADL editor

The YADL editor keeps a visual canvas and an editable YADL source document in sync. Use whichever view best matches the work you are doing: draw and arrange on the canvas, then refine the structure and timing in source when needed.

Canvas and source

• The canvas is the interactive preview. Select, move, resize, and create elements there.
• The source editor shows the same document with language feedback. Open it with the pencil control, then pin it when you want it beside the canvas.
• Closing, opening, pinning, or resizing the source panel changes the layout only. Your document, selection, and history stay in the same workspace.
• On desktop, drag the panel divider or use its keyboard controls to resize the pinned source panel.

Create and edit

The toolbar provides Hand, Select, Rectangle, Diamond, Ellipse, Arrow, Line, Pencil, Text, Image, and Eraser tools. Use Undo and Redo in the toolbar or with the standard keyboard shortcuts. When a video frame is configured, the toolbar also provides frame fitting and preview-crop controls.

Workspace menu

Open the top-left menu to create a new document, save, export an image or video, browse templates, open documentation, show help, toggle the timeline when the document has one, and choose a light, dark, or system theme.

Anonymous theme and layout choices are retained in the current browser. When you are signed in, supported theme preferences also synchronize to your account.

Keyboard shortcuts

Tool shortcuts 1 through 8 and 0 select the visible creation tools. Shortcuts do not run while you are typing in a field, using the source editor, or interacting with a dialog.

When presentation mode is active, Right/Down advances toward the next presentation stop and Left/Up returns to the preceding stop. Space plays or pauses, and Escape leaves presentation mode. These commands do not run while Monaco, another text/form control, or a dialog has focus. Presentation needs an authored video frame and uses that frame as the immersive stage; see Timeline for stop markers, ambient motion, and export behavior.

A practical workflow

1. Put the main message in a heading and supporting text.
2. Add the cards, shapes, and connectors needed to explain the relationship.
3. Use assets for recognizable visual cues and templates for reusable structure.
4. Add a timeline only when the explanation benefits from sequence or motion.
5. Review the canvas at the intended frame, then save or export.

For document language concepts, see YADL source. For motion, see Timeline.