12. User Interface

PyAero uses a workflow-oriented desktop interface built with Qt for Python. The current layout is designed to keep the main meshing path visible at all times while still exposing the analysis and helper tools around it.

13. Overview

The window is organized into two main areas:

  • a workflow sidebar on the left

  • a workspace on the right

The workflow sidebar contains the active airfoil summary, the page navigation, and the currently selected tool page. The workspace contains the geometry view, the contour analysis tab, the message panel, and the viewer controls.

_images/ui_overview_main.png

PyAero main window with the workflow shell.

14. Workflow Pages

The left-hand workflow sidebar is split into dedicated pages:

  • Airfoil Library

  • Geometry Prep

  • Mesh

  • CFD Inputs

  • Aerodynamics

  • Contour Analysis

The active airfoil summary at the top of the sidebar shows:

  • the loaded airfoil name

  • where it came from

  • whether prepared geometry is available

  • whether a mesh has already been generated

_images/active_airfoil_card.png

Active airfoil summary card at the top of the workflow sidebar.

_images/workflow_navigation.png

Workflow navigation card for switching between the main tool pages.

16. Tool Pages

Most day-to-day work happens inside the workflow pages rather than through modal dialogs. In practice this means:

  • airfoil selection happens in the library page

  • contour preparation happens in the geometry page

  • mesh creation and export happen in the mesh page

  • CFD helper calculations happen in dedicated side pages

_images/toolbox_animated_NEW.gif

Overview of the page-based workflow controls.

17. Workspace Tabs

The right-hand workspace contains:

  • the main graphics viewer

  • the contour analysis view

The graphics viewer is the main place for loading, inspecting, and reviewing the contour and generated mesh. The contour analysis tab shows the derived plots for gradient, curvature, and radius.

_images/tabbed_views_animated.gif

Switching between the graphics and analysis views.

_images/viewer_canvas.png

Main graphics viewer canvas used for contour and mesh inspection.

18. Workspace Panels

Two utility panels sit close to the main canvas so the workflow stays visible while you work:

  • the viewer controls panel

  • the message panel

The viewer controls panel groups fit actions, background switching, message visibility, and quick access to magnifier-related tools. The message panel shows load status, export summaries, warnings, and other workflow feedback without forcing a modal dialog.

_images/viewer_controls_panel.png

Viewer controls for fit commands, background toggle, message visibility, and magnifier access.

_images/message_panel.png

Integrated message panel for status, warnings, and export feedback.

20. Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are managed centrally. Built-in defaults live in resources/Shortcuts/shortcuts.json, and user overrides are stored in config/shortcuts_user.json.

The shortcut editor is available from the help menu and by default opens with:

  • Ctrl+K on Windows and Linux

  • Cmd+K on macOS when mapped through Qt’s platform conventions

The editor allows you to:

  • inspect the current shortcut map

  • compare built-in and overridden bindings

  • save one platform-specific override per action

The actual text rendered by Qt may vary slightly across operating systems.

21. Support Dialogs

Several utility dialogs support the main workflow and the surrounding UI maintenance tasks:

  • Settings opens the editable runtime configuration

  • Icon Preview shows semantic icons and bundled app assets

  • About PyAero summarizes version, license, and environment details

_images/icon_preview_dialog.png

Icon preview dialog for checking semantic icons and bundled assets.

_images/about_dialog.png

About dialog with project, license, and environment information.