NodeTool User Interface

The NodeTool interface is designed to be intuitive and powerful, providing easy access to all features while maintaining a clean, modern design. This guide covers all the major UI components and how to use them effectively.

Main Interface Layout

Dashboard

The Dashboard is your starting point in NodeTool. It provides:

Recent Workflows: Quick access to your most recent work
Chat History: Access to your Global Chat conversations
Quick Actions: Create new workflows, import templates, or browse examples
System Status: Connection status and resource usage

Left Sidebar

The left sidebar contains the main navigation:

Dashboard: Return to the main dashboard
Workflow Editor: Open the visual workflow editor
Global Chat: Access the AI chat interface
Asset Explorer: Browse and manage your files
Models Manager: Manage AI models and providers
Settings: Configure NodeTool preferences

Main Content Area

The central area adapts based on your current activity:

Workflow Canvas: Visual node editor with drag-and-drop functionality
Chat Interface: Full-screen chat with AI agents
Asset Browser: File management and preview
Model Downloads: Model installation and management

Workflow Editor

Node Canvas

The main workflow editing area where you build your AI workflows:

Infinite Canvas: Pan and zoom to work with large workflows
Grid Snapping: Align nodes precisely with optional grid snap
Background: Clean, minimal design to focus on your workflow
Context Menus: Right-click nodes and edges for quick actions

Node Menu

A searchable library of all available nodes:

Search: Find nodes by name, category, or functionality
Categories: Organized by AI providers, data types, and operations
Drag & Drop: Drag nodes directly onto the canvas
Documentation: Hover tooltips with node descriptions

Node Properties

The properties panel shows details for selected nodes:

Input Fields: Configure node parameters and settings
Output Preview: See node results in real-time
Documentation: Help text and usage examples
Validation: Real-time error checking and suggestions

Connection System

Visual connections between nodes:

Drag to Connect: Drag from output to input sockets
Type Validation: Automatic type checking for connections
Visual Feedback: Color-coded connections by data type
Auto-Layout: Automatic routing to avoid overlaps

Global Chat Interface

Chat View

The main chat interface for AI conversations:

Message History: Scrollable conversation history
Real-time Updates: Live streaming of AI responses
Rich Content: Support for text, images, audio, and video
Thread Management: Multiple conversation threads

Chat Composer

The input area for sending messages:

Text Input: Rich text editor with formatting support
File Attachments: Drag and drop files directly
Voice Input: Record audio messages (when supported)
Send Controls: Send button and keyboard shortcuts

Tool and Model Selection

Configure your AI interactions:

Model Selector: Choose from available AI models
Tools Panel: Enable specific AI tools and capabilities
Agent Mode: Toggle autonomous agent behavior
Help Mode: Get explanations of AI reasoning

Asset Management

Asset Explorer

Browse and manage your files:

File Browser: Navigate folders and collections
Preview Panel: View images, videos, and documents
Upload Area: Drag and drop files to upload
Search and Filter: Find assets by name, type, or date

Asset Grid

Visual grid view of your assets:

Thumbnail View: Preview images and videos
Metadata: File size, type, and creation date
Selection: Multi-select for batch operations
Context Actions: Right-click for asset operations

Asset Viewer

Full-screen asset preview:

Zoom and Pan: Inspect images and documents closely
Playback Controls: Play audio and video files
Metadata Panel: Detailed file information
Edit Actions: Basic editing and annotation tools

Models Manager

Model Library

Browse available AI models from multiple providers:

Recommended Models: Curated selection for common tasks
OpenAI Models: GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and specialized variants
Anthropic Models: Claude 3.5 Haiku, Sonnet, and Claude 4 series
Google Models: Gemini 2.0 and 2.5 series with multimodal capabilities
Hugging Face Models: Extensive open-source model catalog
Hugging Face Groq: High-performance models optimized for speed
Hugging Face Cerebras: Models optimized for specialized hardware
Local Models: Ollama and locally-hosted models
Search: Find models by name, provider, or capability
Filters: Filter by model type, size, or requirements

Download Manager

Manage model downloads:

Download Queue: See pending and active downloads
Progress Tracking: Real-time download progress
Storage Usage: Monitor disk space consumption
Download History: View completed downloads

Model Configuration

Configure model settings:

Parameters: Adjust model behavior and performance
API Keys: Manage credentials for cloud providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Hugging Face)
Local Models: Configure locally installed models
Provider Settings: Configure inference backends and endpoints
Usage Statistics: Monitor model performance and costs

Panel System

Resizable Panels

All panels can be resized for optimal workflow:

Drag Borders: Resize panels by dragging edges
Collapse/Expand: Hide panels when not needed
Panel Memory: Sizes are remembered between sessions
Responsive Design: Adapts to different screen sizes

Panel Management

Control panel visibility:

View Menu: Toggle panel visibility
Keyboard Shortcuts: Quick panel access
Panel Settings: Configure default layouts
Workspace Modes: Preset layouts for different tasks

Keyboard Shortcuts

General Navigation

Ctrl/Cmd + N: New workflow
Ctrl/Cmd + O: Open workflow
Ctrl/Cmd + S: Save workflow
Ctrl/Cmd + Z: Undo
Ctrl/Cmd + Y: Redo

Workflow Editor

Space + Drag: Pan canvas
Ctrl/Cmd + Scroll: Zoom in/out
Ctrl/Cmd + 0: Fit to view
Delete: Delete selected nodes
Ctrl/Cmd + C: Copy nodes
Ctrl/Cmd + V: Paste nodes
Ctrl/Cmd + D: Duplicate nodes

Chat Interface

Enter: Send message
Shift + Enter: New line
Ctrl/Cmd + K: Clear chat
Ctrl/Cmd + /: Toggle tools
Escape: Stop generation

Themes and Customization

Theme Selection

Choose your preferred visual style:

Dark Theme: Default dark mode for extended use
Light Theme: Clean light mode for bright environments
System Theme: Follow system preferences
Custom Themes: Create and share custom color schemes

Interface Customization

Personalize your workspace:

Panel Layout: Arrange panels to suit your workflow
Toolbar Configuration: Choose which tools to display
Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize hotkeys
Grid Settings: Adjust grid size and visibility

Status and Feedback

Connection Status

Monitor your connections:

WebSocket Status: Real-time connection indicator
Model Status: AI model availability and health
Sync Status: Workflow synchronization state
Error Notifications: Clear error messages and solutions

Progress Indicators

Track long-running operations:

Workflow Execution: Node-by-node progress
File Uploads: Upload progress and completion
Model Downloads: Download progress and speed
Generation Progress: AI response generation status

Responsive Design

Mobile Support

NodeTool works across devices:

Responsive Layout: Adapts to different screen sizes
Touch Support: Touch-friendly interactions
Mobile Navigation: Optimized navigation for small screens
Gesture Support: Pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate

Accessibility

Designed for all users:

Keyboard Navigation: Full keyboard accessibility
Screen Reader Support: ARIA labels and descriptions
High Contrast: Support for high contrast themes
Focus Management: Clear focus indicators

Tips for Effective Use

Workflow Organization

Use clear naming conventions for nodes and workflows
Group related nodes together
Add comments and documentation to complex workflows
Use collections to organize related assets

Performance Tips

Close unused panels to improve performance
Use preview mode for large workflows
Optimize image and video assets before upload
Monitor resource usage in the status bar

Collaboration

Share workflows with descriptive names and documentation
Use consistent asset organization across team members
Export workflows for version control
Document workflow requirements and dependencies

This comprehensive interface guide covers all major aspects of the NodeTool UI. For specific feature documentation, refer to the dedicated guides for each component.