Reference

Designer Glossary

Plain definitions for Designer terms, Tig language, and every config accordion. Use this as the shared vocabulary for measurements, parts, fill types, and controls.

Open User Guide

Core Terms

The terms below are used across the designer, Tig, exports, and shop notes.

Main Gate: Slide-gate term for the main sliding gate body length. It does not include a cantilever tail. Swing gates do not use Main Gate as a separate measurement; they use panel/frame width and, when posts/hinges are shown, post-to-post opening.
Clear Opening: The usable opening between posts, also called post-to-post or inside-post measurement. On swing gates, this is the opening the leaf/leaves fit inside and hinge space can make it wider than the frame span. On slide gates, it is typically Main Gate minus 4 inches.
Post-to-Post: Inside face of one post to inside face of the opposite post. On swing gates, this is the primary opening measurement when posts/hinges are shown. On slide gates, this is the clear opening and is typically 4 inches shorter than Main Gate.
Overall Gate: The full outside gate length. On swing gates and fence panels this is usually the same as the drawn panel/frame span unless posts or separate site measurements are being discussed. On slide gates this is Main Gate plus any tail/extra gate length.
Frame: The outer structural tube around the gate, fence panel, or handrail panel. Frame size is tube/member size, not gate width or opening.
Rail: An added internal horizontal member inside the frame. The top and bottom frame members are not rails.
Upright: An added internal vertical divider. Uprights create section boundaries and can carry caps/extensions.
Picket: Repeating infill bars or slats inside the frame. Pickets can be vertical or horizontal.
Section: A cell bounded by frame members, uprights, and rails. Section Fill, Section Trim, and per-section braces use these cells.
Tail: Slide-gate-only term for extra gate area beyond the main opening/body. Swing gates do not have tails. Cantilever tails are counterbalance sections. A v-track gate can have a tail/extra gate length, usually for opener/operator hardware, but it is not always needed and is not a cantilever counterbalance.
Camelback / Compound Arch: A top profile with a center arch and side curves. Some users call this camelback; some call it compound arch.
Wood Overlay: A wood-grain/wood overlay surface on steel geometry. Use picket size to control the overlay width.

Measurement Settings

All designs

Controls how dimensions and measurements are displayed and entered.

Imperial / Metric: Switches measurement units for inputs and drawing labels.Options: Imperial, Metric
Imperial Display: Chooses whether imperial dimensions display as plain inches or feet plus inches.Options: Inches, Feet-Inches
Input Format: Chooses decimal or fractional imperial entry. Fraction mode accepts values like 1-1/2 or 13/16.Options: Decimal, Fraction
Dimensions: Shows or hides dimension lines on the preview drawing.
Reset Dimensions: Restores deleted dimension labels and reset dimension offsets when custom dimension edits exist.

Panel Basics

All designs

Chooses the main product type, material, color, and primary size vocabulary for the drawing.

Panel Type: Selects the kind of drawing and determines which accordions are available.Options: Single Swing, Double Swing, Single Slide, Double Slide, Fence Panel, Handrail
Tube Type: Selects square or round tube appearance and material-list assumptions.Options: Square Tube, Round Tube
Material: Filters component choices and labels the design material.Options: Steel / Iron, Aluminum
Fill Color: Master drawing color for the gate or panel. Solid fills follow this color unless otherwise drawn by fill type.
Panel Width: For swing gates and fence panels, the drawn panel/frame width. For double swing this can be shown per panel. Slide gates use Main Gate instead because clear opening and gate body length are different.
Main Gate: Slide-gate body length. Swing gates do not use this separate field; their comparable body measurement is Panel Width or each leaf width.
Clear Opening: Post-to-post opening measurement. On swing gates this is the opening between posts around the leaf/leaves. On slide gates, Main Gate is the drawn gate body length and is typically 4 inches longer than the clear opening.
Height: Overall frame height before any picket extensions, finials, barb wire, or top-profile rise.
Show Hinges: Quick swing-gate toggle for hinge visibility and hinge-based post-to-post math.
Slide Style: Selects the slide-gate construction style.Options: V-Track, Bottom Track Cantilever, 4-Wheel Cantilever
Slide Direction: The side where the gate parks/slides. Tail/extra gate length follows this side.Options: Slides Right, Slides Left
V-Track Tail Length: Extra gate length on a v-track slide gate. It is usually only needed when an opener/operator will mount to the gate, and it is not a cantilever counterbalance tail.
Wheel Boxes: Optional wheel-box assemblies for v-track gates.Options: Add Wheel Boxes, Wheel Size, Show Wheels, Position 1, Position 2, Vertical Offset
Cantilever Tail Length: Tail length as a percentage of Main Gate length for bottom-track and 4-wheel cantilever slide gates.
Cantilever Track: Shows the cantilever track and chooses its size.Options: Small 2-3/4", Medium 3-1/2", Large 5-1/2", Extra Large 6-1/2"
4-Wheel Cantilever: Slide-gate style with a cantilever-style tail, no v-track wheel boxes, no bottom cantilever track, and a flat top profile.
Fence Slope Height: Vertical difference across a sloped fence panel.
Slope Mode: Controls whether both top and bottom slope, or only the bottom slopes.Options: Full, Bottom Only
Profile Mode: For double gates, controls whether the top profile spans the whole gate or mirrors per panel.Options: Spanning, Mirrored
Panel Gap: Gap between double-gate leaves or panels.
Center Upright Offset: Moves double-gate meeting uprights left or right while keeping the overall profile centered.

Handrail Layout

Handrails

Defines whether the rail is stair, ramp, or level and how the run/rise is calculated.

Layout: Chooses the handrail geometry.Options: Stairs / Steps, Ramp / Slope, Flat / Level
OA Railing Run: Outside-to-outside horizontal railing run. Editable for flat/ramp layouts and derived from step geometry for stairs.
Ramp Rise: Vertical rise over the run for ramp/slope layouts.
Stair Dimensions: Step geometry used to derive sloped rail layout.Options: Steps, Rise/Step, Run/Step, Nosing
Total Rise: Readout/control for total stair rise.
Edit Each Step Individually: Allows per-step rise/run overrides instead of one uniform step size.
Show Stair Profile: Toggles the stair outline in the preview.
Stringer Type: Chooses open visible steps or a closed/skirt-board stringer.Options: Open, Closed
Closed Stringer Board Width / Top Offset: Controls closed stringer board thickness and vertical placement.
Left Mount / Right Mount: Chooses whether each end uses a post or bracket.Options: Post, Bracket
Intermediate Posts: Adds posts along the rail run between the end posts.
Post Mount: Controls mounting condition.Options: Surface, Side, Flush / No Extension, Core Drill
Core Drill Extension: Extra post length below the mounting surface for core-drilled posts.
Post Below Step: How far posts extend below stair nosing or mounting reference.

Panel Mounting

Handrails

Controls how a handrail panel is mounted to steps, surface, side, brackets, or core-drill conditions.

Panel Mounting: Mounting model for the handrail posts and brackets.Options: Surface, Side, Flush / No Extension, Core Drill
Post Below / Core Drill: Additional post length below the rail/panel reference for installation.
Bracket Style: Wall or side bracket shape when an end mount uses a bracket.

Slope to Level Transition

Sloped handrails

Controls how sloped handrail geometry transitions into level end sections or landings.

Left Frame Transition: Transition offset for the lower/left frame end.
Right Frame Transition: Transition offset for the upper/right frame end.
Left Rail Transition: Transition offset for the lower/left rail end.
Right Rail Transition: Transition offset for the upper/right rail end.

Posts

Gates, fence panels, and handrails

Controls post visibility, size, placement, extensions, caps, hinges, and extension bars.

Posts: Chooses how many posts are shown.Options: No Posts, One Post, Two Posts
Post Side: Chooses which side a one-post layout uses or how two posts are displayed.Options: Left, Right, Both
Post Size: Post face width or diameter.
Post Placement: Slide-gate only: controls where posts sit relative to the main gate and tail. Swing-gate post spacing is handled through post-to-post, hinges, offsets, and extension bars.
Post Opacity: Makes slide-gate posts more or less ghosted behind the gate drawing.
Center Posts: Double-gate center support posts.Options: None, 1 Post, 2 Posts
Gap Between Center Posts: Space between two center posts on double-gate layouts.
Uniform Posts: When on, all posts share settings. When off, each post can have independent settings.
Extension Above / Extension Below: Post length above and below the gate/frame.
Baseplate / Baseplate Width: Shows a baseplate and sets its width.
Cap Style: Adds post caps. Decorative caps use the component library.
Library Cap Scale / Position: Scales and nudges decorative post caps.
Show Hinges: Adds hinge plates and makes swing-gate post-to-post math include hinge space.
Hinge Side: Single-swing only: chooses the hinge side.Options: Left, Right
Double-Gate Hinge Side: For each double-swing panel, chooses whether its hinge is outside or center-side.
Top / Bottom Hinge Position: Vertical hinge placement from top and bottom references.
Hinge Width / Height: Physical hinge plate size.
Extension Bars: Horizontal bars between gate frame and posts, often used before adding masonry columns.
Latch Post Bars: Extension bars on the latch side.Options: None, 1 Bar, 2 Bars
Extension-to-Extension Opening: Readout/input for the opening between extension bars when they define the clear opening.
Tail Type: Slide-gate tail shape.Options: No Tail, Full Extension, Single Bar, Angled / Sloped Extension
Angled / Sloped Tail: Also called angled tail, sloped tail, turnbuckle tail, or 45 degree tail. Does not change slide style.
Show Pickets in Tail: Applies the main picket pattern to full-extension and angled/sloped tails.
Extend Bottom Rails Through Tail: Controls whether bottom rails continue into the tail.
Tail Turnbuckle: Adds a turnbuckle detail to a sloped tail.

Top Profile

Gates and fence panels, not handrails

Controls the shape of the top of the frame or picket line.

Profile Type: Main top shape.Options: Flat Top, Arched, Reverse Arch, Peaked / Gable, Compound Arch / Camelback
Arch Height: Rise of an arched top above the base frame height.
Reverse Arch Depth: Drop of a reverse arch below the top reference.
Peak Height: Rise of a peaked/gable top.
Peak Position (%): Horizontal location of the peak across the gate.
Center Arch Height: Main rise of a compound/camelback center arch.
Side Arch Height: Rise of the side curves in a compound/camelback arch.
Side Arch Curvature: Controls how curved the side arches are.
Center Width: Width of the middle portion of a compound/camelback arch.
Straight Section: Flat/straight portions included before the curved sections.
Calculated Radius: Readout for arc radius based on the profile inputs.

Masonry Columns

Gate posts

Draws masonry columns around/near posts.

Left / Right Column: Enables columns on the left and right sides.
Center Columns: Enables center columns for center-post layouts.
Column Size: Column face width.
Column Height: Total masonry column height.
Extension Above Post: How far the column extends above the post.
Offset: Horizontal column placement adjustment.
Texture: Masonry appearance.Options: Brick, Cultured Stone, River Rock
Opacity: Column transparency in the preview.
Cap Style / Cap Height: Column cap appearance and cap thickness.
Notch: Cutout for opener mount or other hardware.Options: Width, Height, From Bottom

Frame

Most panel types

Controls outer structural members. Frame size means tube/member size, not gate size.

Left / Right / Top / Bottom Frame: Member sizes for each side of the outer frame.
Frame Surface: Visual/material surface for frame members.Options: Smooth, Hammered, Wood Overlay
Bottom Frame Offset: Handrail bottom-frame offset relative to the floor or stair nosing pitch line.
Extend Frame Uprights: Extends vertical frame members above the frame/profile.
Upright Caps / Extensions: Adds cap/extension details to frame uprights.
Radiused Extensions: Rounds extension tops/edges where available.
Apply To: Chooses which uprights receive an extension/cap setting.Options: Outer Uprights, Center Uprights, Both, Outer / Hinge Side, Center / Meeting Side
Radius Faces: Chooses whether radius detail faces inside or outside.
Different Center Caps: Allows double-gate meeting uprights to use different cap settings.
Extend Tail Uprights: Extends cantilever tail vertical members.

Handrail Cap

Handrails

Applies a handrail cap/cover rail library component along the rail.

Cap: Selects the Handrail Cap library component.
Fill: Controls component fill behavior.
Overlay on Rail: How far the cap sits down over the rail.
Extend Past Left / Right: Extends the cap beyond rail ends.
Material Description: Cut-list description for the cap material.

Uprights

Gates, fence panels, handrails, and slide tails

Adds internal vertical dividers that create sections and can carry caps/extensions.

+ Add Upright: Adds one upright.
Reset: Removes additional uprights.
Add Multiple Uprights: Batch-adds uprights by count, equal spacing, or custom positions.
Spacing Mode: How multiple uprights are placed.Options: Equal Spacing, Custom Positions
Count / Spacing / Positions from Left: Batch placement values for multiple uprights.
Upright Width: Upright member size.
Upright Surface: Surface style for uprights.Options: Smooth, Hammered, Wood Overlay
Extend to Frame: Runs upright to the frame/profile boundary.
Extend to Bottom Frame: Runs upright to the bottom frame boundary.
Extend Uprights: Adds top extensions/caps.
Edit Individual Uprights: Expands per-upright controls for enabled, position, width, surface, extension, and remove.
Tail Uprights: Cantilever-tail vertical dividers independent from the main gate uprights.

Rails

Gates, fence panels, handrails

Adds internal horizontal members. Rails are not the top or bottom frame.

+ Add Rail: Adds one internal rail.
Reset: Removes rails.
Add Multiple Rails: Batch-adds rails by top/bottom placement or equal/custom spacing.
Spacing Mode: Batch rail placement method.Options: Top/Bottom, Equal Spacing, Custom Positions
Positions from Top: Comma-separated rail locations for custom placement.
Edit Individual Rails: Expands per-rail controls.
From: Rail distance reference.Options: Top, Bottom
Distance: Clear distance from the chosen top/bottom reference.
Rail Size: Rail member size.
Rail Shape: Rail path.Options: Flat / Straight, Follow Top Profile, Follow Bottom Profile
Rail Surface: Surface style.Options: Use Global, Smooth, Hammered, Wood Overlay
Picket Depth Below: How far pickets extend below the handrail bottom rail.

Braces

Gates, fence panels, slide tails

Adds diagonal bracing across the full panel or each section.

Diagonal Braces: Enables brace drawing.
Direction: Brace direction.Options: Top-Left to Bottom-Right, Bottom-Left to Top-Right, Both / X
Width: Brace member size.
Tail Brace Same Width: Makes cantilever tail braces inherit main brace width.
Tail Brace Width: Independent tail brace member width.
Brace Each Section: Draws braces inside every rail/upright-bounded section.
Allow Rails to Create Sections: Lets rails split brace sections horizontally.
Per-Section Settings: Allows each section/tail section to enable braces and choose direction.

Pickets

Ornamental gates, fence panels, and handrails

Controls the repeating infill bars/slats and finials.

Pickets: Turns pickets on or off.
Picket Size: Width of each vertical picket or thickness of each horizontal slat. Also controls wood overlay picket width.
Picket Spacing: Clear gap between pickets/slats.
Picket Style: Twist pattern.Options: Standard, All Twisted, Alternating Twisted
Picket Orientation: Direction of pickets/slats.Options: Vertical, Horizontal
Picket Surface: Surface style.Options: Standard / Smooth, Hammered, Wood Overlay
Starting Offset: Shifts the picket pattern without changing spacing.
Edit Individual Pickets: Enables selecting individual pickets in the drawing for overrides.
Hide This Picket: Hides the selected picket.
X Offset / Top / Bottom: Individual picket position and extension overrides.
Apply Pattern: Applies selected-picket edits to every other, every third, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, or tenth picket.
Picket Extension: Extends pickets above the frame/profile.
Finial Height: Height of picket finials.
Add Finial: Chooses no finial/squared off or a library finial.
Finial Placement Pattern: Which pickets receive finials.Options: Every Picket, Alternating, Every 2nd, Every 3rd
Alt Finial: Alternate finial style, extension, and height for alternating patterns.
Bottom Picket Extension: Extends pickets below the bottom frame/rail.

Dog Pickets

Ornamental gates and fence panels

Adds short pickets near the bottom between main pickets.

Add Dog Pickets: Turns on short bottom pickets between main pickets.
Twisted Pickets: Twist pattern for dog pickets.Options: None, All Twisted, Alternating
Distance Extending Above Bottom Rail: Dog-picket height above the bottom rail.
Bottom Extension: Dog-picket extension below reference.
Add Finials to Top: Adds finials to dog pickets.
Add Finial / Finial Height: Chooses dog-picket finial and height.

Section Fill

Gates, fence panels, slide tails

Fills complete section cells bounded by frame, uprights, and rails. It does not free-place arbitrary patches.

Enable Section Fill Panels: Turns section fill on.
Fill Mode: How fill sits relative to the frame.Options: Inset, Overlay
Air Gap: Clear gap around inset fill.
Mounting Tabs: Adds tabs for solid/wood-style panels.
Tab Width / Height / Spacing: Mounting tab size and spacing.
Tab Edges: Edges where tabs appear.Options: Top, Bottom, Left, Right
Select Sections to Fill: Grid of section cells. Clicking cycles fill type.
Set All Sections: Applies one fill type to every section.
P: Pickets only.
M: Mesh/crosshatch only.
P+M: Pickets plus mesh/crosshatch.
S: Solid only.
P+S: Pickets plus solid.
W: Wood panel.
CL: Chain link fill with chain-link hardware.
Chain Link Settings: Mesh and hardware controls.Options: Mesh Size, Show Tension Bar, Bar Width, Show Tension Bands, Band Width, Band Spacing, Band Edges

Section Trim

Gates, fence panels, slide tails

Adds trim bars around selected section openings. It is separate from Section Fill.

Enable Section Trim: Turns trim on.
Placement: Where trim sits.Options: Face Trim, Inset Trim
Stock Type: Trim material shape.Options: Flat Bar, Angle, Tube
Size / Face Width: Visible trim face size.
Tube Width / Tube Depth: Tube dimensions for tube trim.
Inset Side: Which tube dimension goes into the opening.Options: Width goes into opening, Depth goes into opening
Material Thickness: Flat-bar/angle stock thickness.
Surface: Trim surface.Options: Smooth, Hammered, Wood
Cut List Description: Material-list label for trim.
Select Sections for Trim: Grid of trim-enabled cells.
Quick Buttons: Bulk trim actions.Options: Trim Gate, Clear Gate, Trim Tail, Clear Tail
Section Trim Edits: Per-section overrides for placement, stock type, size, surface, and cut-list description.

Barb Wire

Non-handrail panels, usually flat top layouts

Adds barb wire above the gate/panel and optionally across slide tails.

Add Barb Wire: Turns barb wire on.
Strand Count: Number of wire strands.Options: 2 Strands, 3 Strands
Strand Spacing: Vertical spacing between strands.
Barb Spacing: Spacing between barbs along the wire.
Add Barb Wire to Tail: Extends barb wire across cantilever tail when the tail geometry can support it.

Panel Lock

Swing gates

Adds a mag lock or lock box to a swing gate.

Add Lock: Turns lock hardware on.
Lock Type: Hardware type.Options: Mag Lock, Lock Box
Placement: Visible side of the lock.Options: Outside / Visible, Inside / Non-visible
Lock Panel: Double-swing only: chooses the leaf that carries the lock.Options: Left Panel, Right Panel
Lock Side: For single swing/side-specific layouts, chooses left or right side.
Center Height: Vertical centerline height for lock placement.
Mag Lock Height / Width: Mag lock size.
Lock Box Trim / Box Size: Lock box trim toggle and box dimensions.
Cutout Diameter / Offset: Lock-box keyway/cutout size and vertical position.

Mounting Plate

Gates

Adds a flat-bar gate opener/operator mounting plate.

Add Mounting Plate: Turns the opener plate on.
Placement: Visible side of the plate.Options: Outside / Visible, Inside / Non-visible
Flat Bar Width: Visual height/stock width of the plate.
Length: Horizontal plate length.
Offset from Left: Horizontal placement from the left reference.
Offset from Bottom: Vertical placement from the bottom reference.

Components

All designs, depending on library/category

Parent accordion for placed library parts, category-specific component controls, free-positioned shapes, text, and component clipping.

Category Buttons: Each component category has its own accordion button and its own controls.Options: Scrollwork, Gate Toppers, Accents, Artwork, Rings, Rosettes, Finials, Collars, Baskets, Shapes, Text, Component Clipping
+ Add [Category]: Adds a new item inside the open category, such as + Add Ring, + Add Scrollwork, + Add Shape, or + Add Text.
Library Part Selection: Library categories show the relevant subcategory, search, sort, and component picker controls for that category.Options: Subcategory, Search, Sort by Name, Sort by Part #, Component
Overlay Placement Controls: Library overlay categories can include panel side, draw-order controls, arrow nudge buttons, rotation, scale, flip, and duplicate controls when those controls apply.
Picket-Attached Components: Collars and baskets use row-based controls for parts attached to vertical pickets.
Shapes: Adds simple geometric overlays such as rectangles, circles, and ovals. Shapes can be positioned freely and can be clipped in Component Clipping.
Text: Adds standalone text overlays for labels, notes, or lettering. Text can be positioned freely and can be clipped in Component Clipping.
Component Clipping: Clips placed components, shapes, or text to the panel frame or to the rail/upright-bounded section.
Undo Last Delete: Restores the last deleted component overlay.
Custom Scrollwork: Project-specific scrollwork made in the Custom Scrollwork Editor and placed like an overlay.

Shapes & Text

All designs

Component-area accordions for simple geometric overlays and text labels. Useful for notes, local mesh patches, or custom marks that are not structural sections.

Shapes: Open Components, then Shapes, to create or edit geometric overlays.
Text: Open Components, then Text, to create or edit text overlays.
+ Add Shape / + Add Text: Creates a new shape or text overlay inside the matching accordion.
Type: Overlay type.Options: Text Only, Rectangle, Circle, Oval
Size: Width/diameter and height in inches.
Position: Arrow nudge controls and exact X/Y fields. Shapes/text can also be dragged.
Rotation: Rotates the shape/text overlay.
Stroke Width: Outline thickness.
Fill: Interior fill style.Options: No Fill, Solid, Mesh / Crosshatch, Wood Grain
Stroke / Fill Color: Outline and fill colors.
Text Overlay: Text content for labels, notes, or lettering.
Font: Text font selection.
Bold / Italic: Text styling toggles.
Text Size / Spacing / Color: Text size, letter spacing, and color.
Duplicate Grid: Repeats shapes/text.Options: X Copies, Spacing X, Y Copies, Spacing Y, Follow Top Rail Profile
Hide in Gap: Clips shape/text from the center gap on double gates.
Undo / Delete: Restores or removes shape/text overlays.

Layering

Rails, uprights, braces, pickets, components, shapes

Controls drawing order when elements overlap.

Send Backward: Moves a layer or object behind another drawing layer.
Bring Forward: Moves a layer or object above another drawing layer.
Object Layer Buttons: Per-component and per-shape ordering controls.