Figures

The Figures page manages the figures of your matter; the Reference signs page in the sidebar manages the numbered elements that appear on them. Both belong to the matter, not to a single application: every application in the matter shares the same figures and the same element numbering, so a part keeps its number across your EP, US, and divisional filings.

Opening Figures shows every figure as a card, all the same size, in a single grid sorted by figure number: FIG. 1, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, and so on. A sub-figure's card sits right after its parent's, and a thin colored stripe down the left edge marks cards that belong to the same group. A parent figure that only exists to hold sub-figures under a shared number (no drawing of its own) doesn't take a card slot at all: its children still carry its number.

  • Create a figure with the Add figure button, or drop image files anywhere on the gallery to create one per file. PNG, JPEG, and single-page PDF are supported (PDFs are converted to PNG on upload).
  • Order figures by dragging a card into the gap before another card. Dropping gives the dragged figure that slot's number and pushes everything after it down: while you drag, the drop indicator shows the resulting label (for example "→ FIG. 3") so you can see exactly where it will land.
  • Sub-figures: drag a card onto the middle of a top-level card to add it to that card's group as the last sub-figure, or onto the middle of a sub-figure to make it the next sibling in that group. Sub-figures are lettered (FIG. 1A, 1B, and so on); one level of nesting is supported, so a figure that already has sub-figures can't itself be nested. A parent without its own image still owns its number slot, so its children keep stable labels.
  • Select multiple figures with ctrl/cmd-click (toggle one) or shift-click (select a range). Click empty space in the grid, or press Escape, to clear the selection.
  • Right-click a card for its actions. On a selection, it offers Group as sub-figures, which creates a new shared parent and letters the selected figures under it (figures that already have sub-figures of their own are skipped). On a single figure it offers Convert to sub-figure group (turns a standalone figure into 2A under a new shared parent), Promote to top level (on a sub-figure, moves it out of its group), and Make sub-figure of… (nests it into another figure's group by name, the same result as dragging it there). A sub-figure group holds at most 26 members (A through Z); an action that would exceed that shows an error instead of applying.
  • A figure without an image shows a warning and an empty slot. It is skipped when the application is rendered, but keeps its number so labels don't shift while you work.
  • Search filters the gallery by figure number or description.

The figure workbench

Click a card to open that figure. The breadcrumb reads Figures, then the figure; click the figure crumb to jump straight to another figure.

  • The canvas pans (drag) and zooms (scroll). Double-click to fit the figure to the window again.
  • Click the description next to the figure number to edit it: a short "shows a ..." sentence describing what the figure depicts.
  • The header buttons export the figure as a PNG (with pins rendered on it) or delete the figure.
  • The transparent background toggle in the header removes the white paper background from a line drawing, so the figure displays and exports as a transparent PNG. It applies everywhere the figure appears (gallery, preview, exports) and never modifies your uploaded file. New figures start with it on; switch it off to restore the original.
  • A figure created without an image shows an upload slot here.

Elements on this figure

The panel beside the canvas lists the reference signs pinned on the open figure. From here you can:

  • New element: pick New element from the ⋮ menu in the figure header (or right-click the list). The element is created for the whole matter with its label ready to type, and placement is armed right away: click the spot on the drawing where it appears.
  • Attach existing element: the same menus list the matter's elements that aren't on this figure yet. Pick one, then click the drawing to place it.
  • Pin from the drawing: right-click the drawing itself for the same two actions. The pin is placed immediately at the spot you right-clicked (a new element still gets its label ready to type in the panel).
  • Place more pins: use the pin button on a row to place the same element at another callout point.
  • Rename or renumber: click a number or label in the panel to edit it in place.
  • Remove: hover a pin on the drawing and click its × (or right-click the pin) to remove that pin. Right-click a row in the panel and pick Remove from figure to clear every pin that element has on this figure.

Pins show the element's number on the canvas; drag a pin to move it. Pins are workspace annotations, they are not drawn into your uploaded image. The export button in the header bakes the pinned numbers into the downloaded PNG. The assistant can also place, move, and remove pins; its edits arrive as pending changes for you to review and approve.

Reference signs

The Reference signs page in the sidebar lists every element in the matter with its number, label, the figures it appears on, and warnings when an element is not on a figure or not referenced in the spec. Numbers are yours to assign: click a number or label to edit it in place. The figure chips open that figure's workbench. Elements are referenced in claims and sections as reference chips, so this page is the place to audit numbering while reviewing claims.

Figures and your applications

Figures reach an application through the text: referencing a figure in a section or claim (e.g. "as shown in figure 1") links it, and saving a version freezes the referenced figures and elements with it. Editing a figure or element afterwards never changes what a saved version shows.