- This article or section documents the current version of Scratch (version 3.0). For this article in Scratch 2.0, see Scratch User Interface (2.0). For this article in Scratch 1.4, see Scratch User Interface (1.4).
- This article is about the editing environment and design. For other uses, see Edit (disambiguation).
The User Interface is the design of the interface of the Scratch editor. It is designed to make coding easier for beginner programmers.
Components
The User Interface consists of several sections which allow users to create and edit projects.
On the top right of the screen below the Navigation Bar, there are three buttons: Code, Costumes, and Sounds. The Code area allows one to build scripts that run the project, Costumes allow the user to change how the sprite looks using the Paint Editor, and Sounds uses the Sound Editor to edit sounds.
Code Tab
The code tab contains several sections that allow one to code and run scripts and sprites.
Block Palette
- Main article: Block Palette
The Block Palette is the area on the left of the screen when the Code button is opened. On the left, there is an area that contains the nine sections of blocks in Scratch. To the right of that, there is an area that contains blocks that can be dragged into the Scripts Area to make code.
Code Area
- Main article: Code Area
The Code Area is the large empty space to the right of the Block Palette. It is an area for storing blocks that run the project. Blocks can be dragged from the Block Palette into the Scripts Area and arranged to form scripts. Each sprite has its own scripts, and sprites can be selected using the Sprite Pane.
Stage
- Main article: Stage
The stage is the area where the sprites are and perform their actions. It is located in the top of the area to the right of the Scripts Area.
Small Stage Layout
The small stage layout is a size option for the Stage. It lowers the stage's resolution to 240x180 pixels — half of the normal size, increasing the size of the Code Area, Paint Editor, and Sound Editor. The small stage layout can be activated by toggling the stage size switch located in the top-right corner in the project editor next to the full screen button. It is useful when using Scratch on a smaller screen or on a phone or tablet, as the Code Area may be too small to use on those devices.
Sprite Pane
- Main article: Sprite Pane
The Sprite Pane is located to the right of the Scripts Area and to the bottom of the stage. It allows one to quickly switch sprites and view the different scripts each sprite contains.
Backpack
- Main article: Backpack
The Backpack is a small area to the bottom of the Block Palette and the Scripts Area. It can be opened by clicking on it. It stores scripts, costumes, and sounds and allows them to be transferred from one project to another. This is especially useful if work from another project is being taken to use in ones own project.
Ribbon Bar
- Main article: Ribbon Bar
The ribbon bar is the blue bar at the top, which from left to right has:
- The Scratch logo that links to the Scratch Homepage
- A wireframe of a globe which has a list of languages
- File and edit menus
- Tutorials
- Project name, share button, and see project page
- Folder which links to My Stuff
- Profile picture and username
Paint Editor
- Main article: Paint Editor
The paint editor allows one to view, create, and edit a sprite's costumes.
Costume Pane
- Main article: Costume Pane
The costume pane is the area on the left of the paint editor. It allows one to switch between a sprite's Costumes.
Viewing Area
To the right of the Costume Pane is a large area to make edits and view the costume.
Tools
To the left of the Viewing Area are several tools that allow one to make edits: select, reshape, paintbrush, eraser, fill, text, line, circle, and rectangle.
To the top of the Viewing Area are more tools that include changing colors, undo and redo, grouping, layers, and flipping.
Sound Editor
- Main article: Sound Editor
The sound editor allows one to make, view, and edit the sprite's sounds.
Sounds Pane
The sounds pane allows one to switch between different sounds.
Viewing Area
The viewing area allows one to view the sound waves of the selected sound.
Tools
Above and below the viewing area are many tools. These include making the sound louder, softer, have effects, fade in or out, copying and pasting, undo, and redo.
Tools
Tools are the various functions that the interface has. They can do things like copy projects, create new ones, and edit what's in the project.
Stage Area
The following functions are found in the stage area:
- Green Flag - Starts the scripts in the project's code.
- Stop Sign - Stops all running scripts.
- Show/Hide - Shows or hides the currently selected sprite.
The following functions are found on the navigation bar above the project editing area:
- Language - Change the language of the editor.
File Drop-down
- New - Creates a new empty project
- Save Now - Saves the project
- Save as a copy - Makes a new project containing the same blocks as the current one
- Load from your computer - Load a .sb, .sb2, or .sb3 Scratch project file
- Save to your computer - Downloads the project in its current state as a .sb3 file
Edit Drop-down
- Restore <sprite/script/costume> - Undeletes the last deleted element
- Turn <on/off> Turbo Mode - Speeds up the project's execution
Other
- Tutorials - Guides to making projects
- Project name - Change the name of the project. The default name is "Untitled"
- Share - Share the current project. Will instead say "Shared" if it already is
- See Project Page - View the project's main page
- My Stuff - View ones My Stuff page containing ones projects and studios.
- User button - View the user menu.
- Profile - View ones user profile
- My Stuff - View ones My Stuff page contain ones projects and studios.
- Account Settings - Change options such as ones password, country, and email.
- Sign out - Exit ones Scratch user account, requiring one to log in to view ones unshared projects again.
