Master Data – Layer Patterns

The ALC palletizing software calculates optimal stacking patterns for orders that consist of a set of articles. Every article is linked to one Package Type, which describes its physical dimensions. For every Package Type and Pallet Type, at least one layer pattern must be defined. A package type may have more than one layer pattern (variants).

The parameters of a Layer Pattern are:

Field	Type	Description
identifier	int	Unique internal identifier
pattern_name	str	Unique name of the layer pattern
pallet_no	int	Unique ID of the pallet type this pattern belongs to
enabled	bool	Whether the pattern can be used during palletizing
variant	int	Priority value when multiple patterns exist for the same package type (0 = highest)
external_id	int	Unique number used by the external palletizing machine
parent_id	int (optional)	Link to a parent pattern – used to model sub-patterns
items	list[PatternItem]	List of items placed on the pallet layer

The parameters of a Layer Pattern Item are:

Field	Type	Description
identifier	int	Unique internal identifier
sequence_no	int	Build sequence in which this item must be placed on the layer
center_x	int	Center X-coordinate of the item on the layer (mm)
center_y	int	Center Y-coordinate of the item on the layer (mm)
rz	int	0 = portrait (unit_length along pallet length); 90 = landscape (unit_width along pallet length)
package_id	int	Link to the Package Type of this item

All position values (center_x, center_y) are stored in mm. The rotation rz is stored in degrees.

In the following table, different layer pattern types are shown.

Homogeneous Layer Pattern (single package type)

Hybrid Layer Pattern (two package types)

Options

Field	Description
Pallet Type	Select which pallet type's patterns are displayed in the sidebar tree

Pattern Tree (Sidebar)

After selecting a pallet type, all layer patterns for that pallet are displayed in the Pattern Tree in the sidebar.

Filter Bar

At the top of the Pattern Tree, a filter bar allows quick narrowing of the list:

Control	Description
Search field	Filter patterns by name (case-insensitive, live filter)
All	Show all patterns regardless of enabled state
Enabled	Show only patterns that are enabled
Disabled	Show only patterns that are disabled

Tree Structure

Patterns are grouped by their base name. Each group can be collapsed or expanded by clicking the group header (▶ / ▼). The badge on the group header shows the total number of patterns in that group.

Each pattern entry in the tree displays:

Element	Description
Pattern name	Full name of the layer pattern
v0, v1 …	Variant chip – the variant number (lower = higher priority)
Blue chip	External ID as configured for the palletizing machine
Green dot	Pattern is enabled
Grey dot	Pattern is disabled

Clicking a pattern entry selects it and loads its items into the detail table and visualization below.

Context Menu

Right-clicking any pattern entry opens a context menu:

Menu Item	Description
Edit in Canvas	Opens the Canvas Pattern Editor to interactively edit the selected pattern
Clone	Creates a copy of the pattern with a new name (suffix -copy), disabled by default
Delete	Permanently deletes the selected pattern after confirmation
Export	Exports the selected pattern as a file (format selected in the Actions section)
Print PDF	Generates and downloads a PDF report for the selected pattern

Canvas Pattern Editor

The Canvas Pattern Editor is the primary tool for creating and modifying layer patterns. It opens as a full-screen modal when you click + New Layer Pattern or use Edit in Canvas from the context menu.

Editor Header

The header bar at the top of the editor contains:

Element	Description
Title	Shows "New Pattern" or "Edit Pattern"
Pattern name	Editable text field for the pattern name
✕ button	Closes the editor and discards all unsaved changes

Left Settings Panel

The left panel is divided into sections:

Pallet

Control	Description
Pallet Type	Dropdown to select which pallet type this pattern is for
Dimensions	Read-only info showing the selected pallet's L × W in mm

Package Types

Up to two package types can be defined per pattern (for hybrid patterns). Type 1 is drawn in blue; Type 2 is drawn in red.

Control	Description
Type 1	Mandatory – select the primary package type
Type 2	Optional – select a second package type for hybrid patterns
Dimensions	Read-only info showing the selected package's L × W × H in mm

Add Items

Once package types are selected, add buttons appear automatically. Each package type provides two buttons:

Button	Description
ID Port.	Activate add mode for this package in portrait orientation (rz = 0)
ID Land.	Activate add mode for this package in landscape orientation (rz = 90)

When an add button is active (highlighted blue), the canvas switches to Add Mode: - Move the mouse over the pallet to see a ghost preview of the item - Click on the pallet surface to place the item - Items cannot be placed where they would overlap an existing item - Press ESC or click the active button again to return to Select Mode

Selection

Button	Description
All	Selects all items on the canvas
None	Deselects all items
Delete	Deletes all currently selected items (also: Delete / Backspace key)

Align (≥ 2 items selected)

Aligns the edges or centers of the selected items relative to each other:

Button	Description
⬅ Left	Align all left edges to the leftmost item
↔ Ctr	Center horizontally (X axis)
Right ➡	Align all right edges to the rightmost item
⬆ Top	Align all top edges to the topmost item
↕ Ctr	Center vertically (Y axis)
Bot ⬇	Align all bottom edges to the lowest item

Snap to Pallet (≥ 1 item selected)

Moves the selected group of items to the edge or center of the pallet. The relative positions between selected items are preserved.

Button	Description
⬅ Pal	Snap left edge of group to pallet left edge
↔ Mid	Center group horizontally on pallet
Pal ➡	Snap right edge of group to pallet right edge
⬆ Pal	Snap top edge of group to pallet top edge
↕ Mid	Center group vertically on pallet
Pal ⬇	Snap bottom edge of group to pallet bottom edge
⊕ Center	Center group on pallet (both axes simultaneously)

Distribute (≥ 3 items selected)

Spaces selected items evenly between the two outermost items:

Button	Description
↔ Horizontal	Distribute evenly along the X axis
↕ Vertical	Distribute evenly along the Y axis

Sequence No

Defines the build order in which items are placed by the palletizing machine.

Button / Info	Description
Reset & Assign	Clears all sequence numbers and enters Sequence Mode (click items one by one to assign numbers in order)
n / total assigned	Progress counter shown while in Sequence Mode
ESC	Exits Sequence Mode

While in Sequence Mode the assigned number is shown inside each item on the canvas. Items without a sequence number appear dimmed.

Mirror

Mirrors all items (regardless of selection) around an axis through the pallet center:

Button	Description
↕ Mirror X	Mirror around the X axis (flips items top ↔ bottom)
↔ Mirror Y	Mirror around the Y axis (flips items left ↔ right)

Properties

Field	Description
Variant	Priority value (lower number = higher priority in multi-pattern setups)
External ID	ID used by the external palletizing machine
Enabled	Checkbox – uncheck to prevent this pattern from being used in calculations
Parent Pattern	Optional link to a parent pattern (for sub-pattern relationships)

Canvas Area

The central SVG canvas shows the pallet surface with all pattern items placed on it.

Visual Element	Meaning
Beige rectangle	Pallet surface
Light grid lines (100 mm)	Visual reference grid at 100 mm intervals
Blue items	Items of Package Type 1
Red items	Items of Package Type 2
Yellow dashed border	Item is currently selected
Orange border	Item overhangs the pallet edge
Number inside item	Assigned sequence number
Semi-transparent ghost	Preview of item about to be placed (Add Mode)

Mouse interactions on the canvas:

Interaction	Action
Click item	Select item (deselects others)
Ctrl + Click item	Add/remove item from selection
Drag selected item(s)	Move the selected group (collision prevention active)
Click empty pallet area	Deselect all
Click on pallet (Add Mode)	Place a new item
Arrow keys (↑ ↓ ← →)	Nudge selected items by 1 mm
Shift + Arrow keys	Nudge selected items by 10 mm
Right-click selected item	Open Push to Neighbor context menu

Push to Neighbor context menu (right-click on canvas with items selected):

Moves the selected group as far as possible in the chosen direction until it either touches the pallet edge or an adjacent item:

Menu Item	Description
⬅ Push to left	Push group left until edge or neighbor
Push to right ➡	Push group right until edge or neighbor
⬆ Push up	Push group up until edge or neighbor
⬇ Push down	Push group down until edge or neighbor

Status Bar

The status bar at the bottom of the canvas always shows the current editor mode and available interactions.

Editor Footer

Button	Description
Cancel	Closes the editor and discards all changes
Save Pattern	Validates and saves the pattern; auto-assigns any missing sequence numbers

Pattern Items Table

The main area below the sidebar shows a read-only detail table of the currently selected pattern's items:

Column	Description
Sequence No	Build sequence number
Center X	X center position in mm
Center Y	Y center position in mm
Rotation (rz)	Rotation angle: 0 = portrait, 90 = landscape
Package ID	ID of the package type for this item
Length	Unit length in mm
Width	Unit width in mm
Height	Unit height in mm

3D Visualization

Below the items table, an interactive 3D visualization shows the selected layer pattern rendered on its pallet.

Actions

Control	Description
+ New Layer Pattern	Opens the Canvas Pattern Editor with a blank pattern
Export Format	Selects the file format for all export and import operations: JSON or Excel (.xlsx)
Select File / Import	Select a .json or .xlsx file and click Import Layer Pattern(s) to import. The pallet type dropdown automatically switches to the imported pallet.
Export Layer Patterns (All)	Downloads all stored layer patterns as a single file in the selected export format