MF_SimpleVisual — Reference

Declarative UI layout for RPG Maker MZ: re-arrange windows of built-in scenes, add pictures, text, gauges, buttons, lists and particles, build custom scenes, map HUD and battle layouts — all from data/SimpleVisual.json, with a visual editor (MF_SimpleVisualEditor, F10 in test play).

New here?Install, first layout, first custom scene File formatRoot, themes, scenes, windows, values and expressions ElementsAll element types and their properties Actions & scenesActions, conditions, custom scenes, HUD, battle, presets Script API & versionsStable API, deprecation, versioning policy

Overview

Plugin	Version	Role
`MF_Core`	1.1.0+	Required base library (units, expressions, conditions, data files, saves)
`MF_SimpleVisual`	0.8.0	Runtime: reads the file and applies it. Needed in the released game
`MF_SimpleVisualEditor`	0.7.0	Visual editor, test play only. Does nothing in a deployed game

The layout file is optional: without it (or with enabled off) the game keeps the standard look. A broken file is reported in the console and ignored.

What	Where
Windows of built-in scenes: position, size, anchor, opacity, skin, font	File format › Windows
Rows of standard lists, command items of standard menus	File format › Rows and commands
Backgrounds and title sprites	File format › Sprites
Pictures, text, gauges, buttons, shapes, lists, particles	Elements
Custom scenes, main menu items	Custom scenes, Main menu
Map HUD, battle screen	HUD, Battle
Themes, player options, presets	Themes, Player settings, Presets

Installation

Copy MF_Core.js, MF_SimpleVisual.js and (for development) MF_SimpleVisualEditor.js to js/plugins/.
Order in the Plugin Manager: MF_Core → MF_SimpleVisual → MF_SimpleVisualEditor. Place SimpleVisual below plugins that change windows.
Start test play, open any scene, press F10. Saving creates data/SimpleVisual.json (backup SimpleVisual.bak.json).

Parameters

Parameter	Default	Description
`enabled`	`true`	Off — safe mode, everything standard
`optTheme`	`true`	Options: the player chooses the UI theme
`themeList`	empty	Comma separated themes offered to the player; empty — all
`optWindowOpacity`	`true`	Options: window background opacity
`optFontSize`	`false`	Options: font size of windows
`optHudPosition`	`false`	Options: anchor of HUD elements
`skipScenes`	empty	Scene classes left completely standard (`Scene_Shop, Scene_Equip`)
`autoCompat`	`true`	Scenes rebuilt by known plugins are left alone unless `force: true` — see Compatibility

Plugin commands

Command	Arguments	Effect
`OpenCustomScene`	`id`	Opens `scenes.<id>` with `"custom": true`
`SetLayoutPreset`	`preset`	Activates a preset (empty — none). Stored in the save file
`ShowHud` / `HideHud`	`id`	One HUD element or (empty) the whole HUD. Stored in the save file

Pitfalls

Order: MF_Core first, SimpleVisual below window pluginsLayouts are applied after create() / start(). A plugin that moves windows every frame overwrites them — skip that scene.
See: Compatibility
Unknown or invalid properties are ignoredWith one console warning each. Check the console (F8) when a property "does nothing".
See: Error handling
Backslashes are doubled in JSON"\\V[1]", "\\C[2]". The editor does this for you.
script actions need MF_Core Allow ScriptsOtherwise they do nothing. Prefer call and pluginCommand.
See: Actions
Message windows reposition themselves_messageWindow recalculates y for every message (top / middle / bottom).
command and list are interactive only in custom scenesElsewhere they only display.
Deprecated names still work — for nowA one-time console warning names the replacement and the removal version. Save the file in the editor to upgrade it.
See: Versioning policy