> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://academy.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://academy.pentaho.com/pentaho-data-integration/data-integration/components/configuring-pdi-ui.md).

# Configuring PDI UI

PDI UI configuration settings ..

{% hint style="warning" %}

#### **Workshop - Configuring PDI**

Configure Spoon before you build transformations and jobs. Set a few defaults that speed up daily work.

You will start Spoon, review the Welcome page, and update UI options.

**What You'll Accomplish:**

* Start Spoon and confirm your install.
* Find docs and community links from the Welcome page.
* Update General and Look & Feel options.
* Switch perspectives and understand what changes.

You will finish with a clean, predictable workspace. You will know where to change these settings later.

**Prerequisites:** Pentaho Data Integration installed and ready to launch

**Estimated Time:** 10 minutes
{% endhint %}

***

{% hint style="info" %}

#### **Configuring PDI UI**

Use **Tools > Options** to configure Spoon. Start with **General** and **Look & Feel**.
{% endhint %}

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="1. Welcome Page" %}
{% hint style="info" %}

#### **Welcome page**

The Welcome page has links to:

* Documentation
* Community Forum
  {% endhint %}

1. Start Pentaho Data Integration.

{% hint style="info" %}
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Windows (PowerShell)" %}

```powershell
Set-Location C:\Pentaho\design-tools\data-integration
.\spoon.bat
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="macOS / Linux" %}

```bash
cd ~/Pentaho/design-tools/data-integration
./spoon.sh
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
{% endhint %}

2. The PDI UI - Spoon will be displayed.

<figure><img src="https://3680356391-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZpCSy6Skj215f4oWypdc%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-56f4e19ae56e57e97c6df2b97ac8461eee368078%2Fspoon%20welcome.png?alt=media" alt="Spoon Welcome page"><figcaption><p>Welcome screen</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="2. Modify Look & Feel" %}
{% hint style="info" %}

#### **Kettle Options**

Set a few defaults once. It reduces prompts and visual noise.
{% endhint %}

1. In Spoon, click **Tools > Options**.
2. Open the **General** tab.

<div align="center"><figure><img src="https://3680356391-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZpCSy6Skj215f4oWypdc%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-662935ef0e538bd80f3e169d8ddc6adcd2b03045%2Fkettle_options.png?alt=media" alt="Kettle Options dialog showing General settings" width="375"><figcaption><p>kettle options - general</p></figcaption></figure></div>

* [ ] Uncheck the ‘Show tips at startup?’ checkbox.
* [ ] Uncheck the ‘Use database cache’ checkbox.
* [ ] Uncheck the ‘Show repository dialog at startup?’ checkbox.
* [ ] Uncheck the ‘Ask user when exiting?’ checkbox.

3. Open the **Look & Feel** tab.
4. Review these settings and update as needed:
   * **Grid size** and **snap** behavior.
   * Canvas look (colors, anti-aliasing).
   * **Preferred language** and **alternative language**.

<figure><img src="https://3680356391-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZpCSy6Skj215f4oWypdc%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5220b28e495f92ce9a64ecedc8ec3f33ec28e4ea%2Fkettle_options_feel.png?alt=media" alt="Kettle Options dialog showing Look &#x26; Feel settings"><figcaption><p>Kettle options - look &#x26; feel</p></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/get-started-with-the-pdi-client-1/customize-the-pdi-client>" %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="3. Perspectives" %}
{% hint style="info" %}

#### **Perspectives**

Use perspectives to switch your workspace. You can move between design and scheduling views.

Switch between:

* Designing ETL jobs and transformations
* Scheduling jobs and transformations

Click the **Perspective** icon in the toolbar to switch.
{% endhint %}

<div align="center"><figure><img src="https://3680356391-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZpCSy6Skj215f4oWypdc%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c51f29cd2977fe9d0886372ef66d2d6a1d0afdcb%2Fperspectives.png?alt=media" alt="Perspective switcher in the Spoon toolbar" width="375"><figcaption><p>Perspectives</p></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
You must connect to a repository to schedule jobs and transformations.
{% endhint %}

{% embed url="<https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/get-started-with-the-pdi-client-1/use-the-pdi-client-perspectives>" %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

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