Creating and editing tokens
How to create, change, rename and delete tokens in Syntope Tokens, and how undo works.
Partial: formulas and color changes cannot be edited in the token dialog.
Creating a token
Select a token set in the sidebar, then press + in the list header, or create token in an empty set. If the project has no set yet, start with token sets.
To add a token to a group, right-click its heading and choose Add token here. The name starts with the group’s path.
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| token set | The set you selected. It cannot be changed in the dialog |
| type | basic types, Syntope types (text) or composite types. Decides the value field |
| name | A dot path inside the set |
| Value | Labelled after the type. Formats are on the token type pages |
| description | Optional. Stored as $description |
Name rules
| Rule | |
|---|---|
| Not allowed | {, }, \, a leading or trailing ., .., and a segment starting with $ (a final $root is the one exception) |
| Allowed in a segment | Anything else, including /, as in space.1/2 |
| Unique | The path must be free in this set. Two sets may define the same path: that is how themes override values |
Dots create groups: color.primary.500 is the token 500 in the group color.primary. The set’s location is not part of the name.
Values and references
Every value field takes a literal or a {reference}. Type { for a list of matching tokens from every set. On a composite type, the link icon switches between one reference to a whole token and the separate fields, which also take references. See references and aliases.
A token imported with a calculation shows its result and keeps the calculation until you enter a new value. To change the calculation itself, edit its $extensions entry in the JSON view.
Editing a token
Right-click a row and choose Edit (Shift+F10 or the Menu key opens the same menu). Change the type, name, value or description, then press save changes. Changing the type removes the Syntope settings of the old type.
A token the form cannot hold without losing data, such as one with a JSON Pointer reference, opens in the JSON view instead.
The dialog cannot move a token to another set. Copy it into the other set’s JSON view, then delete the original. The copy is a new token, so layers bound to the original need the copy applied.
Renaming
Change name and save. The token keeps its identity, so layers stay bound to it. The rename also applies to the same token in its linked sets, and each keeps its own value.
Renaming does not rewrite references
If other tokens refer to the old name and no other set defines it, the rename stops at change blocked by dependencies, and nothing changes. To rename such a token:
- Create a token under the new name.
- Point each dependant at it. view dependencies jumps to the first one.
- Delete the old token.
If every dependant is in the same set, you can change the name and its references in one save in the JSON view. Either way, layers bound to the old token need the new one applied.
Deleting a token
Right-click a row, choose Delete and confirm with delete token.
If other tokens refer to it and no other set defines the same path, the delete stops at change blocked by dependencies:
| Button | Result |
|---|---|
| cancel | Nothing changes |
| view dependencies | Shows the first token that refers to it |
| force delete | Asks again (delete anyway). The dependants keep a broken reference until you repair them |
If another set defines the same path, the delete goes through and references take that value. In a theme with no other definition, those tokens show No value.
Delete from all linked sets removes the token from every linked set. It offers no force delete: delete from each set instead.
Undo and redo
Use the arrows in the plugin header. Each tooltip names the step, and the AI app if one made it.
- It covers every saved project change: tokens, sets, themes, the theme in use, sidebar order, JSON saves, imports, pulls and AI app changes.
- It keeps the last 50 changes while the plugin stays open. Closing the plugin clears them.
- It is off while a dialog is open, a JSON draft is unsaved, or a save, sync or apply is running. Finish or cancel that first.
- It is off after the project changed elsewhere, for example in another window, until your next saved change.
- It does not change layers or Figma variables. Run sync to: selection to update layers afterwards.
Reading a token row
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Value | The value under the set’s theme. A reference also shows the reference name |
| Red link icon | A broken reference or no value. The tooltip says why |
| Ring | The token is applied to your current Figma selection |
| Warning triangle | The token is missing from a linked set, or its type differs there |
Searching
Search here filters the selected set by path, value, description and group. To search another set, select it first.