diff --git a/internal/ui/newobjectdialog.go b/internal/ui/newobjectdialog.go
index 6fbe9aa..b7b68e1 100644
--- a/internal/ui/newobjectdialog.go
+++ b/internal/ui/newobjectdialog.go
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import (
 type NewObjectDialog struct {
 	representation *fyne.Container
 	// views
-	selection       *fyne.Container // 4buttons grid
-	protocolChooser *container.AppTabs
-	packetChooser   *fyne.Container
+	selection *fyne.Container // 4buttons grid
+	//protocolChooser *container.AppTabs
+	//packetChooser   *fyne.Container
 }
 
 var pnod *NewObjectDialog
diff --git a/internal/ui/packeteditor.go b/internal/ui/packeteditor.go
index 206adc3..1633fac 100644
--- a/internal/ui/packeteditor.go
+++ b/internal/ui/packeteditor.go
@@ -1,7 +1,47 @@
 package ui
 
-import "fyne.io/fyne/v2"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"fyne.io/fyne/v2"
+	"fyne.io/fyne/v2/container"
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packet"
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packetctl"
+)
 
 type PacketEditor struct {
 	Representation *fyne.Container
+	FieldContainer *fyne.Container
+	Metadata       *PacketMetadata
+	Fields         []*PacketFieldEditor
+
+	ShowShortHints bool
+
+	Reference *packet.PacketStructure
+}
+
+func NewPacketEditor(ref *packet.PacketStructure) *PacketEditor {
+	metadata := NewMetadataPacket()
+	fields := container.NewGridWrap(fyne.NewSize(300, 200))
+	container := container.NewBorder(nil, nil, metadata.Representation, nil, container.NewVScroll(fields))
+	packetEditor := &PacketEditor{container, fields, metadata, []*PacketFieldEditor{}, false, ref}
+	packetEditor.Redraw()
+	return packetEditor
+}
+
+func (ed *PacketEditor) Redraw() {
+	json := packetctl.ToJson(ed.Reference)
+	fmt.Printf("%s\n", json)
+
+	ed.FieldContainer.RemoveAll()
+	// existing fields
+	k := 0
+	for i, v := range ed.Reference.Layers {
+		for j, vv := range v.Values {
+			ed.FieldContainer.Add(CreatePacketFieldEditor(ed, k, i, j, &vv).Representation)
+			k++
+		}
+	}
+	// metadata
+	//ed.Metadata.SetPacket(ed.Reference)
 }
diff --git a/internal/ui/packetfieldeditor.go b/internal/ui/packetfieldeditor.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8bbe27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ui/packetfieldeditor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package ui
+
+import (
+	"fyne.io/fyne/v2"
+	"fyne.io/fyne/v2/container"
+	"fyne.io/fyne/v2/widget"
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packet"
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packetctl"
+)
+
+type PacketFieldEditor struct {
+	Representation *fyne.Container
+	Value          *widget.Entry
+
+	Reference *packet.FieldValue
+
+	GlobalIndex int
+	Index       int
+}
+
+func CreatePacketFieldEditor(
+	ed *PacketEditor,
+	gblidx int,
+	lyridx int,
+	index int,
+	ref *packet.FieldValue,
+) *PacketFieldEditor {
+	pfe := &PacketFieldEditor{}
+	pfe.Reference = ref
+	pfe.Index = index
+	pfe.GlobalIndex = gblidx
+
+	setfunc := func(s string) {
+		//todo
+		packetctl.UpdateField(&ed.Reference.Layers[lyridx], index, packetctl.NewFieldValue(s))
+	}
+
+	elements := []fyne.CanvasObject{}
+
+	elements = append(elements, widget.NewLabel(ref.GetProtocolField().Name))
+	if ed.ShowShortHints {
+		elements = append(elements, widget.NewLabel(ref.GetProtocolField().Regex)) // todo: implement real shorthints if feasible
+	}
+
+	// depending on the input stuff, entry for now
+	pfe.Value = widget.NewEntry()
+	pfe.Value.OnChanged = setfunc
+
+	elements = append(elements, pfe.Value)
+
+	pfe.Representation = container.NewHBox(elements...)
+	return pfe
+}
diff --git a/internal/ui/packetfilehandler.go b/internal/ui/packetfilehandler.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26b36bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ui/packetfilehandler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package ui
+
+import (
+	"fyne.io/fyne/v2/container"
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packet"
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packetctl"
+)
+
+// implements TabProvider, FileHandler
+type PacketFileHandler struct {
+	PacketEditor *PacketEditor
+	name         string
+	path         string
+	changed      bool
+	tab          *container.TabItem
+
+	Reference *packet.PacketStructure
+}
+
+func NewPacketFileHandler() *PacketFileHandler {
+	pfh := PacketFileHandler{}
+	pfh.name = "*new"
+	pfh.changed = true
+	pfh.Reference = packetctl.NewPacketStructure()
+	pfh.PacketEditor = NewPacketEditor(pfh.Reference)
+	return &pfh
+}
+
+func (pfh *PacketFileHandler) SetTab(tab *container.TabItem) {
+	pfh.tab = tab
+}
+
+func (pfh *PacketFileHandler) Tab() *container.TabItem {
+	return pfh.tab
+}
diff --git a/internal/ui/protocolfilehandler.go b/internal/ui/protocolfilehandler.go
index 13c9262..7abff9d 100644
--- a/internal/ui/protocolfilehandler.go
+++ b/internal/ui/protocolfilehandler.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/protocolctl"
 )
 
-// implements FileHandler
+// implements FileHandler, TabProvider
 type ProtocolFileHandler struct {
 	ProtocolEditor *ProtocolEditor
 	name           string
diff --git a/packet/fieldvalue.go b/packet/fieldvalue.go
index 9c40969..8a7cf98 100644
--- a/packet/fieldvalue.go
+++ b/packet/fieldvalue.go
@@ -1 +1,18 @@
 package packet
+
+import "gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/protocol"
+
+// implements protocol.ProtocolFieldReferencer
+type FieldValue struct {
+	fieldReference *protocol.Field
+
+	Value string
+}
+
+func (fv *FieldValue) GetProtocolField() *protocol.Field {
+	return fv.fieldReference
+}
+
+func (fv *FieldValue) SetProtocolField(pf *protocol.Field) {
+	fv.fieldReference = pf
+}
diff --git a/packet/packet.go b/packet/packet.go
index 9c40969..fe8ce1c 100644
--- a/packet/packet.go
+++ b/packet/packet.go
@@ -1 +1,25 @@
 package packet
+
+import "gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/protocol"
+
+// implements protocol.ProtocolReferencer
+type PacketLayer struct {
+	// needs a reference to a protocol
+	protocolReference *protocol.ProtocolStructure
+
+	ProtocolName string
+	Values       []FieldValue
+}
+
+type PacketStructure struct {
+	MetaData PacketMetadata
+	Layers   []PacketLayer
+}
+
+func (pl *PacketLayer) GetProtocol() *protocol.ProtocolStructure {
+	return pl.protocolReference
+}
+
+func (pl *PacketLayer) Setprotocol(ps *protocol.ProtocolStructure) {
+	pl.protocolReference = ps
+}
diff --git a/packet/packetmetadata.go b/packet/packetmetadata.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fd1c89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packet/packetmetadata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package packet
+
+type PacketMetadata struct {
+}
diff --git a/packetctl/packetctl.go b/packetctl/packetctl.go
index 53325c8..be1f0da 100644
--- a/packetctl/packetctl.go
+++ b/packetctl/packetctl.go
@@ -1 +1,123 @@
 package packetctl
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+
+	"gitea.mmo.to/ProtocolPacketForger/ppf/packet"
+)
+
+func NewPacketStructure() *packet.PacketStructure {
+	p := packet.PacketStructure{}
+	return &p
+}
+
+func UpdateMetaData(
+	pack *packet.PacketStructure,
+) {
+	// still empty
+}
+
+func NewPacketLayer() *packet.PacketLayer {
+	p := packet.PacketLayer{}
+	return &p
+}
+
+func NewEmptyFieldValue() *packet.FieldValue {
+	f := packet.FieldValue{}
+	return &f
+}
+
+func NewFieldValue(
+	value string,
+) *packet.FieldValue {
+	f := packet.FieldValue{
+		Value: value,
+	}
+	return &f
+}
+
+func AppendField(pack *packet.PacketLayer, field *packet.FieldValue) int {
+	i := len(pack.Values)
+	pack.Values = append(pack.Values, *field)
+	return i + 1
+}
+
+func AddField(pack *packet.PacketLayer, index int, field *packet.FieldValue) {
+	if len(pack.Values) == index {
+		AppendField(pack, field)
+		return
+	}
+	ret := make([]packet.FieldValue, 0)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Values[:index]...)
+	ret = append(ret, *field)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Values[index:]...)
+	pack.Values = ret
+}
+
+func AppendLayer(pack *packet.PacketStructure, layer *packet.PacketLayer) {
+	pack.Layers = append(pack.Layers, *layer)
+}
+
+func Addlayer(pack *packet.PacketStructure, index int, layer *packet.PacketLayer) {
+	if len(pack.Layers) == index {
+		AppendLayer(pack, layer)
+		return
+	}
+	ret := make([]packet.PacketLayer, 0)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Layers[:index]...)
+	ret = append(ret, *layer)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Layers[index:]...)
+	pack.Layers = ret
+}
+
+func UpdateField(pack *packet.PacketLayer, e int, field *packet.FieldValue) {
+	pack.Values[e] = *field
+}
+
+func UpdateLayer(pack *packet.PacketStructure, e int, layer *packet.PacketLayer) {
+	pack.Layers[e] = *layer
+}
+
+func RemoveField(pack *packet.PacketLayer, e int) {
+	l := len(pack.Values) - 1
+	ret := make([]packet.FieldValue, l)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Values[:e]...)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Values[e+1:]...)
+	pack.Values = ret
+}
+
+func RemoveLayer(pack *packet.PacketStructure, e int) {
+	l := len(pack.Layers) - 1
+	ret := make([]packet.PacketLayer, l)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Layers[:e]...)
+	ret = append(ret, pack.Layers[e+1:]...)
+	pack.Layers = ret
+}
+
+func Load(pack *packet.PacketStructure, path string) error {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	err = json.Unmarshal(data, pack)
+	return err
+}
+
+func ToJson(pack *packet.PacketStructure) string {
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(*pack, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return string(data)
+}
+
+func Save(pack *packet.PacketStructure, path string) error {
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(*pack, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	err = os.WriteFile(path, data, fs.ModeAppend)
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/protocol/field.go b/protocol/field.go
index 586d107..f1f3d5f 100644
--- a/protocol/field.go
+++ b/protocol/field.go
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ type Field struct {
 	Payload   bool    // Is this field the payload or next protocol level?
 }
 
+type ProtocolFieldReferencer interface {
+	GetProtocolField() *Field
+	SetProtocolField(f *Field)
+}
+
 func (f *Field) ToJson() string {
 	b, err := json.Marshal(*f)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/protocol/protocol.go b/protocol/protocol.go
index ef0df5b..b9721f8 100644
--- a/protocol/protocol.go
+++ b/protocol/protocol.go
@@ -6,3 +6,8 @@ type ProtocolStructure struct {
 	DefaultValues []DefaultValue
 	JavaScript    string
 }
+
+type ProtocolReferencer interface {
+	GetProtocol() *ProtocolStructure
+	SetProtocol(prot *ProtocolStructure)
+}
diff --git a/protocolctl/protocolctl.go b/protocolctl/protocolctl.go
index 814a540..de51d1c 100644
--- a/protocolctl/protocolctl.go
+++ b/protocolctl/protocolctl.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func NewField(
 func AppendField(prot *protocol.ProtocolStructure, field *protocol.Field) int {
 	i := len(prot.Structure)
 	prot.Structure = append(prot.Structure, field)
-	return i
+	return i + 1
 }
 func AddField(prot *protocol.ProtocolStructure, index int, field *protocol.Field) {
 	if len(prot.Structure) == index {