---
title: Buttons and standard UI extensions
summary: Add an action or row while retaining normal menu behavior.
section: ui
kind: guide
status: reference
tags: ["X4","modding","extend","ui"]
sources: ["https://wiki.egosoft.com/X4%20Foundations%20Wiki/Modding%20Support/Breaking%20Changes/"]
---
## Find an extension surface


Find the relevant menu and callback in your game version. Prefer an existing extension point or suitable community API. When wrapping an internal function, preserve the original and ordinary path. A new feature may use its own window; another mod's layout is not a universal requirement.



## Obtain the menu


The lookup below is a fragment, not complete hook installation. Retry at an appropriate lifecycle point if the menu does not yet exist. Do not install another wrapper on every frame.




```lua
local menu = Helper and Helper.getMenu
    and Helper.getMenu("MapMenu")
if not menu then
    return
end
```

## Add a button


Place the fragment in your own table builder, where `t` is an existing Helper table. Connect it to your [MD handler](wiki:md-lua-bridge). Do not display game-action completion before an observed result.




```lua
local row = t:addRow(true, {})
row[1]:createButton({ height = 28 }):setText("My action")
row[1].handlers.onClick = function()
    AddUITriggeredEvent("WikiPanel", "apply", "example")
end
```

## Behavior and refresh


Table rebuilds can emit callbacks resembling user input. Check event source, selected row and owning table, and ensure redraw does not repeat an action. Change only necessary rows; retain availability checks for unrelated objects. Recheck internal signatures after game updates.