diff --git a/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/README.txt b/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/README.txt
index f6179fa..1f96912 100644
--- a/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/README.txt
+++ b/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/README.txt
@@ -14,3 +14,17 @@ You need to generate the QML first, running:
 Then you can run it:
 
     eql5 run.lisp
+
+
+HELP
+====
+
+For inspecting the single items, run
+
+    (show-properties-dialog) ; see "properties.lisp"
+
+and use button [Select] to select an item.
+
+You can use QML-GET and QML-SET on a selected item:
+
+    (qml-set qsel:*q* "opacity" 2/3)
diff --git a/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/properties.lisp b/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/properties.lisp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8c0268
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/properties.lisp
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+;;; properties dialog and QML utils
+
+;; QML utils
+
+(defun root-item ()
+  (when *quick-view*
+    (qt-object-? (|rootObject| *quick-view*))))
+
+(defun find-quick-item (object-name)
+  "Finds the first QQuickItem matching OBJECT-NAME."
+  (if (string= (|objectName| (root-item)) object-name)
+      (root-item)
+      (qt-object-? (qfind-child (root-item) object-name))))
+
+(defun quick-item (item/name)
+  (cond ((stringp item/name)
+         (find-quick-item item/name))
+        ((qt-object-p item/name)
+         item/name)
+        ((not item/name)
+         (root-item))))
+
+(defun qml-get (item/name property-name)
+  "Gets QQmlProperty of either ITEM or first object matching NAME."
+  (qlet ((property "QQmlProperty(QObject*,QString)"
+                   (quick-item item/name)
+                   property-name))
+    (if (|isValid| property)
+        (qlet ((variant (|read| property)))
+          (values (qvariant-value variant)
+                  t))
+        (eql::%error-msg "QML-GET" (list item/name property-name)))))
+
+(defun qml-set (item/name property-name value &optional update)
+  "Sets QQmlProperty of either ITEM, or first object matching NAME. Returns T on success. If UPDATE is not NIL and ITEM is a QQuickPaintedItem, |update| will be called on it."
+  (let ((item (quick-item item/name)))
+    (qlet ((property "QQmlProperty(QObject*,QString)" item property-name))
+      (if (|isValid| property)
+          (qlet ((variant (qvariant-from-value value (|propertyTypeName| property))))
+            (prog1
+                (|write| property variant)
+              (when (and update (= (qt-object-id item) #.(qid "QQuickPaintedItem")))
+                (|update| item))))
+          (eql::%error-msg "QML-SET" (list item/name property-name value))))))
+
+(defun children (item/name)
+  "Like QML function 'children'."
+  (mapcar 'qt-object-? (|childItems| (quick-item item/name))))
+
+(defun reload ()
+  "Force reloading of QML file after changes made to it."
+  (|clearComponentCache| (|engine| *quick-view*))
+  (|setSource| *quick-view* (|source| *quick-view*)))
+
+;; properties dialog
+
+(defun sym (name package)
+  (find-symbol (symbol-name name) package))
+
+(defun show-properties-dialog (&optional item)
+  "Lists all instance properties of a QML item (either a QQuickItem or an 'objectName')."
+  (unless (find-package :properties)
+    (load (in-home "gui/properties")))
+  (funcall (sym :show :properties)
+           (if (stringp item)
+               (find-quick-item item)
+               item)))
+
diff --git a/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/run.lisp b/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/run.lisp
index 4f0b244..f8a3c08 100644
--- a/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/run.lisp
+++ b/examples/M-modules/quick/palindrome/run.lisp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 (qrequire :quick)
 
+(require :properties "properties")
+
 (defvar *quick-view* (qnew "QQuickView")) ; either a QQuickView or a QQuickWidget
 
 (defun run ()