diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_company.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_company.py
index aa1733c6..3eab66f3 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_company.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_company.py
@@ -161,3 +161,15 @@ class ResCompany(models.Model):
         string='CGP Registered',
         help='Show the Controlled Goods Program logo on certificates.',
     )
+
+    # =====================================================================
+    # Sub 12a — Default recipe editor
+    # =====================================================================
+    x_fc_default_recipe_editor = fields.Selection(
+        [('tree', 'Tree Editor'), ('simple', 'Simple Editor')],
+        string='Default Recipe Editor',
+        default='tree',
+        help='Which editor opens when a new recipe is created OR when a '
+             'recipe with preferred_editor=auto is selected. Per-recipe '
+             'preferred_editor (tree/simple) overrides this.',
+    )
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_config_settings.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_config_settings.py
index fcc62866..c8d18d83 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_config_settings.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/models/res_config_settings.py
@@ -55,3 +55,10 @@ class ResConfigSettings(models.TransientModel):
         related='company_id.x_fc_default_area_uom',
         readonly=False, string='Area Unit',
     )
+
+    # ----- Sub 12a — recipe editor default ------------------------------
+    x_fc_default_recipe_editor = fields.Selection(
+        related='company_id.x_fc_default_recipe_editor',
+        readonly=False,
+        string='Default Recipe Editor',
+    )
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/views/res_config_settings_views.xml b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/views/res_config_settings_views.xml
index 62bea3e5..81dd3456 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/views/res_config_settings_views.xml
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/views/res_config_settings_views.xml
@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@
                         </setting>
                     </block>
 
+                    <block title="Recipe Editor"
+                           name="fp_recipe_editor_settings"
+                           help="Choose which editor opens when a recipe is created or when a recipe's editor preference is 'Auto'.">
+                        <setting id="fp_default_recipe_editor"
+                                 string="Default Recipe Editor"
+                                 help="Tree Editor: hierarchical drag-drop tree with sub-processes (existing). Simple Editor: flat ordered list with a step library on the side (Steelhead-style). Per-recipe preferred_editor (tree/simple) overrides this default.">
+                            <field name="x_fc_default_recipe_editor"/>
+                        </setting>
+                    </block>
+
                     <block title="Units of Measure"
                            name="fp_uom_settings"
                            help="Default units used wherever the shop records measurements. North-American aerospace shops typically pick °F + mils; metric shops pick °C + microns. Each new record (work order, oven, bath log, thickness reading) inherits these defaults; per-record overrides remain possible.">