Toolbar

The toolbar is a set of buttons for switching between modes and performing common actions.

Edit Mode

Use edit mode for making changes to your model. The toolbar, controlbar, explorer, inspector, viewport and infobar are all visible. You can create, delete, rename, filter/search or reparent entities. The transform gizmo can be used to translate, rotate or scale selected entities. You can add components to entities, modify component properties, or remove a component from the selected entity. CAD, 3D assets and other ProtoTwin models can be imported into the current model.

Navigate Mode

Use navigate mode to explore a model without the risk of making changes. You can also use navigate mode to interact with the physics, by clicking and dragging, whilst the simulation is running. The toolbar, controlbar, viewport and infobar are visible in navigate mode. The explorer, inspector, import button and transform gizmo are all hidden. You can still play and reset the simulation, or save and open models. Entity selection is disabled.

Scripting Mode

This mode opens the integrated script editor. The controlbar, inspector, viewport and infobar are hidden when using this mode. The entity explorer is replaced with a file explorer, which lists your scripts and any static assets used by those scripts (such as JSON or CSV files). You can create, delete, edit or rename scripts. All scripts are written in TypeScript. IntelliSense and auto-completion are supported, with all API functions documented. Click the file button at the top of the file explorer to create a new file. You can right click on a file to rename or remove it. You can also create SoftPLC programs using the Function Block Diagram editor by creating a new script with the .fbd extension.

Torq, our AI-powered assistant, can be used to help you write scripts, including custom components and tools. Click the assistant icon to open up the assistant pane whilst in scripting mode.

IO Browser

Click the IO button to toggle the IO Browser. The IO Browser allows you to setup a connection to a PLC (tag server) and connect/bind PLC tags to IO points/signals in your model. The IO Browser pane is resizable by dragging the left edge.

Open

Click the open button to open an existing .ptm file. This will cause a dialog window to open, allowing you to choose a model to open from your local filesystem.

Save

Click the save button to save the current model as a .ptm file. This will cause a dialog window to open, allowing you to choose where to save the model to your local filesystem. Note that if you click the save button whilst the simulation is running, ProtoTwin will automatically reset the simulation before allowing you to save your current model.

Import

Click the import button to import 3D assets, CAD files or .ptm models into the current model. The supported file types are .gltf, .glb and .ptm. Most CAD software allows you to export your CAD to the GLTF format. You can import files locally from your computer, or you can switch to the Onshape tab to import or sync CAD directly from Onshape.

Analysis

Click the analysis button to toggle the analysis pane, allowing you to view all your plots. The analysis pane is resizable by dragging the left edge.

Virtual Reality

Click the VR button to toggle virtual reality, allowing you to view your models with a VR headset. Ensure that you have first launched Meta Quest Link or SteamVR.

Transform Gizmo

This button will only appear if one or more entities are selected. You can click this button to manually toggle the transform gizmo between translation, rotation and scale. This button is particularly useful for switching between gizmo modes when multiple entities are selected.

AI Assistant

Click this button to toggle the assistant pane to the right, allowing you to chat with Torq, our AI-powered help assistant. Torq can help answer your questions about ProtoTwin, and provide general guidance when using the software. If the script editor is open, Torq is able to answer scripting-related questions, and is also able to help you write code or modify scripts.

Settings

Click the settings button to open the model settings. You can configure general settings, physics settings, graphics settings and inspector units.

Account

Click the account button to open the account page.