# The workspace

Source: https://meptools.com/tools/ceiling-coordination-studio/docs/interface/

![Ceiling Coordination Studio workspace with the default void and zone layout](./_assets/ccs-workspace-overview.png)

## Ribbon

The ribbon across the top switches what the **left-hand task panel** shows. The right-hand
**Selection** panel always shows the properties of whatever is selected on the canvas.

| Verb             | Opens                                                                                                        |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Select**       | Select mode — click any element on the canvas to edit it; the panel also shows **Zone utilization** per zone |
| **Project**      | Project settings (void dimensions, clearance, linked zones)                                                  |
| **Electrical**   | Add / edit cable trays                                                                                       |
| **Mechanical**   | Add / edit ducts                                                                                             |
| **Pipes**        | Add / edit pipes                                                                                             |
| **Visibility**   | Visibility settings (what the drawing shows)                                                                 |
| **Rule Set**     | Project compliance thresholds                                                                                |
| **Validation**   | Coordination & access checks                                                                                 |
| **Export Image** | PNG / JPG export of the section                                                                              |
| **Auto arrange** | Runs the automatic layout engine                                                                             |

## Selecting elements

Click any duct, tray, pipe, branch, or zone to select it and edit its properties in the
right-hand panel. **Shift-click** or **Ctrl/Cmd-click** to add to the selection, or
left-drag a rubber-band over several items (see
[Getting started](/tools/ceiling-coordination-studio/docs/getting-started)).

With more than one item selected, the panel switches to **Multiple selection**: it lists a
count per kind (e.g. "3 ducts", "2 branches"), lets you edit shared properties — **Colour**
and a bulk **Rename all** (renames every selected item to "prefix 1", "prefix 2", … in
selection order) — and exposes **align** (left/centre/right edges, top/middle/bottom edges)
and **distribute** (horizontally/vertically) from the right-click context menu. Deleting,
moving, and aligning a selection set all commit as a single undoable action.

## Context menu

Right-click an element or the canvas for: **Undo**, **Redo**, **Delete selection**,
**Fit view**, **Select all mains of this service**, **Select all branches of this main**,
align/distribute (when more than one item is selected), and **Repeat** (re-runs the last
command). Actions that don't apply to the current selection appear disabled with an inline
reason (for example "Select something first" or "This main has no branches").

## Status bar

Along the bottom: the current **zoom** percentage and the pointer coordinates in mm (a dash
when the pointer is off the canvas) on the left; the current mode (for example **Select
mode**) and a **Linked zones: On/Off** indicator on the right. What the drawing shows —
**Grid**, **Origin**, **Zones**, **Branches**, **Dimensions**, **Zone labels**, **Service
labels**, **Corridor section**, worker overlays, **Reach envelope**, **Opaque services**, and
**Leader labels** — is controlled from the **Visibility** panel.

## On mobile

The workspace opens as a **view-only** viewer on a phone or narrow window — you can open and
look at a previously saved project but not create or edit the layout. Use a desktop-width
screen to edit.