# The workspace & ribbon

Source: https://meptools.com/tools/plant-room-studio/docs/interface/

The Plant Room Studio workspace has four parts: the **ribbon** across the top, a **left sidebar**
(equipment library and panels), a **right sidebar** (the inspector for the selected item), and a
**status bar** along the bottom.

![The Plant Room Studio workspace: ribbon, sidebars, and status bar](./_assets/workspace-ribbon.png)

## The ribbon (2D)

The ribbon is a row of **verbs** — each one puts the canvas into a mode or opens a tool. Verbs are
grouped left to right:

| Group    | Verb          | What it does                                                   |
| -------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Select   | **Select**    | The neutral state — pick, move, and edit existing items.       |
| CAD      | **CAD**       | Import a DXF background to trace, or export the layout to CAD. |
| Build    | **Room**      | Draw the room outline, draw columns, and place doors.          |
|          | **Equipment** | Open the equipment library and place items.                    |
|          | **Group**     | Create and edit equipment groups.                              |
|          | **Validate**  | Run clearance validation now and review the issue list.        |
| Annotate | **Dimension** | Add and manage dimensions.                                     |
|          | **Annotate**  | Add annotation notes with leaders.                             |
|          | **Section**   | Draw section lines to generate section views.                  |
| Auto     | **AutoFit**   | Generate an equipment layout automatically.                    |

For AutoFit's own setup, methods, and results, see [AutoFit](/tools/plant-room-studio/docs/autofit).

> **Room gating.** Everything except **Select**, **CAD**, and **Room** is disabled until a room
> exists — you can't place equipment, dimensions, or run AutoFit without a room to put
> them in. Draw the room first.

Most verbs show a prompt in the status area while active (for example _"Draw the room outline —
click to add corners… [Esc] to cancel"_). Press **Esc** to leave a mode and return to Select.

## The 3D ribbon

Switching to the 3D view swaps in a 3D ribbon: **Select**, **Measure**, and left-panel switches
for **Tree**, **Section**, and **Viewpoint**, plus display toggles (**Labels**, **Edges**,
**Shading**, **Ghost**, **Projection**). See [Working in 3D](/tools/plant-room-studio/docs/working-in-3d).

## Sidebars

- **Left sidebar** — the equipment library (grouped by category) and, in some modes, panels such
  as Groups.
- **Right sidebar (inspector)** — properties of the current selection: room dimensions, equipment
  size/origin/rotation/clearances/mounting, door and column properties, and so on. Edit values
  here for exact input.

## Status bar

The status bar shows live counts — **items**, **selected**, **errors**, and **warnings** — and
hosts quick toggles:

- **Snap to grid** (`G`) and **Show grid** (`Shift+G`).
- **CAD bg** and **Snap CAD** when a CAD background is loaded (see
  [CAD backgrounds](/tools/plant-room-studio/docs/cad-backgrounds)).
- The **view switch**: **2D**, **3D**, and **Split** (`V` cycles 2D/3D).

For the full key list, see [Keyboard shortcuts](/tools/plant-room-studio/docs/shortcuts).