In v9.0 you’ll notice that Virtual Worlds looks quite different. We’ve redesigned the toolbar to help you work more efficiently using our new ribbon interface:
- Find tools faster with clear, task-based tabs, and use Tool Search to quickly locate any tool 🔎
- Pin your most-used controls to the Quick Access Toolbar so they're always one click away 📌
- Understand features easily with better labelling and organisation 📋
- Stay focused with context-aware menus that automatically highlight relevant options ✨
The result: less searching, faster workflows, and a smoother overall experience.
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💡 The key thing to remember Nothing has been removed. All of the features you use every day are still available; they’ve just moved to a new home in the ribbon. |
How the ribbon is organised
The ribbon is arranged into tabs along the top of the screen. Each tab groups related tools together, so you can find what you need based on the kind of task you’re working on.
The main tabs you’ll see in the 3D view are Home, Design, View, Tiling, Presentation, Pricing, and Help. When you switch to the Sketchpad or 2D Diagrams view, the tabs update to show tools relevant to that view.
The Home tab - Your starting point for common tasks like selection, navigation and object decoration
The Design tab - Find tools for importing, exporting, and managing your design
The Tiling tab - Everything related to tiling in one place
Context-Dependent tabs
Some ribbon tabs only appear when they’re relevant to what you’re currently doing. For example, the Object tab appears when you have a wall or item selected, giving you quick access to properties, cut operations, and more. These tabs disappear again when you deselect the object, keeping the ribbon clean and uncluttered.
The Object tab - Appears automatically when you select a wall or item
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💡 If a tab has disappeared… Don’t worry; context-dependent tabs like Object will reappear as soon as you select the relevant item again. |
Can’t find something? Use Tool Search
At the top of the ribbon, you'll find the Tool Search box that lets you search for any tool by name. If you’re ever unsure which tab something has moved to, just type its name into the search box and it will appear right there.
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💡 Try it now Type a tool name you use often into the Tool Search box. |
The Quick Access Toolbar
The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) sits at the very top of the window and gives you one-click access to your most-used tools, no matter which ribbon tab is currently active. By default, it includes a few basics like New and Save, but you can customise it to include whatever tools you use most for your convenience.
Adding and Removing Tools
Customising the QAT is very simple:
- To add a tool: Right-click any button on the ribbon and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.
- To remove a tool: Right-click the button on the Quick Access Toolbar and select Remove from Quick Access Toolbar.
Moving the QAT
By default, the QAT sits above the ribbon. If you’d prefer it to be closer to your workspace, you can move it below the ribbon bar for easier access. Just right-click the toolbar and select the option to reposition it.
Switch to Simplified Mode to free up space
If you’d like to reclaim some vertical screen space, especially useful on smaller monitors or laptops, you can switch to Simplified Mode. This makes the ribbon buttons smaller and more compact, giving your design area more room to breathe.
To enable it, click the Style icon on the ribbon and select Simplified Mode. You can switch back to the full-size ribbon at any time using the same menu.
All the same tools are available in Simplified Mode; they just take up less space.
Right-Click controls have moved to the ribbon
In previous versions, many tools were only accessible via right-click menus. In v9.0, the majority of these controls have been promoted to the ribbon, which means they’re now visible, easier to discover, and searchable via Tool Search.
For example, operations like Recess Item, Create External Surfaces, Connection Points, and Parts are now available directly from the ribbon, typically in the Object or Design tabs.
| 💡 Right-click still works! If it’s already second nature to you, you can carry on just as before. But you now have the option of using the ribbon or Tool Search to access those same controls, which can be particularly helpful if you’ve ever forgotten exactly which right-click option you were looking for. |
The File Backstage
When you click the File tab, instead of a dropdown menu, you’ll now see a full-screen Backstage view. This is where you’ll find file operations like New, Open, Save, Print, and Page Setup. It also contains the recent files and folders list.
Here you can pin your most frequently used files and folders so they always appear at the top of the list. Just click the pin icon next to any file or folder to keep it there permanently.
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💡 Pin your key projects If you have designs, or design folders, you return to regularly, pin them in the Backstage. |
Quick Reference: Where did it go?
Here’s a quick guide to where some of the most commonly used groups of tools have moved:
| What you’re looking for | Where to find it in v9.0 |
| Navigation (Fly, Walk, Tilt & Turn) | Home tab - Navigate group |
| Decoration (Paints, Textures, Materials) | Home tab - Decoration group |
| Camera & elevation views | View tab - Camera group |
| Tiling tools | Tiling tab |
| Renders, 2D diagrams, graphics | Presentation tab |
| Pricing tools (One Price, Costs) | Pricing tab |
| Object properties, parts, connections | Object tab (select an item first) |
| Import / Export | Design tab |
| Mirror design, duplicate | Design tab |
| Print, page setup | File Backstage |
| Recently used files | File Backstage |
| Options / Preferences | File Backstage or Help tab |
| Anything else! | Use Tool Search at the top of the ribbon |
A few final tips
- Use Tool Search freely - It’s there to help, and even experienced ribbon users search for tools from time to time 🔎
- Personalise your Quick Access Toolbar early - Spending a minute setting this up will save you time every day 📋
- Try Simplified Mode - If you want more design space on screen 🧹
- Pin your favourite files - Pin your most-used projects in the File Backstage for quick access 📌
- Right-click still works! ✅
If you have any questions or need a hand finding something, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Support team.
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