Command Bar

The Command Bar provides centralized keyboard-driven access to all Zoo Design Studio operations, settings, and navigation commands. Use the Command Bar to quickly invoke modeling operations, adjust preferences, manage projects, and execute workflows without navigating through menus or toolbars.

Overview

The Command Bar (also called the Command Palette) is a searchable interface for discovering and executing commands. Access it via:

• Keyboard shortcut: The primary, fastest method
• Menu: View → Show All Commands
• Search: Type command name, description, or related keyword

The Command Bar displays available commands with descriptions, required parameters, and keyboard shortcuts (if assigned). Commands are organized by category and can be filtered by typing.

Opening the Command Bar

Launch the Command Bar using the platform-specific keyboard shortcut or through the menu system. Once open, begin typing to search and filter available commands.

Command Categories

Settings Commands

Settings commands control application preferences, display options, and modeling behavior. All settings commands follow the pattern: Settings · [category] · [setting name]

Available Settings:

• Settings · app · theme: Application appearance (light, dark, system)
• Settings · app · show debug panel: Toggle development/debugging panel visibility
• Settings · app · stream idle mode: Control bandwidth and battery usage during inactivity
• Settings · modeling · default unit: Default length unit for new files (mm, cm, m, in, ft, yd)
• Settings · modeling · backface color: Surface back-face display color
• Settings · modeling · mouse controls: 3D navigation control scheme
• Settings · modeling · enable touch controls: Enable touchscreen gestures for scene navigation
• Settings · modeling · use sketch solve mode: Enable experimental constraint-based sketching
• Settings · modeling · camera projection: Perspective or orthographic projection
• Settings · modeling · camera orbit: Orbit methodology (turntable vs trackball)
• Settings · modeling · gizmo type: Orientation gizmo style
• Settings · modeling · highlight edges: Toggle edge highlighting on 3D geometry
• Settings · modeling · show scale grid: Display reference grid in 3D scene
• Settings · modeling · fixed size grid: Use fixed grid spacing vs. auto-scaling
• Settings · modeling · major grid spacing: Distance between major grid lines
• Settings · modeling · minor grids per major: Number of minor divisions per major grid
• Settings · modeling · snap to grid: Enable cursor snapping for sketch operations
• Settings · modeling · snaps per minor: Snap point density between minor grid lines
• Settings · text editor · text wrapping: Enable/disable text wrapping in code editor
• Settings · text editor · blinking cursor: Control cursor blink behavior
• Settings · projects · default project name: Template name for new projects
• Settings · command bar · include settings: Show settings in Command Bar results

Authentication Commands

Log out: Terminate current session and return to login screen.

Reload app: Force complete application reload (Scene, Features, Code Editor).

Project Management Commands

Open project: Open an existing project by name (displays project list).

Create project: Create new project with specified name.

Delete project: Permanently delete a project (requires confirmation).

Rename project: Change project name (old name → new name).

Import file from URL: Import remote files into project (STEP, KCL, etc.).

File Operations Commands

Add file to project: Import local files or Zoo samples into project.

Supported formats:

• Local: .stp (STEP), .glb, .fbxb, .kcl
• Samples: KCL sample library

Parameters:

• Source: Local Drive, KCL Samples
• Method: Add to current project or create new project
• Sample selection (if using samples)
• File path (if using local drive)

Application Commands

Reset layout: Restore default panel arrangement.

Set layout: Apply predefined workspace configuration.

Create a sample: Create new project from Zoo sample library.

Switch Environments: Connect to different backend environment (development, staging, production).

Override Engine: Connect Scene to custom Engine WebSocket URL (development).

Override Zookeeper: Connect to custom Zookeeper WebSocket URL (development).

View Management Commands

Standard Views

Top view: Orient camera to view XY plane from +Z.

Bottom view: Orient camera to view XY plane from -Z.

Front view: Orient camera to view XZ plane from +Y.

Back view: Orient camera to view XZ plane from -Y.

Right view: Orient camera to view YZ plane from +X.

Left view: Orient camera to view YZ plane from -X.

Zoom to fit: Automatically frame all geometry in the viewport.

Named Views

Create named view: Save current camera position/orientation with custom name.

Load named view: Restore previously saved camera configuration.

Delete named view: Remove saved view from settings.

Navigation Commands

Go to Home: Return to project browser.

Go to Settings: Open settings interface.

Go to Telemetry: View application metrics and diagnostics.

KCL and Code Commands

Set file units: Define default length unit for current file (mm, cm, m, in, ft, yd).

Set experimental features flag: Enable/disable experimental KCL features (warn, allow, none).

Insert: Import from project file (STEP, GLB, FBX, KCL) with local variable binding.

Format Code: Apply standard formatting to KCL code editor content.

Share part via Zoo link: Generate shareable link containing current file snapshot.

Create parameter: Define named constant variable for parametric modeling.

Edit parameter: Modify existing parameter value.

Modeling Commands

Sketch Mode

Enter sketch: Begin 2D sketch creation mode.

Line: Draw straight line segments.

Tangential Arc: Draw arc tangent to previous segment.

Rectangle: Draw rectangular profiles.

Solid Creation

Extrude: Project sketch profiles perpendicular to sketch plane. See Extrude for parameters.

Revolve: Rotate sketch profiles around axis. See Revolve for parameters.

Sweep: Carry sketch profiles along path curves. See Sweep for parameters.

Loft: Blend between multiple sketch profiles. See Loft for parameters.

Solid Modification

Fillet: Round edges with constant radius. See Fillet for parameters.

Chamfer: Bevel edges with angled transitions. See Chamfer for parameters.

Shell: Hollow solid bodies with uniform wall thickness. See Shell for parameters.

Hole: Create intelligent parametric hole features. See Hole for parameters.

Boolean Operations

Boolean Subtract: Remove tool body volume from targets. See Subtract for parameters.

Boolean Union: Merge multiple bodies into single solid. See Union for parameters.

Boolean Intersect: Keep only overlapping volumes. See Intersect for parameters.

Boolean Split: Partition bodies into separate sections. See Split documentation for parameters.

Transforms

Translate: Move geometry linearly. See Translate for parameters.

Rotate: Reorient geometry with Euler angles. See Rotate for parameters.

Scale: Resize geometry uniformly or non-uniformly. See Scale for parameters.

Clone: Duplicate geometry with new variable name. See Clone for parameters.

Patterns

Pattern Circular 3D: Distribute geometry around axis. See Circular Pattern for parameters.

Pattern Linear 3D: Repeat geometry along axis. See Linear Pattern for parameters.

Construction Geometry

Offset plane: Create parallel reference plane. See Offset Plane for parameters.

Helix: Generate helical curves for threads and springs. See Helix for parameters.

Surface Operations

Flip Surface: Reverse surface normal direction. See Flip Surface for parameters.

Delete Face: Remove faces to create openings. See Delete Face for parameters.

Blend: Create transitional surfaces between edges.

GD&T Annotations

GDT Flatness: Annotate planar surface flatness tolerance. See Flatness for parameters.

GDT Datum: Define datum reference features. See Datum for parameters.

Appearance and Visualization

Appearance: Set material properties (color, metalness, roughness, opacity). See Appearance for parameters.

Constraints

Constrain length: Apply length constraint to sketch segments.

Constrain with named value: Reference parameter in constraint definition.

Export and Manufacturing Commands

Export: Export current model to various formats:

• STEP (.step, .stp)
• STL (.stl)
• OBJ (.obj)
• glTF/GLB (.gltf, .glb)
• PLY (.ply)
• FBX (.fbx)

Parameters:

• File type selection
• Storage location (local, cloud)
• Up axis (Y-up, Z-up)
• Scale factor (unit conversion if needed)

Make: Send model directly to networked 3D printer (experimental).

Using the Command Bar Efficiently

Search and Filter

Type any part of a command name, description, or parameter to filter results:

• "extrude" → Shows Extrude command
• "theme" → Shows Settings · app · theme
• "project" → Shows all project-related commands
• "boolean" → Shows Boolean Subtract, Union, Intersect, Split

Command Execution Workflow

1. Open Command Bar (keyboard shortcut recommended)
2. Type search term to filter commands
3. Select command from filtered list
4. Enter parameters in sequential prompts (if required)
5. Confirm execution (Enter/Return)

Recent Commands

The Command Bar remembers recently-used commands and prioritizes them in search results, enabling rapid repetition of common workflows.

Keyboard Navigation

Navigate the Command Bar entirely from the keyboard:

• ↑ / ↓ arrows: Select command from list
• Enter: Execute selected command or confirm parameter
• Esc: Cancel Command Bar or parameter entry
• Tab: Auto-complete command name (when unique match)

Command Bar vs Menu vs Toolbar

For maximum productivity, learn Command Bar keyboard shortcuts for frequently-used operations. This eliminates UI navigation overhead and enables uninterrupted design flow.