The Screen & Workspace Modes

realvirtual shows the 3D model in the centre, with tools and panels around it. The workspace selector controls which tools are available.

The realvirtual screen in HMI mode, with numbered markers: 1 workspace mode selector, 2 left bar, 3 docked panel showing the hierarchy, 4 tool strip, 5 key figures, 6 machine messages, 7 orientation cube and projection, 8 view controls

The areas of the screen

	Area	What it is for
1	Workspace mode	Switches between the workspaces described below
2	Left bar	Opens the Projects, Hierarchy, CONNECT and Settings panels, and help
3	Docked panel	Shows the open panel. Here, the Hierarchy shows the twin as a tree
4	Tool strip	Tools for the active workspace, such as alarms, maintenance, measuring and section cut
5	Key figures	Live KPIs of the machine, in an HMI delivery
6	Machine messages	Alarms, maintenance notices and live drive values, each linked to the part it concerns
7	Orientation cube	Click a face to look along that axis; below it, switch between perspective and orthographic
8	View controls	Camera presets, visibility and layers, VR and first-person view

Not every delivery shows every area. A twin for an operator may show only the 3D view and its messages. The public demo shows all areas. Press H at any time to hide the overlay and see only the model.

Workspace modes

The workspace mode controls which panels, tools and gizmos are available. Switching modes does not change the document.

Mode	Use it to
Viewer	View a twin and watch it run, without changing its configuration
HMI	Operate a machine: key figures, messages, alarms, live signals. The usual default
Commissioning	Put a machine into operation: inspector, hierarchy, signals, CONNECT and the AI bridge
Planner	Build a line from library objects in the Layout Planner
DES	Study throughput and material flow with discrete event simulation
Editor	Turn CAD into a working asset by editing its structure, axes, drives, materials and signals. See Your First Twin from CAD

Switching the mode

Click the mode name in the top left corner (1) and select another mode. The model stays loaded while the tools change.

The workspace mode selector opened in the top bar: Viewer, HMI, DES, Planner, Commissioning and Editor, with Planner ticked as the active one

To share a twin in a specific mode, include the mode in the link:

https://web.realvirtual.io/demo/?mode=commissioning

The values are viewer, hmi, commissioning, planner, des and editor. Use ?doc=new&mode=editor to open a new Editor document with the CAD import dialog open.

Available modes depend on:

The delivery. A twin for an operator is often locked to one mode. In this case, the selector is hidden.
The licence. The Editor and DES are commercial. They are available in the public demo, but not in an open-source deployment. See What You Get.

Where to go next

Navigation & Controls — move the camera and select parts
Demo Models — the twins to try each mode on
The Interface — every area of the screen in detail, including Settings
Your First Twin from CAD — the Editor in practice