Workspace Content Toolbar

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Let’s explore the functions of each element in the Workspace Content Toolbar (pictured below):

Note: The Workspace Content Toolbar is only available to Bluescape collaborators with Editor permissions. Users with the Viewer or Commenter permission set cannot access this feature.

For more information on modifying a workspace role, see:

Changing a Collaborator’s Workspace Role

Select Tool

Select one or more objects in your workspace using the Select tool

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The Select tool helps you select an object or objects for formatting in your workspace for moving, resizing, and group editing. The select tool selects performs in one of two ways:

1. An object where any part of it encounters your selection field.
2. Where you select an object only when your selection field encompasses the entire object - can be completed by pressing and holding the Alt key on your keyboard, then click+drag a bounding box around the desired selection.
   

Learn more: Quick Reference Guide - How Do I Select

Pan Tool

Navigate your workspace using the Pan tool

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The Pan tool helps users move around their workspace. You can select the Pan tool from the toolbar or, at any time, right-select on the workspace and hold it to make the Pan tool appear temporarily. With the Pan tool enabled, select and drag to move around your workspace.

Learn more: Workspace Overview - Pan

Pen

You can draw and write notes in the workspace using mouse strokes or fingers.

Select here to learn how to use the Pen tool

To draw in a workspace:

1. Select (Pen) in the left toolbar.
2. The Pen Settings tray opens. The default is the pen tool (highlighted in blue in the top row).
   
   Note: The icon indicates the eraser option.
3. Select one of the three pen stroke widths.
4. Choose the color you want from the color palette. You can also add and select a custom color.
5. Your cursor or finger becomes a pen. Begin writing or drawing anywhere in the workspace by clicking and dragging your mouse.

Note: Users can easily switch between drawings while keeping the (Pen) menu open, allowing for a more seamless and efficient workflow. The Pen menu itself can also be moved around the workspace by dragging for ease of use.

The pen panel closes by default after you begin drawing. If you want the pen panel to remain open as you draw, click and drag the panel to a new position in the workspace before drawing.

You can use the pen tool on the workspace background, images, notecards, shapes, and documents. However, you must draw separately on each item. For example, if you are drawing on the background and begin to draw over an image, the pen continues to mark up the background behind the image, not the image itself. To switch from drawing on the background to drawing on the image, you must stop drawing on the background and begin drawing on the image with a new click.

When you draw on an asset, such as a notecard or shape, and resize the shape, the strokes automatically resize to fit the asset.

In addition, to annotate a document (Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, PDF), it must be opened in the workspace first. Read Bluescape Document Viewer Functionality to learn more.

Note: you cannot draw on the following assets:

• Cloud storage content from Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive
• YouTube videos
• Interactive browser content (websites)

Using a Stylus

Bluecape detects when you’ve connected a stylus or drawing tool to your workspace, and users can choose Always Draw or Act as Pointer in the options menu. Upon detection, users can choose whether the stylus should act as a drawing tool or a pointer. This adds an extra layer of customization and flexibility to the stylus experience, giving users even more control over their device.

Learn More: Workspace Settings and Details

Line

Use the line tool to place lines or to connect objects.

Select here to learn about the line tool in Bluescape

To add a line connector:

1. With the selected shape(s) added to your workspace, access the (Add Connecting Line) icon to either add a line or link one shape to another.
2. Nodes or anchor points display around your object. Select and drag one of the nodes to extend a line from that point.
3. The Line toolbar displays.
   

From left to right, the options are:

Icon	Description
Start Type	Line type that may be used to begin a workflow or diagram.
End Type	Line type that may be used to end a workflow or diagram.
Line Color	Allows you to choose the color of the selected line.
Line Options	Allow you to designate a Line Style, Line Width, and Line Routing.
Line Style	Allows you to choose a line type, such as solid or dashed.
Line Width	Allows you to access a slider that provides a range of line weights or thicknesses. You can move the slider gradually left or right to adjust the thickness of the selected line.
Line Routing	Allows you to choose a line type that is rounded, straight, or multi-directional.
Delete	Allows you to remove a line or object.

Note: If you delete a shape, all connecting lines also delete.

When adding lines, you can hold the Shift key to disable the Snap to Grid feature; there may be occasions when you do not want lines to snap into place. Moving objects as you hold the Shift key also maintains the aspect ratio. Holding the Shift key while manipulating free-standing lines allows them to snap into place at 45° and 90° angles, regardless of whether the Snap to Grid feature is enabled. As such, you can move lines as a single shape, even if they are not connected to other objects in the workspace.

You can also add connecting lines as you customize templates.

Line connectors allow you to link workspace objects, including shapes, documents, images, canvases, and notecards.

Shapes

Use the Shapes tool to add different objects to your workspace.

Select here to learn about using the Shapes feature in Bluescape

https://bluescape.wistia.com/medias/lrgqu2a0yo?embedType=async&seo=false&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640

You can add a range of shapes to workspaces. You also can embed text into these shapes, join shapes and other objects with line connectors, and perform object scaling. Also, you can add basic shapes and common shapes like 5-pointed stars, cylinders, lines, and arrows to facilitate the process of building templates, workflows, and procedure-driven diagrams.

To add shapes to a workspace:

1. From the workspace toolbar, select (Shapes).
2. Select the preferred shape you want to add to the workspace.
   
   
   
    
3. Hover your cursor over the workspace area where you want this object to appear before clicking your mouse to insert it. The shape appears in the workspace along with its associated toolbar. You can perform several actions, including changing the asset colors, attaching connecting lines, and adding text. You can modify text by changing the font size, style, and alignment.
   
   

Learn more: Adding Shapes, Lines, and Arrows to a Workspace

Notecards

Notecards can be used for gathering feedback from collaborators.

Select here to learn about using Notecards

Notecards are digital sticky pads that you can add to a workspace. You can customize notecards by selecting a range of colors and inserting text such as action items, feedback, and decisions; you can even use specific colors to distinguish among each.

Notecards include preset sizes (small, medium, and large) to promote workspace uniformity. You can adjust the workspace color schemes to emphasize the notecard.

To add a notecard:

1. Select (Notecard) from the workspace toolbar.
2. From the Notecard modal, select a color. You can also create and select a custom color.
3. Hover the cursor over the preferred workspace area and click your mouse to insert the notecard.
   The notecard appears in the workspace along with its associated Text toolbar.
   
4. Begin typing in the notecard.

Learn more: Adding a Notecard to a Workspace

Text

Use this feature to add text to your workspace.

Select here to learn more about using the Text feature

You can add text to a workspace using a text box. You can format individual letters, words, phrases, and sentences here. With text enhancements, you can add bullets, change the text color, highlight content, modify font sizes, alter alignment, and use italics/bold fonts/underlines/strikethroughs. You also can add hyperlinks that open a new browser tab.

You can add text to text boxes and Shapes and Notecards.

To add text to a workspace:

Adding Text

To add text to a workspace:

1. Select (Text) from the workspace toolbar.
2. Hover your cursor over the workspace area where you want the text to appear before clicking your mouse to insert it. The text box appears in the workspace along with its associated toolbar.
3. Enter content in the text box. You can type text into the text box or paste text here. You also may use an international keyboard. The text box auto-fits content and adjusts the height as needed as you enter text. An anchor point or notch appears on each side of the text box, allowing you to grab and extend the text box horizontally.
4. Use the toolbar icons to format your text. After selecting and using a toolbar option, the focus returns to the text box.
   

Learn more: Adding text to a Workspace

Add and Upload Content

Use the Upload Content feature to add local and cloud content to your workspace.

Learn more about adding and uploading content

There are many ways to add content to your workspace from the Add Content menu.

The options are (from top to bottom):

• Using the Popsync Feature in a Bluescape Workspace
• Add files from your computer
• Add a Smart Grid
• Add a Template
• Add a Timer to Your Workspace.
• Add web browser content
• Add content from cloud storage services (note that these options depend on your custom integrations).

Where to Next?

• Getting Started
• Using the Popsync Feature in a Bluescape Workspace
• Rotating an Object in a Workspace

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