Workspace Toolbar

Using Bluescape Getting Started
1

Overview

Workspaces are central repositories where all project materials can be stored, reviewed, and updated. A few content types can only be added from a controller device via Bluescape’s web client or desktop application.

Workspace assets on web/desktop vs. large display
Option Workspace Asset Added from web/desktop Added from a large display Viewed on a large display
:template: Templates :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:pen: Pen strokes/drawings :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:line: Lines, and Arrows :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:shapes: Shapes and icons :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:notecard: Notecards :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:text: Text :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:canvas: Canvases :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:upload: Uploaded content :white_check_mark: N/A :white_check_mark:
:add_content: Web-hosted content :white_check_mark: N/A :white_check_mark:
:smart_grid: Smart Grid :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:timer: Timer :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:web: Websites :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
:live_content: Live content :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:

Let’s explore the functions of each feature on the Workspace Content Toolbar (pictured below).
 
Workspace toolbar
 
Notes:

  • The workspace toolbar is only available to Bluescape collaborators with Editor permissions. Users with the Viewer or Commenter permission set cannot access this feature. Learn more: Sharing Your Workspace.

  • There are some additional functions on the toolbar for large displays. Learn more: Large Display Toolbar

Templates :template:

Templates comprise preset, structured workspace content that can be used and re-used dynamically. Templates are contained in canvases for better organization and searchability.

Expand to learn more about templates

To add ready-made and custom templates to a canvas:

  1. Enter a workspace.

  2. Select :template: (Templates) from the workspace toolbar.

  3. The Template Picker displays ready-made templates available and any custom templates you have created. You can use the search bar or browse by template category.
     

    Template Picker
    Template Picker2220×1470 226 KB

  4. Select the template you want to use.

Read more about Using Workspace Templates and explore the Bluescape Template Library.

Select :select:

The Select tool helps you move and format objects in your workspace.

Expand to learn more about Select.

There are two ways to select an object or multiple objects:

  1. Hover over an object, and a blue border appears. Once visible, click or tap on an object to select it. Hold the Shift key and click on additional objects to group select.
     
    Click to Select Individual Object and Hold Shift key to Group Select
     
  2. Click or tap the workspace and drag your cursor around an object to select. By default, an object is selected when any part of the object contacts your selection field. Once you release, a blue bounding box indicates which objects are selected in your group selection.
     
    Click + Drag Selection
     
    Note: The drag selection method has a secondary behavior. To only select an object only when the blue selection field encompasses the entire object, hold the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key on your keyboard while dragging your cursor.
     
    Non-greedy selection

Learn more: Quick Reference Guide - How Do I Select

Pan :pan:

The Pan tool helps users move around the workspace by clicking and dragging.

Expand to learn more about Pan.

You can select the Pan tool from the toolbar or use keyboard shortcuts like right-click and hold or hold down the spacebar to activate the Pan tool temporarily.
 
Pan Tool Demo

Learn more: Workspace Overview - Pan and Select

Pen :pen:

You can draw and write notes in the workspace using the Pen tool.

Expand to learn more about the pen.

Using the pen tool:

  1. Select :pen: (Pen).
     
  2. The Pen Settings tray opens. The default is the pen tool (highlighted in blue in the top row).
     
    The pen tool
    The pen tool730×712 11.7 KB

     
  3. Select one of the three pen stroke widths.
     
  4. Choose the color you want from the color palette. You can also set a custom color.
     
  5. Your cursor, stylus, or finger acts as the pen. Begin writing or drawing anywhere in the workspace by clicking and dragging. Release to stop drawing.
     
  6. You can select your strokes with the :select: (Select) tool and resize them or change the color.

Using the Highlighter Tool

  1. Select :highlight_color: (Highlighter) from the Pen tray
     
    The highlighter
    The highlighter716×699 11.3 KB

     
  2. Select one of the three highlighter stroke widths.
     
  3. Choose the color you want from the color palette. You can also set a custom color.
     
  4. Your cursor, stylus, or finger acts as the highlighter. Begin writing or drawing anywhere in the workspace by clicking and dragging. Release to stop drawing.
     
  5. You can select your strokes with the :select: (Select) tool and resize them or change the color.

Using the Eraser Tool

  1. Select :eraser: (Eraser) from the Pen tray
     
    The eraser
    The eraser714×698 10.6 KB

     
  2. Select from the Detail eraser or the Full eraser.
  • When using the Detail eraser, your cursor, stylus, or finger acts as the eraser. Begin erasing anywhere in the workspace by clicking and dragging. Release to stop erasing.
     
  • When using the Full eraser, click on a stroke to erase the entire stroke.

Note: Users can easily switch between drawing and making adjustments because the Pen Settings tray stays open when you draw. You can also select and drag it to move the tray around the workspace so it doesn’t interrupt your workflow.

Where can the pen draw?

You can use the pen tool on the workspace background, images, notecards, shapes, and documents. Pen strokes stay on the object where the stroke begins. This means that if you start your pen stroke on the background of the workspace and end it on a notecard when it is moved, the stroke will not move with the notecard. However, when you start a pen stroke on an object (image, notecard, shape, or document), you cannot continue the stroke to the workspace background since the pen stroke is bound to the object.

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 (such as a PDF), the document must first be opened in the workspace. Learn more about the Bluescape Document Viewer Functionality.

Note: You cannot draw on the following assets:

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

BluePro Tip: Quickly change pen colors using keyboard shortcuts.

Using a stylus

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

Learn More: Workspace Settings and Details

Line :line:

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

Expand to learn about Lines.

To add an individual line or connect objects:

  1. Select the Line Tool. Click on a starting point and drag and release at your desired endpoint.
     
    Note: Holding down the Shift key while dragging your line will create a straight line.
     
  2. If you’d like to extend a line after it’s been placed. Click :select: (Select), then select and drag one of the anchor points to extend your line.
     
  3. Use the Line Toolbar to customize your line’s appearance, including Start Type, End Type, Line Color, Line Options, and Delete.
     
    Line with arrow example

Learn more: Adding and Modifying Lines and Routing

Shapes and Icons :shapes:

Use the Shapes and Icons tool to add default shapes and icons to your workspace.

Expand to learn more about Shapes and Icons.

You can add various default shapes and access the Icon Library to help build templates, workflows, and procedure-driven diagrams.

Shapes example
Shapes example1370×696 59.5 KB

To add shapes to a workspace:

  1. From the workspace toolbar, select :shapes: (Shapes and Icons).

  2. Once you find the shape you want to add to the workspace from the Shapes and Icons Panel, you can either drag and drop it into the workspace, or you can select the preferred shape, and continue to the next step.

  3. Hover your cursor over where you want your shape to appear before clicking your mouse to insert it. The shape appears in the workspace along with its associated toolbar.

  4. Use the Shape toolbar to perform additional actions.

Learn more: Adding Basic Shapes to a Workspace.

Notecards :notecard:

Notecards are digital sticky notes that you can add to a workspace.

Expand to learn more about Notecards.

Add text to your notecards to capture ideas, action items, feedback, and decisions. You can customize notecards by selecting a range of colors and using specific colors to distinguish among each.

Notecards have preset sizes: small, medium, and large. You can also resize notecards to your desired size in a workspace.

To add a notecard:

  1. Select :notecard: (Notecard).
     
  2. From the Notecard modal, you can choose a preset color or create a custom color. You can either drag and drop your preferred notecard into the workspace, or you can select a color, and continue to the next step.
     
  3. Hover the cursor over the preferred workspace area and click or tap to insert the notecard. The notecard appears in the workspace along with its associated toolbar.
     
  4. Begin adding text to the notecard.
     
    New notecard
     
    Learn more: Adding a Notecard to a Workspace

Text :text:

Use this feature to add text to your workspace.

Expand to learn more about text.

Text boxes allow you to format individual letters, words, phrases, and sentences, customizing their appearance.

To add text to a workspace:

  1. You can drag and drop a :text: textbox to the workspace, or you can select the :text: Text button, and continue to the next step.
     
  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. You can type or paste text into the text box. Adjust the width of your text box by dragging the anchor points on each side of the box.
     
    Adjusting the textbox width
     
  4. Use the toolbar icons to format your text. After you select and use a toolbar option, the focus returns to the text box.

Learn more: Adding text to a Workspace

Canvas :canvas:

Add canvases to your workspace to organize content.

Expand to learn more about Canvases.

Canvases allow you to organize content in digital containers within the workspace. You can combine individual assets within a canvas to easily present, locate, and share related information.

To add a canvas:

  1. Select :canvas: (Canvas).
     
  2. The Canvas Size modal opens, providing options for the size of your canvas. Select the desired size.
     
  3. Once selected, hover over an area in the workspace. A blue outline of the canvas appears attached to your cursor. Drag the canvas to the desired location, then select to place it.
     
    Adding a new canvas
    Adding a new canvas937×591 14.8 KB

     
  4. The canvas will display adjustable anchor points and a toolbar with additional functionality.
     
  5. Begin moving workspace objects into the canvas to organize your work.

Learn more: Creating a Canvas and Workspace Canvas Functionality

Add Content :add_content:

Use the Add Content tool to view what can be placed in a workspace other than elements created using the content toolbar.

Expand to learn more about adding and uploading content.

There are options to add additional content to your workspace from the Add Content menu.
 

Add content menu
Add content menu680×690 30.5 KB

Features from the Add Content menu include:

Description
:upload: Adding Content from your Computer to a Workspace
:smart_grid: Creating a Smart Grid
:timer: Adding a Timer to Your Workspace
:web: Adding Browser Content to a Workspace
:screenshare_plus: Using Screen Share+ in a Workspace
Cloud Storage Services - Linked Documents Overview
  • :dropbox: Upload files from your Dropbox account
  • :google_drive: Upload files from your Google Drive account
  • :onedrive: Upload files from your One Drive account or place OneDrive Linked files
  • :box: Upload files from your Box account
    • Note: These options depend on your custom integrations

Now, go try it in your workspace! :bluescape_home:

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