🏗️ Builder Mode

Builder Mode in Topia provides a comprehensive set of tools for efficient, enjoyable, and user-friendly world-building. It allows users to select, move, erase, and transform assets.

Permissioning

Builder mode is accessible to users with at least 'Editor' permission in a world.

Turning Builder Mode On/Off

• Turn On: Click the builder icon in the toolbar on the left or use the keyboard shortcut B.
• Turn Off: Click the builder icon again or use the keyboard shortcut B.

Builder Mode Anatomy

1. Existing Toolbar
2. Builder Toolbar
3. Select Drawer

While in Builder Mode

• Your avatar cannot move, and you will be in audio mode.
• Video modes other than audio mode are disabled.

Actions

Select

The Select tool allows you to select or multi-select assets you want to edit.

• Default Tool: Selected by default when entering builder mode. Accessible via the select icon in the builder toolbar.
• Single Selection: Place your cursor over an asset and click on it.
• Multi-Selection: Hold Shift or Command (⌘) while clicking to multi-select assets.
• Assets Drawer Selection: In the Assets Drawer, view the placed assets list and select assets from here. Multi-select using Shift or Command (⌘) key. When selected, the camera pans and zooms to display the selection on the canvas.

Move

The Move tool allows you to move your selected assets.

• Move Selection: With an active selection, click and drag the selection to move it to the desired location.

Pan

The Pan tool lets you move the view around your world.

• Activate Pan Tool: Click the hand icon in the builder toolbar.
• Pan Mode: The cursor changes to a hand; click and drag on the canvas to pan. Note that selection is disabled in pan mode.

Erase 

The Erase tool allows you to remove assets from your world.

• Activate Erase Tool: Click the erase icon in the builder toolbar.
• Erase Asset: The cursor changes to an erase icon; click on an asset to remove it. Alternatively, click and drag over an asset or assets to remove them.

Undo 

The Undo tool allows you to undo up to 10 asset editing actions.

• Undo Action: Click the undo icon in the builder toolbar after erasing, moving, or transforming 1 or multiple assets.

Redo 

The Redo tool allows you to redo up to 10 asset editing actions. 

• Redo Action: Click the redo icon in the builder toolbar.

Zoom

The Zoom tools allow you to adjust the view of your world.

• Zoom to Fit: Click the zoom to fit icon to view the entire world on your screen.
• Zoom Out: Click the zoom out icon to zoom out in 10% intervals.
• Zoom In: Click the zoom in icon to zoom in in 10% intervals.

Copy

The Copy tool allows you to create copies of your selected assets.

• Copy Selection: With an active selection, click the copy icon in the select drawer. Move the cursor to the canvas and click to drop copies. You can keep dropping copies until you press the escape key.

Align

The Align tool helps you align and distribute your selected assets.

• Activate Align Tool: Click the align icon in the select drawer when at least two assets are selected.
• Align Options:
  • Align Left: Aligns left edges with the leftmost edge of the leftmost asset.
  • Align Horizontal: Evenly spaces and aligns assets based on their horizontal centers.
  • Align Right: Aligns right edges with the rightmost edge of the rightmost asset.
  • Align Top: Aligns top edges with the topmost edge of the topmost asset.
  • Align Vertical: Evenly spaces and aligns assets based on their vertical centers.
  • Align Bottom: Aligns bottom edges with the bottommost edge of the bottommost asset.
  • Distribute Horizontal Centers: Evenly spaces and aligns assets along a horizontal axis.
  • Distribute Vertical Centers: Evenly spaces and aligns assets along a vertical axis.

Flip

The Flip tools allow you to flip your selected assets horizontally or vertically.

• Flip Horizontally: Click the flip horizontally icon in the select drawer to flip the selection horizontally.
• Flip Vertically: Click the flip vertically icon in the select drawer to flip the selection vertically.

Scale

The Scale tool lets you adjust the size of your assets.

• Adjust Scale: With one asset selected, use the slider or number input in the select drawer to change the asset's size.

X & Y Positioning

The Positioning tool allows you to adjust the position of your assets on the X and Y axes.

• Adjust Positioning: Change the values in the X or Y fields in the select drawer to reposition the selection on the canvas.

Rotate

The Rotate tool allows you to rotate your selected assets.

• Rotate Asset: With one asset selected, adjust the rotate field value in the select drawer to change the asset's rotation.

Incognito Mode

Incognito mode lets you edit in privacy, removing your avatar and UI related to video connections.

• Activate Incognito Mode: Click the incognito icon in the toolbar. Your avatar will despawn, and UI related to video and audio connections will be removed.
• Deactivate Incognito Mode: Click the icon again to respawn your avatar and re-enable video and audio connections.

Select Drawer

The Select Drawer is where you can edit your selected assets. It has two tabs:

• Design Tab: Clear selection, perform actions on your selection, transform assets, and view asset details.
• Configuration Tab: Configure your asset options (previously under ‘Modify Asset’).

Keyboard Shortcuts

Note: Keyboard shortcuts are fully functional on Windows and Linux. On Mac, they work with an EN-US keyboard, but may vary with other layouts.