TestOptimal IDE features a simple and easy to use layout. Most of the functions can be accessed with just a few clicks away. This page describes the basic IDE screen layout, navigation and customization.

TestOptimal IDE consists of an Application Header on the top, a Work-Area in the middle and a System Message Pane at the bottom.

The application header has menu, toolbar and a set of tab selection.

Menus are accessed by hovering mouse over the . The menu items may require a model to be open or a specific tab is open.

The work-area is the home for a set of tabs you can choose from the tab selection in the middle of the application header.

On the left of the IDE is a SideBar which contains a set of mini buttons for quick access to IDE functions and control of model execution.

There are three panes in the work-area. Each pane contains one or more tabs. By default, each pane is assigned a set of tabs. You can add or remove or move tabs between panes.

You may add tabs to or remove tabs from the pane through IDE Customization, except that FileList tab and Model tab are fixed to the left pane and can not be changed. By removing all tabs from the panes you can hide the pane. To show the pane again, just add a tab back to the pane.

The panes can be resized by moving the divider between two panes: drag and drop the divider or click-move-click the divider.

Each pane has a header on the top where tab labels are displayed on the left and a set of mini buttons on the right. Clicking on the tab label activates the tab (brings the tab to the front). Double-clicking on the tab label maximizes the tab and the pane to take up the entire work-area. Double-click the tab label again to restore the pane to its normal size before the tab was maximized.

On the upper-right corner of each pane, you will find a set of mini buttons. These mini buttons allow you to interact with the pane and perform functions on the active tab (the tab that is displayed). Please note that a few mini buttons are only applicable for certain panes.

• - refreshes the content of the pane/tab.
• - maximizes the pane to take up the entire browser window, alternative to double-click on tab label.
• - minimizes left pane
• - minimizes top-right pane
• - minimizes bottom-right pane
• - resets all panes to their normal sizes before the last maximize operation. This is different from “Help / Reset IDE Layout” menu which resets all panes to their factory-default sizes.
• - opens IDE Customization dialog.
• - zooms in Model Editor, for Firefox and Opera browsers only.
• - zooms out Model Editor, for Firefox and Opera browsers only.

You may open the IDE in fullscreen mode which is often used for demonstration. To open IDE in fullscreen mode, double click on the IDE header and press F11. For some browsers, just pressing F11 is sufficient to open the IDE in fullscreen mode. To restore IDE to its normal mode, press F11 again or ESC.

Tabs are placed inside panes. The default configuration for the pages are set as follows:

• left pane: FileList tab and Model tab
• top-right pane: Monitor Tab and Stats Tab
• bottom-right pane: MScript Editor

You can move tabs around between panes or add tabs or remove tabs from panes through IDE Customization.

Tabs can also be maximized to take up the entire work-area by double-clicking on the tab label or clicking on the control button.

Often times you may wish to open the tab in its own browser window or browser tab (depending on your browser setup). To open IDE in a separate browser window, click on located at the upper-right corner of the tab label.

The tab inside IDE will be disabled while it's opened in this manner. Closing the browser window that opens the tab will re-enable the tab in IDE. Note that each pane must maintain at least one active/enabled tab.

TestOptimal IDE provides different ways to access the certain system actions and feature. For example you can start the model execution using Run menu and SideBar.

You can assign shortcut keys to the supported system actions. If the shortcut action matches the menus or SideBar, you will see the key letter or “*” displayed next to the menu or mini button.