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GUI controls and shortcuts

The ACE Server GUI and Client GUI expose the same component tree and MainWindow navigation. The controls below are convenience shortcuts for actions that already exist in the GUI; they do not introduce a separate command path.

A search field is available directly above the component tree. Type any part of a visible tree label to filter the current tree. Matching is case-insensitive, and matching components remain shown together with the parent nodes needed to identify their location.

Press Ctrl+F to focus the tree search field immediately. While a filter is active, press Esc to clear it and restore the full component tree. If the filter is already empty, Esc keeps its normal GUI behavior.

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+F Focus the tree search field.
Esc Clear the active tree filter and restore the full tree. Does nothing to the filter when it is already empty.
Ctrl+D Open the existing Duplicate dialog for the currently selected component when duplication is available.
Delete Ask for confirmation, then perform the same removal action as the current toolbar Remove button.
Ctrl+S Perform the same save action as the current toolbar Save button when saving is available.

If a shortcut is not applicable to the current panel or selection, ACE ignores it without showing an error. Normal text editing is preserved: editable GUI text fields continue to support Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and the normal Delete key behavior.

Double-clicking Commands

Use a double-click on a Command object in the tree to select/open its normal Command panel and immediately open the existing Manage Jobs dialog. The shortcut is based on the component type, not on the translated text displayed in the tree.

Right-click actions in the tree

Right-click a component that has both a name and UID to access:

  • Copy Name — copies the component name to the clipboard.
  • Copy UID — copies the component UID to the clipboard.

Digital device objects — Device, Relay, Light, and Led — also provide:

  • Toggle Value
  • Turn On
  • Turn Off

Timer objects also provide:

  • Start
  • Stop
  • Restart

These actions reuse the same handlers as the corresponding MainWindow controls. For example, Toggle Value uses ACE's server-authoritative toggle operation, and Timer Start, Stop, and Restart reuse the existing Timer toolbar behavior including its normal request handling and status refresh.

Timer interval format

The Timer panel shows a compact interval-format hint below the interval field. The unit letters are:

  • Y = year
  • M = month
  • D = day
  • h = hour
  • m = minute
  • s = second
  • ms = millisecond

Example: 1D2h30m.