Product(s):	OpenBuildings Designer
	Version(s):	CONNECT Edition
	Area:	User Interface
	Subarea:	Ribbon

AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT Edition adds context sensitivity to the Ribbon for a range of tools. In general, values for settings that can only be changed at placement time appear in the ribbon while property values that can be changed later appear in the property panel.

The contextual tabs are essentially the Modify tab with additional items added onto it. This gives you the options of manually clicking on the Modify tab and then clicking a command OR selecting an element and then the contextual tab will be selected. It also helps build the memory of where a command is located because it will be in the same location every time.

Please note that most AECOsim Building Designer commands do not act on the element you have selected. For example, Join Walls does not use the wall you currently have selected.

Here are some examples of contextual tabs in action:

Starting the Place Wall tool will (if is not already) open the Unified Property Panel and the Ribbon will display the placement options for Walls, such as Direction and Offset values:

Similar options will be available for other components such as doors and windows, beams and columns, ducts and pipes, etc..

Select an existing element, a door for instance, and the appropriate modification tools will be active on the Ribbon, while tools that to not apply are greyed out rather than hidden. This provides a common layout between the "Modify" tab and the contextual tabs; helping you learn and remember where each tool is located.