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UI Controls

Brain Visualizer provides flexible interface controls to customize the appearance and scale of the application. This guide covers all UI customization options to optimize your workflow.

UI Scaling​

The interface scale affects all UI elements including text, buttons, windows, and panels.

Quick Scale Controls​

Located in the top-right corner of the toolbar:

Increase Size:

  • Click the + (bigger) button
  • UI elements scale up
  • Useful for high-DPI displays or presentations

Decrease Size:

  • Click the - (smaller) button
  • UI elements scale down
  • Useful for seeing more content

Incremental Changes:

  • Each click adjusts by one scale step
  • Changes apply immediately
  • Smooth scaling transitions

Available Scale Levels​

Brain Visualizer typically offers multiple scale presets:

  • Very Small: Maximum content visibility
  • Small: Compact interface
  • Medium: Default comfortable size
  • Large: Easier reading
  • Very Large: Accessibility and presentations

The exact number of levels may vary by version.

Scale Persistence​

  • Your chosen scale is remembered between sessions
  • Applies to all windows and UI elements
  • Consistent across different views

Theme System​

Current Theme​

Brain Visualizer currently uses:

  • Dark Theme: Default and recommended
  • Dark backgrounds reduce eye strain
  • High contrast for readability
  • Professional appearance

Theme Components​

The theme affects:

  • Background Colors: Window and panel backgrounds
  • Text Colors: All text and labels
  • Accent Colors: Highlights and selections
  • Button Styles: All interactive elements
  • Panel Styles: Window frames and separators

Top Toolbar​

The main toolbar provides quick access to essential features:

Left Section (Information Display)​

Burst Rate:

  • Shows neural processing frequency (Hz)
  • Editable field to change rate
  • 0 Hz = paused, higher = faster processing

Neuron Count:

  • Current neurons / Maximum neurons
  • Formatted with thousands separators
  • Updates as areas are added/removed

Synapse Count:

  • Current synapses / Maximum synapses
  • Formatted with thousands separators
  • Updates as connections are created

State Indicator:

  • Shows FEAGI connection status
  • Color-coded (green = connected, red = disconnected)
  • Hover for details

Middle Section (Quick Access)​

Inputs Button:

  • Dropdown showing all IPU areas
  • + button to create new input
  • Quick navigation to any input area

Circuits Button:

  • Dropdown showing all brain circuits
  • + button to create new region
  • Hierarchical region navigation

Outputs Button:

  • Dropdown showing all OPU areas
  • + button to create new output
  • Quick navigation to any output area

Connectivity Rules Button:

Connectivity Rules Icon

  • Opens Connectivity Rules Manager
  • View and edit all connectivity rules
  • Create new connectivity rules

Right Section (Tools and Settings)​

Options Button:

Options Icon

  • Opens Options/Settings window
  • Configure application preferences
  • Access advanced settings

Camera Animations Button: Camera Icon

  • Opens Camera Animations window
  • Record and play camera paths
  • Save important viewpoints

Guide Button: Guide Icon

  • Opens this help system
  • Search and browse topics
  • Quick reference

Activity Rendering Toggle:

  • Show/hide global neural connections
  • Toggle all connection lines
  • Performance optimization

UI Scale Controls:

Plus Icon Zoom In

  • + button: Increase UI size
  • - button: Decrease UI size
  • Immediate visual feedback

Zoom Out

Windows and Panels​

Window Management​

Moving Windows:

  • Click and drag title bar
  • Position anywhere on screen
  • Windows remember positions

Resizing Windows:

  • Drag window edges (if resizable)
  • Or corners for two-axis resize
  • Some windows have fixed size

Closing Windows:

  • Click X button in title bar
  • Or press Escape key (for some windows)
  • Can reopen from menus

Window Types​

Modal Windows:

  • Block interaction with other elements
  • Must complete or cancel
  • Used for critical operations

Non-Modal Windows:

  • Float above main interface
  • Can interact with main view
  • Can have multiple open simultaneously

Panels:

  • Integrated into main interface
  • Cannot be closed individually
  • Part of main layout

Z-Order (Window Layering)​

Windows stack on top of each other:

Bring to Front:

  • Click anywhere on window
  • Automatically comes to front
  • Or use window manager functions

Behind:

  • Click different window to send current to back
  • Or close to remove from stack

Display Settings​

Access via Options → Display:

Visualization Options​

Grid Floor:

  • Show/hide reference grid in Brain Monitor
  • Helps with spatial orientation
  • On by default

Connection Lines:

  • Always show
  • Show on hover only
  • Never show
  • Affects performance

Activity Rendering:

  • Quality level (Low/Medium/High)
  • Affects visual fidelity and performance
  • Balance quality vs. speed

Transparency:

  • Transparent cortical volumes
  • See-through effects
  • Visual clarity options

Performance Options​

Frame Rate Cap:

  • Limit maximum FPS
  • Reduce power consumption
  • Smoother vs. performance trade-off

VSync:

  • Synchronize with monitor refresh
  • Reduce screen tearing
  • May increase input latency

Anti-Aliasing:

  • Smooth edges
  • Better visual quality
  • Performance impact

Accessibility Features​

Text and UI​

Large UI Scale:

  • Use larger scale settings
  • Improves readability
  • Better for vision impairment

High Contrast:

  • Dark theme provides good contrast
  • Clear text on backgrounds
  • Easily distinguishable elements

Interaction​

Keyboard Navigation:

  • Most operations have keyboard shortcuts
  • Reduces mouse dependency
  • Faster workflow

Click Targets:

  • Buttons and controls have adequate size
  • Easy to click/select
  • Touch-friendly

Workspace Layouts​

Single View​

  • One main panel showing Circuit Builder or Brain Monitor
  • Full screen real estate for one view
  • Simple and focused

Split View​

  • Two panels side-by-side or top-bottom
  • Circuit Builder + Brain Monitor
  • Best for active work

See Split View for details.

Tab System​

  • Multiple tabs in each panel
  • Switch between different regions
  • Keep multiple views accessible

Multi-Window​

  • Drag tabs out to separate windows
  • Position on multiple monitors
  • Ultimate flexibility

Customizing Your Workspace​

For Large Displays​

Recommendations:

  • Medium or Large UI scale
  • Split View with 50/50 ratio
  • Multiple tabs open
  • Horizontal split layout

For Small Displays​

Recommendations:

  • Small UI scale to maximize content
  • Single view or heavily asymmetric split
  • Minimize open windows
  • Use dropdowns for navigation

For Presentations​

Recommendations:

  • Large or Very Large UI scale
  • Clean, simple layout
  • Hide unnecessary panels
  • Full screen mode (if available)

For Development​

Recommendations:

  • Medium UI scale
  • Split View for editing + monitoring
  • Multiple tabs for different regions
  • Developer options enabled

Shortcuts and Quick Actions​

UI Shortcuts​

  • F11: Full screen toggle (if available)
  • Ctrl + +: Increase UI scale
  • Ctrl + -: Decrease UI scale
  • Escape: Close current window/dialog

View Shortcuts​

  • Tab: Switch between panels
  • Ctrl + Tab: Next tab
  • Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Previous tab
  • Ctrl + W: Close current tab

(Shortcuts may vary by version)

Performance Optimization​

Improve Responsiveness​

Close Unused:

  • Close windows not in use
  • Close extra tabs
  • Minimize background processes

Reduce Visual Quality:

  • Lower activity rendering quality
  • Disable global connection lines
  • Reduce anti-aliasing

Focus on Region:

  • Open specific circuits in 3D tabs
  • Don't visualize entire large genome
  • Work on subsystems

Balance Quality and Speed​

High-End Systems:

  • Can use highest quality settings
  • Multiple windows and tabs
  • Complex visualizations

Low-End Systems:

  • Reduce UI scale slightly
  • Lower rendering quality
  • Single view workflow
  • Close unnecessary elements

Troubleshooting​

"UI is too small to read"

  • Click + button repeatedly to increase scale
  • Or use Options → Display → UI Scale
  • Consider monitor/display settings

"UI is too large, can't see everything"

  • Click - button to decrease scale
  • Adjust window positions
  • Consider using higher resolution

"Buttons are unresponsive"

  • Check if a modal window is open
  • Ensure genome is loaded
  • Try clicking again or using keyboard
  • Restart application if persistent

"Windows won't stay where I put them"

  • Some windows reset on close
  • Try leaving them open instead
  • Position may not persist between sessions

"Can't find a feature"

  • Check all toolbar buttons
  • Look in Options menu
  • Use this Guide system to search
  • Feature may be version-specific

"Interface is laggy"

  • Reduce UI scale slightly
  • Close unnecessary windows
  • Check system resources
  • Disable visual effects

Tips for Efficient UI Usage​

  1. Learn Toolbar Layout: Memorize common button positions
  2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Faster than mouse for many operations
  3. Optimize Scale: Find your comfortable size and stick with it
  4. Close When Done: Don't leave many windows open
  5. Organize Workspace: Position windows logically
  6. Use Dropdowns: Quick access is faster than manual navigation
  7. Practice: UI becomes second nature with use

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