# Virtual Console

The purpose of the Virtual Console is to act as a blank canvas on which the user can create a lighting desk layout of his choice. Users can place various GUI (Graphical User Interface) elements, called widgets, onto the console surface:

- Buttons for starting and stopping functions
- Sliders for adjusting channel values or function intensity
- Speed dials for adjusting function speeds
- XY Pads for manually moving intelligent light beams
- Cue lists for theatrical performance purposes
- Frames for grouping various widgets together
- Solo Frames for keeping only one button/function active at a time
- Labels to act as static information banners for other widgets

The topmost part of the Virtual Console is dedicated to a tool bar that provides quick access to the most common actions: adding new widgets, copying them to/from the clipboard, configuring the widgets and, in case of emergencies, a panic button for stopping all currently running functions.

Each Virtual Console widget's style can be configured (to some extent). Widgets can be moved anywhere and resized to any size on the Virtual Console canvas. See the article on Virtual Console Widget Styling & Placement.

### Tool Bar Controls

| Add a new Button to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Button Matrix to the currently selected frame, using the Add Button Matrix dialog.
| Add a new Slider to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Slider Matrix to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Animation to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Knob to the currently selected frame. This is a convenient shortcut for adding a slider widget using the knob style.
| Add a new Speed Dial to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new XY Pad to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Cue List to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Frame to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Solo Frame to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Label to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Audio triggers widget to the currently selected frame.
| Add a new Clock widget to the currently selected frame. This widget can be used for 3 purposes: System clock, Stopwatch and Countdown. In the last two cases and when QLC+ is in operate mode, clicking with the mouse left button will pause the counter, while clicking with the mouse right button will reset the counter to the initial value. When in system clock mode, it is possible to schedule when to start a QLC+ function during the time of day.
| Cut the currently selected widget(s) to the clipboard. Note that the widget(s) will only disappear when pasted into the new location.
| Copy the currently selected widget(s) to the clipboard.
| Paste the widget(s) in clipboard to the currently selected frame.
| Destroy the currently selected widget(s) completely. If a frame has been selected, this destroys everything inside it, including other frames.
| Configure the currently selected widget using its own configuration dialog.
| Rename the currently selected widget(s).
| Bring the selected widget to front.
| Send the selected widget to back.
| Change the background color of the selected widget.
| Set a background picture for the selected widget.
| Change the font color of the selected widget.
| Set the font properties of the selected widget.
| Configure the Virtual Console properties such as the size workspace, the widgets' default properties and the Grand Master slider properties.
| Stop all currently running functions.