Controls and Interface

Master BERT's interface and controls to build systems efficiently and confidently.

Quick Start

New to BERT? These four controls will get you started:

1. 🖱️ Left-click any element to select it

2. 🖱️ Right-click + drag to move around the canvas

3. ⌨️ Press = to zoom in, - to zoom out

4. ⌨️ Press Ctrl+S to save your work

That's it! You're ready to start building systems.

Interface Overview

BERT's interface is designed for intuitive system modeling with these main components:

Main Canvas

• Central workspace where you build your systems

• Infinite canvas - zoom and pan to see any level of detail

• Visual feedback - elements highlight when selected or hovered

Element Creation Toolbar

• System elements - Create systems, subsystems, interfaces

• External entities - Add sources and sinks

• Flows - Connect elements with material, energy, or information flows

• One-click creation - Select tool, then click on canvas

Properties Panel

• Automatic display - Opens when you select any element

• Live editing - Changes apply immediately as you type

• Context-sensitive - Shows relevant properties for each element type

• Validation - Highlights required fields and format errors

Navigation Controls

• Breadcrumb navigation - Shows your current location in system hierarchy

• Zoom controls - Visual zoom level indicator

• View reset - Quick return to default view

Navigation and Movement

Moving Around the Canvas

What you want to do	How to do it	Visual cue
Move around the canvas	Right-click and drag	🖱️ Cursor changes to hand
Zoom in (see details)	Press = key	🔍 Elements get larger
Zoom out (see overview)	Press - key	🔍 Elements get smaller
Reset to center	Press Ctrl+R	🎯 View returns to starting position

Scrolling Options

• Mouse wheel - Scroll up/down and left/right

• Trackpad - Use natural scrolling gestures

• Keyboard - Arrow keys for precise movement

Selection and Manipulation

Basic Selection

What you want to do	How to do it	What happens
Select one element	Left-click on it	🟦 Element gets blue outline
Select multiple elements	Hold Shift + click each one	🟦 Multiple blue outlines appear
Multi-select tip	Shift+Click works for any number of elements	💡 Great for moving related parts together
Deselect everything	Press Escape or click empty space	⚪ All outlines disappear

Working with Selected Elements

• Move them - Click and drag any selected element

• Delete them - Press Delete or Backspace

• Hide them - Press H (useful for complex diagrams)

• Edit properties - Properties panel opens automatically

Creating System Elements

Element Types and Usage

Element Type	What it represents	When to use it	Visual appearance
🏢 System	Main system boundary	Starting point for analysis	Large circle with label
🔗 Interface	Connection points	Where system connects to world	Small circles on system boundary
⚙️ Subsystem	Internal components	Parts inside your main system	Smaller circles inside systems
🌐 External Entity	Outside sources/sinks	Things that interact with system	Squares outside system boundary
➡️ Flow	Transfers between elements	Energy, materials, information	Curved lines with arrows

Creating Elements

1. Select element type from the toolbar

2. Click on canvas where you want to place it

3. Element appears with default properties

4. Edit properties in the panel that opens automatically

Connecting Elements

Simple 3-step process:

1. Click the source element (where flow starts)

2. Drag to the target element (where flow ends)

3. Release to create the connection

💡 Tip: The connection line shows you where it will connect before you release.

Element Relationships

Understanding how elements connect helps you model systems accurately:

Relationship	Description	Example
External Entity → Interface	External entities connect through interfaces	Customer → Order Counter
Interface → Subsystem	Interfaces connect to internal components	Order Counter → Kitchen
Subsystem → Interface	Internal components connect to output interfaces	Kitchen → Pickup Counter
Interface → Interface	Direct interface connections	Order Counter → Pickup Counter
System → System	High-level system connections	Restaurant → Supplier

Editing and Organization

Moving Elements

• Single element: Click and drag

• Multiple elements: Select multiple, then drag any one

• Precise positioning: Use small mouse movements for fine control

• Snap to grid: Elements align automatically for clean layouts

Organizing Your View

Action	Shortcut	Why use it
Hide elements	Select + press H	Reduce clutter while working
Show hidden elements	Press U	Bring back hidden elements
Delete elements	Select + press Delete	Remove unwanted elements
Group selection	Shift + click multiple	Move related elements together

Working with Properties

1. Select any element - Properties panel opens on the right

2. Edit the fields - Name, description, type, amounts, units

3. Changes save automatically - No need to click "Save"

4. Required fields - Highlighted when missing

5. Validation - Real-time feedback on data format

File Management

Saving Your Work

Action	Shortcut	When to use it
Save	Ctrl+S	Save frequently! Every few minutes
Save As	Ctrl+Shift+S	Create versions or backups
Open file	Ctrl+L	Load an existing BERT model

💡 Pro tip: Save early, save often. BERT files are small and save quickly.

File Formats

• BERT files end in .json - Complete system models

• Portable format - Works across all BERT versions

• Human-readable - Can be viewed in any text editor

• Version control friendly - Works well with Git

Advanced Features

System Decomposition

Go deeper into your systems:

1. Double-click a subsystem - Enter it to see internal details

2. Use breadcrumbs - Navigate back up through system levels

3. Build hierarchically - Start simple, add detail as needed

4. Unlimited nesting - Decompose to any level of detail

Flow Management

Make your flows more precise:

• Click flow endpoints - Adjust where connections attach

• Drag flow curves - Change the path flows take

• Edit flow properties - Set amounts, units, and types

• Flow validation - Ensures connections make sense

Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Action	Shortcut	Category
Apply equivalence	E	Advanced
Quick save	Ctrl+S	File
Quick open	Ctrl+L	File
Reset view	Ctrl+R	Navigation
Hide selected	H	Organization
Unhide all	U	Organization
Delete selected	Delete	Editing
Deselect all	Escape	Selection
Zoom in	=	Navigation
Zoom out	-	Navigation
Multi-select	Shift + Click	Selection

Advanced Shortcuts

• Apply Equivalence (E key) - Automatically balance flows between connected interfaces

Workflow Tips

For Beginners

1. Start simple - Create your main system first

2. Add interfaces - Where does your system connect to the world?

3. Add flows - What moves in and out?

4. Decompose gradually - Add internal details as needed

5. Save frequently - Protect your work

For Complex Systems

1. Use hiding (H key) to focus on specific parts

2. Work top-down - Big picture first, details later

3. Save versions - Use "Save As" for different iterations

4. Multi-select (Shift+click) to move related elements together

5. Plan hierarchy - Think about decomposition levels upfront

Performance Tips

• Hide unused elements - Improves performance with large models

• Use subsystems - Break complex systems into manageable parts

• Regular saves - Prevent data loss

• Zoom appropriately - Use the right level of detail for your task

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Problem	Solution
Can't see my elements	Press Ctrl+R to reset view
Elements won't connect	Make sure you're dragging from one element to another
Properties panel is empty	Click on an element to select it first
Lost my work	Check if you saved recently (Ctrl+S)
App is slow	Hide unused elements with H key
Can't find an element	Use U to unhide all elements
Accidental deletion	Use Ctrl+Z to undo (if available)

Getting Help

• Stuck? Try pressing Escape to deselect everything and start fresh

• Lost your view? Press Ctrl+R to reset to center

• Want to experiment? Save your work first, then try new things

• Need more help? Check out our step-by-step tutorials

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Web browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest versions)

• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended

• Storage: 100MB for desktop app

• Internet: Required for web version, optional for desktop

Optimal Performance

• RAM: 16GB or more for large systems

• Graphics: Dedicated GPU recommended for complex models

• Display: 1920x1080 or higher resolution

• Input: Mouse recommended (trackpad supported)

Platform Support

• Web: All modern browsers

• Desktop: macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+

• Mobile: Limited support (view-only)

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Ready to build amazing systems? Remember: Start simple, save often, and don't be afraid to experiment! 🚀