Command Palette
The Command Palette provides instant keyboard-driven access to every navigation destination, tool, automation project element, settings section, and running simulation in Aethrix Studio.
Press Ctrl+K to open it. A semi-transparent overlay appears with a search box, a results list, and a footer hint.
search The search box placeholder reads "Search or type > for commands (Ctrl+K)".
Layout
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Search box | Type to filter results. A magnifier icon sits on the left. |
| AI button (Ora) | Top-right of the card. Opens the Ora AI assistant (equivalent to Ctrl+Shift+K). |
| Results list | Each row shows an icon, the name, a secondary subtitle, and a small category glyph on the right (with a tooltip naming the category). |
| Footer hint | Shows the active shortcuts for the current platform. |
| Category header | Appears when you use the @ or > prefix (see below). |
| Empty state | Shows "No results found" when nothing matches. |
Click anywhere outside the card (on the backdrop) to dismiss the palette.
Searching
Start typing to filter results across all categories. The palette uses fuzzy matching — you don't need exact names. Results are ranked by relevance score, and the top result is selected automatically.
Category filter — @
Prefix your search with @category to limit results to a single category. The category header shows "Filter: <category>".
| Filter | Category | Provides |
|---|---|---|
@navigation | Navigation | Views and test utility tools |
@api | API Playground | Loaded API service operations |
@simulation | Service Simulation | Simulation servers, control commands, and virtual services |
@automation | Automation Projects | Loaded project structures (projects, suites, cases, steps) or recent projects |
@settings | Settings | Settings sections |
Example: @automation login searches for "login" within automation projects only.
Command mode — >
Prefix with > to switch to command-style input. The category header shows "Commands".
>Base64opens the Base64 Encoder/Decoder tool.
Providers
The palette aggregates results from several providers, each owning one category. Providers register dynamically based on the active view and the loaded workspace.
| Provider | Category | What it searches |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | navigation | Views and utility tools |
| API Services | api | Services and operations imported in the workspace |
| Service Simulation | simulation | Simulation servers, Start/Stop control commands, and virtual services |
| Automation Projects | automation | Loaded projects, suites, test cases, and steps (or recent projects when none are loaded) |
| Settings | settings | Settings sections |
The automation provider only returns project structure when projects are loaded; otherwise it offers your recent automation projects.
Navigation entries
| Entry | Subtitle |
|---|---|
| Home | Navigate to Home |
| API Playground | Open API Playground |
| Test Automation | Open Test Automation |
| Service Simulation | Open Service Simulation |
| Message History | View Message History |
| API Extension Designer | Open API Extension Designer |
| My Account | Open My Account |
| Extensions | Manage Extensions |
| Help | Open Help |
| Settings | Open Settings |
| Base64 Encoder/Decoder | Encode and decode Base64 strings |
| JWT Decoder | Decode and inspect JWT tokens |
| XPath Evaluator | Evaluate XPath expressions |
| JPath Evaluator | Evaluate JSONPath expressions |
| Regular Expression Tester | Test regular expressions |
| Test Design | Apply ISTQB test design techniques |
Settings entries
General, Appearance, Editor, Network, Security, Extensions, Ora (AI Assistant), Service Parameters, Certificate.
Dynamic entries
- API Services — every loaded operation, e.g.
GET /users, with a method icon. - Service Simulation — each available server (with Running/Stopped status), a Start <server> and Stop <server> control command, and every configured virtual service. If no servers are available, a single "No simulation servers available" entry appears.
- Automation Projects — every project, suite, test case, and step in the loaded structure (with VS2026-style icons), or your recent projects.
Keyboard controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+K | Open palette |
| Ctrl+Shift+K | Open Ora AI assistant (AI button in the header) |
| Esc | Close palette |
| ↑ ↓ | Navigate results |
| Enter | Select and execute |
| Tab | Auto-complete the selected suggestion into the search box |
| @ | Category filter prefix |
| > | Command mode prefix |
On macOS the footer shows ⌘+⇧+K for Ora instead of Ctrl+Shift+K.