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This page is for procedure authors on the HoloLens. By the end of it, you will know your way around the Author-mode panel layout and be able to move to any task or step in the procedure to author its spatial content.
The structure itself — tasks, steps, titles, descriptions, media attachments, and branching — is created and edited in the web Procedures Portal, not on the device. See Authoring in the Procedures Portal. On the HoloLens, you walk that structure step by step and author what appears in the physical space for each step. New to how procedures are organized? See Procedures, Tasks & Steps.

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Get Oriented: The Author-Mode Panel Layout

After you confirm the QR anchor, the procedure opens with up to three panels:
Procedure step view showing the media panel on the left, the Step 1 instruction panel in the centre, and the 3D Model panel on the right
The content of every panel is step-specific: it reflects exactly what was attached to that step during procedure creation in the Portal. If nothing was attached, the corresponding area is hidden or empty. See How Content Flows for how Portal content reaches the device.

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Move Between Steps

Step panel showing the step number, title, description text, and Back and Next navigation arrows
1

Go forward

Select the right arrow on the step panel — or say “Next”. The panel updates with the new step number and task title, and the Media and 3D Model panels refresh to that step’s content.
2

Go back

Select the left arrow — or say “Previous”. The system returns to the previous step and all panels refresh accordingly.
The Next and Previous arrows are the only controls that do not respond to hover + “Select”. To change steps by voice you must say “Next” or “Previous” (or air-tap the arrows directly). See Voice Commands.

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Jump Anywhere with the Step List

You do not have to author sequentially. A list icon in the top-left of the step panel (before the Back button) opens the Step List Panel — a full navigator of the procedure.
Step List Panel showing tasks and steps with a step in focus and the 'Say select' voice tooltip visible
The panel shows the procedure name, all tasks, all steps under each task, and all completion steps — including any you added manually and the system-generated default Completion Task.
1

Open the step list

Select the list icon in the top-left of the step panel.
2

Jump to any task or step

Focus an entry and air-tap it, or say “Select” when the voice hint appears. You can skip forward or move backward freely — there is no requirement to follow the Next/Back sequence.
3

Close when done

Select the Close (X) button to return to the currently active step without changing the procedure state.
When you jump to a step in Author mode, it loads exactly as authored: the Media panel appears if media is attached, the 3D Model panel shows that step’s models, previously placed models appear in their saved positions, and the gem anchor appears if configured. All authoring capabilities — spawning, repositioning, editing, configuring models — remain fully available, just as if you had reached the step sequentially.
If you jump to a Choice Step, there is no forward button — you must select one of the choice options to proceed. See Choice Steps and Completion Rules.

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Keep Panels with You: Follow Me

While authoring you move around the workspace constantly. Follow Me keeps a supported panel floating in front of you as you walk or turn, instead of staying parked where you left it. The toggle is the pin-shaped button in the top-right corner of each panel that supports it — pin with a slash = OFF (default, panel stays put); pin without a slash = ON (panel follows you).
Author-mode procedure view with the 3D Model panel's Follow Me pin button in its OFF (default) state
1

Turn Follow Me on

Air-tap the pin button on the panel — or simply say “Follow me” from anywhere, no need to look at the panel. The pin icon loses its slash and the panel begins repositioning itself in front of you as you move.
Author-mode procedure view with the 3D Model panel's Follow Me pin button in its ON state — the pin no longer shows a slash
2

Turn Follow Me off

Air-tap the pin again, say “Unfollow me”, or just grab the panel and move it — manually repositioning a panel automatically switches Follow Me off, letting you “park” it in place.
In Author mode, Follow Me is available on the 3D Model panel and the Task / Step List panel (as well as the global Procedures panel outside the procedure). State is remembered per panel and survives step changes. Panels without the pin icon — dialogs, popups, the QR flow — do not support Follow Me by design.
Enable Follow Me on the Task / Step List panel while you work: you can jump between steps from anywhere in the room without walking back to a fixed panel.
For exhaustive detail, see the reference pages: Panel View, Step Navigation, List of Tasks/Steps, and Follow Me.
Next: Add 3D Models and Media