> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.altoura.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Enter Author Mode

> Choose Author Mode from the Mode Selection screen and get oriented in the authoring workspace.

This page is for **procedure authors** with Author access. By the end of it, you will have opened a procedure in Author Mode and know your way around the authoring workspace, including how to move between steps.

If you are unsure whether you should be authoring or operating, see [Author vs. Operator](/frontline/overview/concepts/author-vs-operator).

## Choose a Mode

The **Mode Selection** screen appears after you select a procedure on **Home** and tap **Start**.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/altoura-785c3552/dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u/frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-mode-selection.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u&q=85&s=faf09a41503d1bff489ca5b1c9ed5cbd" alt="Mode Selection screen with Author Mode and Operator Mode options" noZoom style={{width: "100%", height: "auto"}} width="2388" height="1668" data-path="frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-mode-selection.png" />
</Frame>

<Note>
  The Mode Selection option is available only to users with Author access. Operators go straight into the procedure.
</Note>

| Mode              | Use this mode to                                                                                   |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Author Mode**   | Review and modify procedure content, position 3D models, and configure augmented reality elements. |
| **Operator Mode** | Perform a published procedure using guided instructions, media, and augmented reality content.     |

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select a procedure from Home">
    Tap the procedure card, then tap **Start**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Author Mode">
    Frontline prepares the workspace and opens the procedure for authoring.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Get Oriented in the Authoring Workspace

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/altoura-785c3552/dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u/frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-author-mode.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u&q=85&s=df628cb644c18400fcced7e0619d53e8" alt="Author Mode workspace with the AR camera view and 3D model panel" noZoom style={{width: "100%", height: "auto"}} width="2388" height="1668" data-path="frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-author-mode.png" />
</Frame>

The Author Mode workspace contains:

| Area                    | Description                                                                                          |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **AR Camera View**      | Displays the physical environment together with 3D models and procedure content.                     |
| **3D Model Panel**      | Displays the models assigned to the current procedure step and provides access to the model library. |
| **Navigation Controls** | Move between procedure steps using the Previous and Next buttons.                                    |
| **Step Menu**           | Jump directly to any step in the procedure.                                                          |

## Move Between Procedure Steps

Use the **Previous** and **Next** controls to move through the procedure one step at a time. To jump directly to another step:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Steps panel">
    Select the **Steps** <img src="https://mintcdn.com/altoura-785c3552/dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u/frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-steps-button.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u&q=85&s=56d9c15c1ac1db6c56d5f7b54d7968c2" alt="Steps button" style={{ display: "inline", height: "18px", verticalAlign: "middle" }} width="28" height="34" data-path="frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-steps-button.png" /> button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the required step">
    The selected step immediately becomes active.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/altoura-785c3552/dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u/frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-steps-panel.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u&q=85&s=1ea7b323151fa185b07a11b746da20df" alt="Steps panel displaying the available procedure steps" noZoom style={{width: "100%", height: "auto"}} width="2388" height="1668" data-path="frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-steps-panel.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

A procedure can contain two types of steps:

* **Regular Step** — Guides the user through a sequence of instructions.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/altoura-785c3552/dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u/frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-regular-step.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u&q=85&s=98e960cab33287f15337b81a09f20d6b" alt="Regular Step in Author Mode" noZoom style={{width: "100%", height: "auto"}} width="2388" height="1668" data-path="frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-regular-step.png" />
</Frame>

* **Question Step** — Presents a question with multiple answer choices. The selected answer determines the next procedure step.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/altoura-785c3552/dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u/frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-question-step.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dGjpngJxnDwHfL9u&q=85&s=ff8cea9a7f0de46a04d128b2fdf20f24" alt="Question Step in Author Mode" noZoom style={{width: "100%", height: "auto"}} width="2388" height="1668" data-path="frontline/images/ipad/author/ipad-question-step.png" />
</Frame>

***

**Next:** [Anchor and Set Up the Space](/frontline/ipad/author/anchor-and-set-up-the-space)