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.. _panda3d-tools:

Panda3D Tools
=============

This section lists a number of tools to support programming in Panda.

Many of the tools provided are invoked by pressing a hot-key inside of the
panda main window. These hot-key driven tools are called the "direct tools."
The direct tools are initially disabled, because the hot-keys used to invoke
them might interfere with the program's own keys and events.

To enable the hot-keys for the direct tools, you need to set the
'want-directtools' variable in config.prc, the main panda configuration file.
Additionally, set 'want-tk' to '#t' in order to enable the Direct Session
Panel. More information about this configuration file is available in the
:ref:`configuring-panda` section.

If you want to quickly enable the Direct Session browser, add the following
code before importing DirectStart:


.. code-block:: python
    
    from panda3d.core import loadPrcFileData
    loadPrcFileData("", "want-directtools #t")
    loadPrcFileData("", "want-tk #t")



After enabling direct tools and starting panda, the Direct Session window
should appear:

.. figure:: directtools1.jpg
   :alt: directtools1.jpg