Browser interface
The UI is can be configured in any arrangement with floating/docking windows. There are various themes and toolbars that may be used with the software to provide further options.
Main / 3D window
The 3D window, or the main window may run in windowed or fullscreen mode. There are various camera modes available with the ability to zoom in/out.
Avatars
A user's avatar is the representation of them within that environment. Tourists have access to two avatars, typically male / female. Citizens have the world's full selection of avatars available to them. As well, citizens can have their own personal avatar to use among worlds enabled for it. Avatars may act out various gestures, and ride/hold mover objects. Users may right-click an avatar to access that user's avatar menu.
Objects
Everything seen within a world is comprised of objects. The browser allows in public building worlds, and those with rights in private worlds, to build. Most building with the browser is done by duplication, one object duplicated, and manipulated into another object with the Object Properties Dialog box. In worlds where one is able to build, they may access this dialog by right clicking any object. At the discretion of the caretaker, those who do not have rights to build, may or may not access the object dialog to view the data of objects.
Signs / Pictures / Media
With sign objects, it is easy to display text to a user to give them information about the environment or describing an item. Picture objects are used to display a wide variety of formats for images on the web.
A very useful feature is the ability to display media /video within your world, such as a music video.
Link objects
Link objects link to other websites or email address. One can make make a mailbox, or a sign object linking to their homepage.
Mover objects
With version 4.1 of Active Worlds, mover objects can be used for users to ride, "place/seat", or hold. Mover objects are designated with a hand cursor with a tooltip displaying <Mover> (or <"Mover name">).
Particles / Zones
Particles can add beautiful, colorful effects to worlds. Splashing water, fire, smoke, and weather are various effects made easily by this.
Zones can be used to partition world settings or a part of the environment within certain areas. Zones can be different shapes and sizes.
Menubar
Starting with 5.2 the menu bar is integrated into the 3D view. The size of the menubar's font can be changed from the Menu/Options/Settings/Advanced dialog along with the toolbar's icon sizes.
Moving the bars
Hold the Right Alt key down, Right Click once into a frame and drag-move the frame to any position on screen. Once the mouse button and the Right Alt key are released, the position is locked again.
Alignment and Orientation
When you move a frame to the left or right edges of the screen, it will auto-align its orientation vertically. When you move a frame to the top or bottom edges of the screen, it will auto-align its orientation horizonal. To override this kind of alignment to the screen's borders, hold the Right Ctrl key down while moving the frame to either edge of the screen.
Center
To center a frame horizontal, again hold the Right Alt key down, and Double Right Click into the frame. To center a frame vertically, hold the Right Alt key down along with the Right Ctrl key, and Double Right Click into the frame.
Storing your settings
The relative screen position of the overlay frames is independend of the screen's dimension. Whenever the 3D viewport window gets resized, the position of the HUD frames will remain at their relative position to the edges of the screen.
Toolbar
Starting with 5.2 the tool bar is integrated into the 3D view.
The size of the toolbar's icons can be changed from the Menu/Options/Settings/Advanced dialog. For moving and alignment of the toolbar, please look at Menubar above.
Active Worlds supports a customizable toolbar to be used for enhanced interaction with a particular environment, or simply different styles.
Full screen mode
The main window can be set to full screen mode with its own seperate configuration of floating and dialog windows metrics. ALT+Enter is the keyboard shortcut used to toggle this state.
Chat window
Everything that is said within a world, in private whispers, or displayed to inform the user is displayed here. When other users talk, a user may right click a chat line to access another's avatar menu. Various errors encountered, especially object errors, will appear here as well if configured in their options to do so.
The chat window may be docked, floating, or auto-hide.
Tabs
The tabs pane is accessible using the 'F9' key. It may be docked, floating, or auto-hide.
Worlds
This list displays all of the non-hidden worlds within a universe, along with the user count. The dividers at the top of the list may be clicked to sort based on world name A-Z, or population count. Worlds may be public, or private, with gray worlds representing those private.
Worlds are rated using guidelines not dissimilar to the MPAA motion picture ratings. The ratings are G "general", PG "parental guidance", PG-13, R "restricted", and X "explicit".
Contacts
Contacts lists are how one keeps track of other users online status, and communicates and interacts with others in the universe. You may send telegrams to your contacts, join or invite them to your location, and adjusting privacy / block settings for that user.
Telegrams
Telegrams that have been sent and received from users in the universe. The dividers may be clicked to sort by that divider's category.
Voice Chat
The voice chat tab contains the various settings for voice chat. Visit Voice_chat to learn more about this option.
Teleports
This tab provides a list of your saved teleports.
User Guide
This tab shows the User Guide.
Users
In some universes, this tab provides a list of users within the universe.
Search
In some universes, this tab provides a search function that allows users to search for specific worlds, as identified by world owners.
Integrated web browser
The integrated webbrowser uses Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) to view rich web content. World owners can design websites, for example, to present the world or to guide visitors
Building
Active Worlds supports a build mode to provide ease building. The object properties dialog is always open, all hidden objects are shown. Physics and collision is taken out of movement, and flying is enabled.
See building for more information regarding the building interface.