This page explains how to open and use Explorer, Ladder Settings, Libraries, and Symbols from the Activity Bar.

The Activity Bar is the vertical row of icons at the left edge of the window. An icon opens a left side panel, the bottom panel, or a separate window according to its function.

Explorer, Ladder Settings, and Library share the same side-panel area. Selecting one while the panel is closed opens it. Selecting another changes the panel. Selecting the active icon again closes the panel. Ctrl + B also toggles the side panel.

The Serial Monitor icon follows the same pattern for the bottom panel. It opens the Serial Monitor when the panel is closed, switches to it when another bottom tab is active, and closes the bottom panel when the Serial Monitor is already selected.

Explorer lists the files and ladders in the current project. Selecting an item changes the center editor to that Arduino Code file or ladder logic.

A dot appears beside the Explorer title after the project changes and disappears after it is saved. Projects with expansion modules also show Option modules and the X, Y, F, and K module counts below Board.

The + at the right of Code or Ladder creates an item. See Phase 5 · Create and Manage Code Files for creating, renaming, deleting, and reordering files and ladders.

Ladder Settings is a read-only panel for checking the current board's LD addresses, Arduino pins, and configured PLC memory counts.

Pin Mapping and Memory Area collapse independently. Collapse Memory Area while reading the long pin table, or collapse Pin Mapping when you need the memory counts in one view.

Use Ladder Pin Map Settings on the Activity Bar to change LD addresses or enable states. Use Settings → Memory Area Settings to change memory counts. Address rules and both settings are described in Phase 2 · Memory Regions.

The Library panel searches and installs online libraries, includes selected installed libraries in the project, and imports libraries from folders, source files, or ZIP files.

Enter the library name and select Install on the required result. The button changes to Remove when installation completes. If the list still shows the old state, select Refresh to reload installed libraries and Arduino Code completion.

The compatibility badge is guidance based on the architectures declared by the library. A compatible result can still build or behave differently when the library depends on specific pins, timers, or MCU features.

When Deploy is selected, saving the project copies the current contents of that library folder into the .mp2 file. The included library is available when the project is opened on another PC. If that PC already has a library with the same name, its locally installed copy takes priority.

Libraries supplied by MPINO Studio 2 do not show Deploy because the receiving installation provides the same library. Including many libraries increases the project-file size.

See Phase 7 · General Preferences to change the user library folder.

ZIP files and individual source files cannot be selected together. Import the ZIP files first, then open From file/ZIP again for the individual source files.

Source files copied directly into the library root may be excluded from builds and completion because they do not form a library folder. Import them through Import → From file/ZIP, then select Refresh.

A symbol is a readable name assigned to a PLC memory address. For example, assigning Motor to M0 displays Motor in the ladder and lets Arduino Code access the same M0 memory through that name.

The Symbols window can be moved over the editor. Select Symbols on the Activity Bar again to close it. The Arduino Code and ladder editors remain available while the window is open.

1. Enter the address, symbol, and optional comment in the top row.
2. Select Add or press Enter.
3. After a successful addition, the matching memory-area tab opens and focus returns to the address field.

Select an address, symbol, or comment in the table to edit it. Press Enter or move focus away to apply the value. Press Esc to restore the value that was present before editing.

Deletion takes effect without confirmation. Adding, editing, deleting, and ladder-cell changes caused by an address change are not part of ladder Ctrl + Z undo history.

Changing the address of a registered symbol opens a confirmation dialog when ladder cells use the old address. The dialog gives the number of cells that will also change.

Cancelling an address change leaves both the symbol and ladder cells unchanged. An address with no affected ladder cells changes without a confirmation dialog.

If any imported row violates the address or name rules or contains a duplicate, the entire import stops and the current symbol list is preserved. Import does not append rows, so export the current list first when it must be retained.

Ladder cells store the physical address. A symbol is the readable name displayed for that address, so renaming a symbol does not change the memory behavior of the ladder.

Symbols that can be used in Arduino Code are connected during the build as follows.

// Symbols: M0 = Motor, M10 = Start
if (Start) {
  Motor = true;
}

An Arduino Code symbol must be a C identifier: it begins with an ASCII letter or _ and continues with ASCII letters, digits, or _. C/C++ keywords, the P, M, D, C, T, and R memory array names, and Arduino or generated names such as setup, loop, and digitalWrite are excluded from Arduino Code aliases. Korean or Japanese names remain available in ladder logic, but Arduino Code must use their physical addresses.

See Phase 2 · Sharing Memory between Arduino Code and Ladder Logic for the shared-memory structure.

• Phase 2 · Understand Memory — memory areas, pin mapping, and shared memory
• Phase 5 · Editing Arduino Code — code files and completion
• Phase 6 · Serial and Ladder Monitoring — bottom panel and connection
• Phase 7 · Menus and Preferences — board, pin map, and app settings
• MPINO STUDIO 2 User Manual

← Phase 7 · Menus and Preferences | Back to the MPINO STUDIO 2 User Manual