Navigate between step definitions and their usages across your Sequence files with go-to, find-references, and the always-on References panel.
As your project grows, keeping track of where each step is defined and every place it is referenced becomes harder to do manually. AutomationView provides a set of navigation commands that let you jump straight to a step's definition, locate every place a step is used, and browse cross-file references - all without leaving the visual editor.
These features work across files. If a step in one Sequence references a step defined in a different file, AutomationView still finds it.
When you select a step or transition in the visual editor, AutomationView resolves its identity - the step name - and searches the entire workspace for matching definitions and references. The results are surfaced in the References panel and through the keyboard-driven navigation commands described below.
When you are looking at a transition that references a step, you can jump directly to where that step is defined.
The editor scrolls to, and highlights, the step definition - even if it lives in a different Sequence file.
You can also trigger this via the command palette: search for Go to Sync Reference.
When you have a step selected and want to see every place it is used, use Find Step References.
You see a list of every transition, action, or expression in the project that references that step name. Clicking any result navigates you to that location.
You can also trigger this via the command palette: search for Find Step References.
Two additional commands are available from the command palette:
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| Go to Step | Opens a quick-pick list of all steps in the project; selecting one jumps to its definition |
| Go to Variable | Opens a quick-pick list of all variables; selecting one jumps to where it is declared |
These commands are useful when you know the name but do not have a node selected to start from.
The References panel is always visible alongside the visual editor. You do not need to run a command to open it - it updates automatically as you move focus between elements.
The panel is context-aware: its content adapts to whatever is currently selected.
The panel lists every place in the project that references this step - including files other than the one currently open. Each result shows the file name, the referencing element, and a link you can click to navigate there.
The panel shows the step this transition targets, plus every other location that references the same step. This gives you a full picture of the step's role in the project.
When an action node is selected, the panel shows:
Click a variable link in the panel to jump directly to its declaration.
When a variable is in focus (for example, inside a condition expression), the panel lists every place that variable is read or written across the project.
All of the commands and the References panel work across files in your workspace. You are not limited to the currently open Sequence.
Cross-file results are especially useful in projects that split a machine's logic across multiple Sequence files - one for each mode, product, or sub-process.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Go to step definition (from transition) | F12 or Ctrl+Click |
| Find all references to selected step | Shift+F12 |
| Go to Step (command palette picker) | Search Go to Step |
| Go to Variable (command palette picker) | Search Go to Variable |
All shortcuts listed here are the defaults. You can rebind them in the keyboard shortcuts editor (Ctrl+K Ctrl+S).