> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.siminsights.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.siminsights.com/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions.md).

# Actions

## Overview

Actions are the things a state does when it runs: showing a message, playing media, moving an object, changing an attribute, and so on. You add an action to a state from the State Machine tab in the HyperSkill Desktop application, using the entry or exit action dropdown and the + button. Each page below describes the settings for one action. For the general workflow, start with [How to Author the State Machine](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/how-to-author-the-state-machine.md).

## Messaging, dialogue and AI

* [AI Chat](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/ai-chat.md): open, close and send messages in a 2D chat interface.
* [Change Character Prompt](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/change-character-prompt.md): change the prompt the AI Chat agent uses.
* [Reset Chat](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/reset-chat.md): return the AI to its state before any user input.
* [Run Agent](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/run-agent.md): start an AI agent.
* [Display Message](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/display-message.md): show (and optionally speak) a message.
* [Speak](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/speak.md): have a virtual person speak.
* [Switch Virtual Assistant](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/switch-virtual-assistant.md): change which virtual person or voice is the virtual assistant.
* [Microphone](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/microphone.md): mute or unmute the user's microphone.

## Feedback, scoring and progress

* [Add Feedback Log](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/add-feedback-log.md) and [Show Feedback Log](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/show-feedback-log.md): store feedback and display it later.
* [Quiz](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/quiz.md): ask a multiple-choice question.
* [Checklist](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/checklist.md): add or remove checklist items.
* [Leaderboard](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/leaderboard.md): record attributes for a leaderboard.
* [Set Attribute](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/set-attribute.md): set an attribute value on an entity.
* [Start Timer](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/start-timer.md) and [End Timer](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/end-timer.md): create, start and stop timers.
* [Wait](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/wait.md): delay the actions that follow.
* [Go To Sim](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/go-to-sim.md): offer the user a jump to another simulation.

## Media and display

* [Display Image](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/display-image.md), [Play Video](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/play-video.md) and [Open Link](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/open-link.md): show images, videos and links.
* [Play Audio](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/play-audio.md) and [Spatial Audio](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/spatial-audio.md): play sounds.
* [Transition Effect](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/transition-effect.md): fade the scene out and in.
* [Lighting Settings](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/lighting-settings.md): change the simulation lighting.
* [Highlight](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/highlight.md): highlight an entity.

## Cameras

* [Camera](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/camera.md): add a camera and show its view on a monitor display.
* [Add a Follow Camera](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/add-a-follow-camera.md): follow an object at a set distance.

## Objects and virtual people

* [Spawner](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/spawner.md): create entities in the environment.
* [Translate](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/translate.md) and [Rotate](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/rotate.md): move and rotate an object.
* [Play Animation](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/play-animation.md), [Animation Controller](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/animation-controller.md) and [Animation State Transition](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/animation-state-transition.md): play and control animations and poses.
* [Look At](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/look-at.md) and [IK Solver](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/ik-solver.md): direct where a virtual person looks or reaches.
* [Particle Controller](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/particle-controller.md): play particles on an entity.
* [VCode Function](/hyperskill-studio-authoring/state-machine-reference/actions/vcode-function.md): run a block-programming script attached to a virtual object.