Docking Manager

 

Documentation home

 

Introduction. 1

Docking Manager Functionality. 1

Moving panels 1

Re-sizing panels 2

Floating panels 2

Auto-Hiding panels 2

Maximizing panels 2

Closing panels 2

Managing Layout 2

 

See also: Introduction to the Studio

 

Introduction

Most of the panels within the Studio are dockable: this means they can rearranged to meet your requirements. There are multiple separate docking configurations that exist independently of each other. Each configuration consists of a central workspace panel that can’t be dragged/floated surrounded by multiple panels that can be dragged/floated.

 

 

 

Docking Manager Functionality

The docking manager provides the following options, though all options may not always be implemented for each docking configuration:

Moving panels

A panel is dragged using its title tab. It can be dropped into any area owned by the docking manager excluding the workspace panel – in practice, this means any area north, south, east or west of the workspace panel. As a panel is being dragged, the drop location is shown. A panel can either be dropped into the same space occupied by an existing panel in which case the panel’s tab is added to the tabpane, or it can split an existing panel.

 

If a panel is dropped into an area not owned by the docking manager or into the workspace panel, it becomes a floating panel.

Re-sizing panels

Drag the panel separators to re-size panels.

Floating panels

A floating panel is a separate window that can be moved and re-sized independently. Floating panels can be dragged on top of each other to create a single window in the same way as for docked panels. Floating panels can be very useful for dual monitor configurations or in combination with maximized panels.

 

A panel can be floated by:

 

A panel is un-floated by either:

Auto-Hiding panels

When a panel is auto-hidden, the panel content is not shown and its title tab is displayed on the edge of the docking manager area. Clicking once on the auto-hidden panel tab restores the panel to its previous location. To auto-hide a panel, right click on the panel’s title tab and select Auto Hide or click the Toggle auto-hide icon  on the panel’s title tab.

Maximizing panels

All panels can be maximized including the workspace panel. This is achieved by either:

 

Restore a panel to its original size by:

Closing panels

Close a panel by right clicking on its title tab and selecting Close.  For the Form Editor configuration, re-show the panel by clicking the Manage Layout icon then select Show View; for the Principle designer configuration, a  panel can be re-shown using the View menu at the top of the designer window.

Managing Layout

For the Form Editor configuration, click the Manage Layout icon  on the form toolbar. This provides the following options: