Docking Manager

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.

Principle designer docking configuration: this applies to the Designer Tree panel, the Functional Editor area (this is the workspace panel) and a number of additional panels that are shown periodically e.g. References Panel, Uses Panel, Search Panel etc. This layout configuration is saved automatically when the designer is shutdown.

Form Editor docking configuration: this is used when a form is being edited – see Form Editor. The workspace panel is the WYSIWYG View panel and this is surrounded by a number of additional panels. This docking configuration is saved and configured using the icon on the form toolbar. Similarly the Component Editor, Workflow Editor and Integration Services Editor all have their own docking configuration.

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:

Dragging the panel to an area not owned by the docking manager or into the workspace panel
Right clicking on the panel’s title tab and selecting Floating
Clicking the Toggle floating icon on the panel’s title tab

A panel is un-floated by either:

Dragging the panel to a docked area
Right clicking on the panel’s title tab and clicking Floating again
Re-clicking the Toggle floating icon on the panel’s title tab

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:

Right clicking on the panel’s title tab and selecting Maximize.
Double clicking on the panel’s title tab (for the workspace panel, double click the toolbar or title at the top of the panel).

Restore a panel to its original size by:

Right clicking on the panel’s title tab and selecting Restore.
Double clicking on the panel’s title tab (for the workspace panel, double click on the title at the top of the panel).

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:

Save current layout: saves the current layout replacing the user’s current layout
Restore saved layout: resets the layout to the user’s saved layout
Reset layout to system default: resets the layout to the default layout provided with the system; Caution!: this permanently removes any previously saved user layout
Show View: can be used to show any panel which has been explictly closed