Share

Docking editor windows

Editors, Listers, Tool palettes and Panels are known as editor windows and have the following properties:

  • Parallel - These windows can remain on-screen while other tools are being used. They operate in parallel with the continuous tool workflow and don't interrupt it.
  • Dockable - Editors can be docked to the interface and to each other.
  • Persistent - The windows remain open and in the same positions when you exit and re-launch Alias.

The editors that are open on the screen are shown with a blue checkmark on their menu entry.

Window types that can be docked include:

  • Palette
  • Shelves
  • Panels
  • Editors and Listers
  • Toolboxes
Note: The Layer Bar is the only window that has a fixed position on screen and cannot be moved or docked elsewhere.

Window types that cannot be docked include:

  • Tool Option windows
  • Tool Control windows

Docking mouse buttons and hit zones

Editor windows must first be opened from their menu entry.

They can then be docked either to the application borders or each other by:

  • Click-drag on the editor header bar using either:

    • Middle mouse button
    • Shift + Left mouse button
  • Align the cursor position on the editor header bar with a dropzone until the blue dropzone target appears as a bright blue line and a dropzone icon:

  • Release the mouse button to dock the window.

Docked sets splitter position

When docking two or more windows together, adjust the proportion of the docked space by click-dragging in the splitter area on the or cursor:

Undocking windows

To undock a window use the MMB or Shift + LMB on the title tab again and drag completely outside the docked area.

Note: For undocking the title tab needs to be selected, whereas for docking the whole header bar can be used.

The topmost or leftmost splitter affect all the subsequent ones. So when tidying up the layout, working top-down or left-right gives the most predictable results.

Docking to the application borders

Editor windows docked to the vertical sides will always fill the full height of the application window.

Windows docked to the horizontal edges are contained within any vertical docked elements.

The docked windows sets can be made wider or more narrow up to approximately 15-20% of the screen size.

Collapse and expand docked window sets

Windows docked to the application borders can be collapsed and expanded:

  • Click on the chevron icon to collapse a window set
  • Move the cursor over the border area until the blue expand line appears. Click on the blue line to expand.

Single window collapse / expand

If more than one window has been docked under or above another in a vertical edge set, it can be collapsed and expanded by double-clicking in its title bar.

The contents of a collapsed window can be accessed using the RMB to open a fly-out window:

Collapsing windows that are docked side-by-side in a horizontal bar is less useful and the appearance is less readable. However, they can still be collapsed in the same way and accessed with the RMB.

Unexpected undocking when editor re-selected from Menu

On a menu, a blue checkmark is shown alongside an editor window that is open. There is no indication whether it is docked or floating.

Re-selecting an open editor from the menu closes it and, if the editor is docked, undock it so that the next time it is selected it will appear as a floating window.

Was this information helpful?