Docking Panel Estimator Windows

In This Topic

Windows can be undocked so that they float within or outside the application window, which can be very useful for those working on multiple screens.

Window Visibility

The window visibility state can be toggled (either visible or hidden) from the Windows group on the View tab.

Docked Position vs Floating Position

You can reposition a docking window by dragging its title bar to the desired location. If the window is already docked, starting to drag will cause it to float. If you then drag it close to the side of the application window, or over another docked window, a blue highlight will show the location at which the window would be docked - see discussion below.

Dockable Window Size and Position

In general, a dockable window will reappear at the size and position at which it was last visible, but this may change if other dockable windows have been made visible or repositioned in the meantime. When Panel Estimator starts, the dockable windows will be in the same location as when the application was previously closed.

Resizing a Dockable Window

To change the size of a floating window, drag any corner or edge of the window. When docked the window will have a single free edge. You will only be able to resize in one direction by dragging the free edge.

Stacked Layout vs Tabbed Layout

When there is more than one window docked to the same side, those windows can be laid out in one of two ways:

Stacked - windows are arranged so that each window being visible and occupying part or all of a row/column.
Tabbed - where one window is visible at a time, occupying the whole of the side.
- Switch between the different windows by clicking tabs displayed at the bottom as a row of tabs.
- The order of the tabs can be adjusted by dragging an individual tab along the row of tabs.

Smart Docking

To dock windows that are floating use the smart docking markers which show you exactly where a dragged window can be docked. Simply drag the property inspector by the title bar to where you want it docked.

If you grab the property inspector by the top border (title bar) and drag, you can undock (float) and dock. As you drag the property inspector you will see the smart docking markers appear. Continue dragging until a blue highlight shows the location where the Window will be docked when the mouse is released. If this is the desired location, simply release the mouse button and the window will dock. If not, continue dragging until the highlight changes to the desired location.

While trying to dock, watch the extra info i.e. markers and highlight, that appear to show you where it will dock if you let go of the mouse. This info is more important to watch than the position of the mouse cursor.

Docking Example

In this example, the three windows Jobs, Jobs by Inventory and Panels/Boards are floated, as per example above. We will now dock these windows in a Stacked Layout.

Step 1

Dock the Jobs window by dragging the property inspector until you see smart docking markers. Drag the property inspector until the blue highlighted area displays the position of where you want to dock.

Step 2

For a stacked layout, dock the Jobs by Inventory window next to the Jobs window by dragging the property inspector until you see smart docking markers. Drag the property inspector until the blue highlighted area displays the position of where you want to dock i.e. to the right of the first placed window, as shown.

Step 3

Now dock the third window i.e. Panels/Boards, next to the Jobs by Inventory window by dragging the property inspector until you see smart docking markers. Drag the property inspector until the blue highlighted area displays the position of where you want to dock, as shown.

Completed

When Panel Estimator starts, the dockable windows will be in the same location as when the application was previously closed.