Using the Docking Bar

You can use the Docking bar to customize the Canvas X Draw interface. By default, the Docking bar is displayed near the top of the screen below the Properties bar when you launch Canvas X Draw for the first time.

To Display the Docking Bar:

Choose Window | Docking Bar | Show Docking Bar. When you display the Docking bar, the palettes that were docked the last time it was displayed will remain locked.

To Hide the Docking Bar:

Choose Window | Docking Bar | Hide Docking Bar.

You can move the Docking bar from the top to the right and left sides of your workspace.

To Move the Docking Bar:

Click and hold the pointer on the Docking bar, (not on a palette tab). Drag the Docking bar from its present position to either the top, left, or right.

The settings for the Docking bar are stored in the CVAppData.Set file.

Docking Palettes

When you dock a palette, a tab with the palette’s name appears on the Docking bar. The tabs of docked palettes give you quick access to tools or features. Docked palettes also leave more screen space.

You can dock most Canvas X Draw palettes, including tool palettes. (See Tool Palettes.) You can dock other palettes from the Toolbox, including the Inks, Strokes, Transparency, and Brushes palettes. You can also dock command or effects palettes such as Align, Blend, Envelope, Object Specs, and Type. Dialog boxes that require you to click OK or Cancel before continuing can’t be docked.

Docked palette

Floating palette

You can dock as many palettes as you want on the Docking bar, depending on the size of your screen. (See To Adjust the Size of Tabs on the Docking Bar:.)

To Dock a Palette:

Do one of the following:

• Drag a palette to the Docking bar and drop it when a tab outline appears.
• Click the Docking button located in the upper right corner of the palette. 

To Dock a Tool Palette from the Toolbox:

First drag the palette away from the Toolbox so its title bar appears. Then, drag the tool palette onto the Docking bar.

To Change the Position of a Docked Palette:

Drag the palette’s tab to another position on the Docking bar.

To Remove a Docked Palette:

Drag the palette's tab away from the Docking bar.

To Dock All Open Palettes:

Choose Window | Docking Bar | Dock All Palettes.

To access the Docking bar commands, you can also right-click an empty area of the Docking bar.

To Dock Palettes When Closed:

Choose Window | Docking Bar | Dock Palettes When Closed.

To Arrange Docked Palettes:

Choose Window | Docking Bar | Clean Up to arrange the tabs of docked palettes evenly on the Docking bar.

To Arrange Tabs by Name:

Choose Window | Docking Bar | Clean Up By Name to arrange the tabs of docked palettes in alphabetical order.

To Adjust the Size of Tabs on the Docking Bar:

1. Choose Window | Docking Bar | Set Tab Length.
2. In the dialog box, select one of the following:
   • Auto: Displays the full name of docked palettes.
   • Max Characters: Sets a specific tab size. Enter the number of characters to display. A smaller number results in smaller tabs.
3. Click OK.

To Make a Selection from a Docked Palette:

Click the palette’s tab on the Docking bar. The palette pops open and you can click a tool or other item in the palette to select it. When you click in the document or the Toolbox, the palette closes again. To close the palette without selecting anything, click anywhere outside the palette.

You can use docked palettes as if they are floating, with one exception: you cannot drag objects into docked palettes.

Palettes that are docked in the Docking bar when you quit Canvas X Draw will be docked the next time you launch Canvas X Draw.

See also:

• Viewing the Smart Toolbox