Layouts
Last updated
Last updated
There are two types of layouts available:
Split Layouts – All of the pages in the default layout use split layouts. In these layouts there is one or more stations that are separated by horizontal/vertical splits
Floating Stations – In this layout the stations have absolute locations and sizes. Stations can be sized and positioned individually.
Split layouts use one or more splits (or dividers) to arrange stations on a page. Splits can be horizontal (dividing the available width between two more stations) or vertical (dividing the available height between two or more stations).
Splits set the relative size of the stations (ie a percentage of the window size instead of an absolute size in pixels). If the size of the application window changes (either from maximizing or manual resizing) the change in size will be distributed across all of the splits.
Splits can also be nested inside of other splits allowing for a flexible and diverse set of layout possibilities
The screen shot below shows the two splits in the default layout (highlighted in yellow). The vertical split will adjust the relative heights of the stations. The horizontal divider will adjust the relative widths.
Panels can be moved between stations by clicking/dragging the tabs with the left mouse button. Drag the tab to the center of the station to where you want it moved and release the mouse button. The target station will be highlighted in blue (see below).
The panel will be added to the target station (see below) and made the active station. You will see a new tab in the station placed to the right of the previously active station.
There are many built in layouts for you to choose from in the New/Edit Page dialogs, but you can also create your own custom layout by arranging the stations using the mouse.
Left click and drag any of the station tabs to move a panel into an existing station or to create a new station.
In the screen shot below, the YMZ19 chart panel is dragged into a new station that splits the current chart station horizontally.
The screen shot below shows the new station created that splits the area occupied by the original chart station with a horizontal split.
In the screen shots below another panel is created (Gauges) and is dragged into a nested vertical split with the stations that we created in the previous example.
Floating stations provide an alternative to split layouts. In contrast, the stations have fixed locations and sizes. The stations may also overlap other stations similar to application windows.
Unlike split layouts, resizing the window (or maximizing it) does not affect the sizes or positions of the stations. Resizing may also cause a station to no longer be visible if its original position lies outside of the new bounds of the visible area.
A floating station layout can be chosen when creating a new page or editing an existing page (see below).
The default layout for floating stations includes two overlapping stations in the top left section of the content area:
Stations can be moved (positioned) by clicking/dragging the empty section of the tab bar. The stations can be placed anywhere, but must be at least partially visible in the content area.
Similar to application windows, stations may be resized by dragging the corners or edges of the stations.
For convenience, the edges of the stations and the visible bounds of the content area are “sticky”. This effect will cause the station to “snap” to the edge of another station or to the edges/corners of the visible bounds when the station is dragged or resized. The feature makes it easier to layout the stations.
The sticky option can be disabled by holding down on the Alt key when dragging or resizing a station.
When resizing an edge of station, it will snap to the edge of a near by station as well. This can be especially convenient when attempt to make the dimension of the stations the same. In the screen shot below the height of the station is made to match the height of the adjacent station when resizing from the bottom edge.
For convenience resizing the top, bottom or sizes of a station that has been snapped to another station will resize those station(s) as well. This behavior can be turned off by holding down on the Alt key.
Stations can be minimized to clear clutter from the content area. Click on the minimize button in the top right corner of the station to minimize it.
The active tab of the minimized station will appear in the bottom left section of the content area appearing in the order in which they were minimized. Click on a minimized station to restore it to the content area.
A station may be maximized to occupy the entire viewing area. When a station is maximized its size will change when the window is resized. When the station is restored, its original location and size will be preserved.
The left and right arrow buttons in the top right corner of the maximized station may be used to cycle through the stations in the viewing area.
There are several ways to create new stations:
New Station (+) Button – Click on the ‘+’ button on the right side of the page bar
Context Menu – Right click in an open section of the content area
Top Menu Bar – See New Station menu in the Dock section of the top menu bar.
Dragging Station Tabs – Station tabs can be dragged into an open section of the content area.
The following screen shots illustrate the first 3 options for accessing the New Station menu. This menu contains the available panel types similar to the new panel button in the tab bar of a station. Select the desire panel type to create a new station.
In the screen shot below a new Gauge panel was created resulting in a new station being added to the layout.
Alternatively, a new station may be created by dragging the tab of an existing panel from its station into an empty section of the content area.
When the mouse button is released in an empty section of the content area, a new station is created and the panel from the originating station is remove and added to the new station.
Panels can be moved from one station to another by dragging the tab (left click and drag with the mouse) into the content area of another station.
A station is removed when the last panel is removed from the station. This will occur when the last station is either closed or moved into another station.
The Dock (top menu bar, only visible from a Floating Station layout) and Context Menus (right click) have several options for managing stations in the floating layout:
Tile Stations – Positions and resizes visible stations into a grid layout
Cascade Stations – Arranges and resizes stations from the top left corner of the visible area
Restore Stations – Restores all stations from the minimized state
Minimize All – Minimizes all visible stations
Station Size – The menu provides preset size (dimension) options
Station Access - All visible and minimized stations may be accessed directly from this menu
This option will position and size all of the non-minimized stations into a grid format with the last station occupying the remaining space on the bottom row. Choose Dock -> Tile Stations from the top menu bar.
Arranges the non-minimized stations from the top left corner of the content area and offsets them by a few pixels so the tab labels are visible.
Several preset stations sizes are available under the Station Size sub menu. A custom size can be chosen from a dialog (see Custom Size option). For convenience the active station size can be saved as the default size when new stations are created.
All stations in the layout are listed at the bottom of the Dock menu. This provides a convenient way to location a station that is minimized, hidden behind a set of station or is outside of the visible area.
