Floating Stations

A new layout has been added to the docking framework to manage floating stations (instead of using the split layout).

For more details please see the Docking Framework guide:

https://www.motivewave.com/guides/MotiveWave_Docking_Framework.pdf

Floating Stations

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.

Moving Stations

Resizing Stations

Similar to application windows, stations may be resized by dragging the corners or edges of the stations.

Sticky Edges

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 nearby 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.

Resizing Snapped Stations

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.

Minimizing Stations

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.

Maxmizing Stations

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.

Creating New Stations

There are several ways to create new stations:

  1. New Station (+) Button – Click on the ‘+’ button on the right side of the page bar

  2. Context Menu – Right click in an open section of the content area

  3. Top Menu Bar – See New Station menu in the Dock section of the top menu bar.

  4. Dragging Station Tabs – Station tabs can be dragged into an open section of the content area.

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.

Moving Panels Between Stations

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.

Closing/Removing Stations

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.

Managing Floating Stations

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:

  1. Tile Stations – Positions and resizes visible stations into a grid layout

  2. Cascade Stations – Arranges and resizes stations from the top left corner of the visible area

  3. Restore Stations – Restores all stations from the minimized state

  4. Minimize All – Minimizes all visible stations

  5. Station Size – The menu provides preset size (dimension) options

  6. Station Access - All visible and minimized stations may be accessed directly from this menu

Tile Stations

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.

Cascade Stations

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.

Station Sizes

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.

Station Access

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.

Grid Background

This option (on by default) shows a grid background on the floating layouts. This grid can help align charts to certain areas or sizes. Configuration options can be found in the Preferences dialog (Configure -> Preferences -> General -> Dock).

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