Palette Layout, Save and Load

Save and Restore Palette Layouts

The ideal arrangement of palettes changes frequently with different drawing tasks or projects, or working on a different system such as a laptop or the office studio display for example. The layout of palettes on the screen may be saved to a text file. These files may then be used to quickly restore a particular palette arrangement.

A palette layout includes information concerning which palettes are visible or hidden, their screen position, and the Window Shade Control in effect.

The Save Palettes Layout command will save this information to a disk file with a normal system save panel.

A saved palette layout may be restored with the Load Palettes Layout menu command. Use the normal system open panel to locate and select a palette layout file previously saved.

A "Recent Layouts" submenu is provided for accessing frequently used or recent palette layout files. You may "Freeze" the menu to hold a frequently used set of layouts. This action will lock in the command key short cuts so that they are more constant and useful. Commands are provided to clear the menu and to increase the number items remembered.

The layout information is saved in a normal text file which may be viewed with any text editor. The information is human readable in the form of a property list dictionary. The macOS application, Property List Editor is used to view and modify these files. Of course care must be taken when modifying a file in this fashion.

Some EazyDraw palettes have a Mini Form controlled by the disclosure arrow found at the top of the Window Shade control. The form, mini or full, of the palette is saved and restored palette layout set.