Layout Preferences

Use the fields in this section to specify the default size and placement of the IDL Development Environment's main window. (See Components of the IDLDE for descriptions of the components of the IDLDE.)

Select the Default Layout radio button to use the IDLDE's default layout, which depends on the size and resolution of your computer screen. If you select this radio button, all of the IDLDE's windows and toolbars will be displayed in their standard locations.

Select the Specify Layout radio button to manually specify the layout of the IDLDE:

Enter the number of pixels from the left-hand edge of the screen the IDLDE window should be displayed in the Left field.

Enter the number of pixels from the top edge of the screen the IDLDE window should be displayed in the Top field.

Enter the width of the IDLDE window in pixels in the Width field.

Enter the height of the IDLDE window in pixels in the Height field.

Note that if you select the Default Layout radio button after specifying values in these fields, your values will be replaced with "-1" to indicate that the default values will be used the next time IDL starts.

Select the windows and toolbars to be displayed from the Show Window section (Windows) or Windows and Control Panel sections (Motif).

Click Apply to apply your changes to the current IDLDE window without saving the values. (This allows you to use the Layout tab to control the appearance of the IDLDE for the current session without making your changes permanent.) Click OK to apply your changes and save the values; they will be used the next time IDL starts.

Select the Remember Layout radio button and click OK to save the current layout of the IDLDE windows for use the next time IDL starts. This options is useful if you have configured the windows manually and wish to save your changes.

Undocking IDLDE windows

Some of the elements of the IDLDE can be "undocked" from the interface and appear as separate, free-floating windows. On Microsoft Windows systems, use the mouse to select an element and drag it away from the main IDLDE window to undock the element. On Motif systems, you can use the checkboxes in the Windows section to undock elements.

Command Input Line

Toolbars

Output Log

Variable Watch Window

Project Window

Show Window Section (Microsoft Windows Only)

By default, all the listed options are checked, signifying that they are all visible in the IDLDE main window. Click on the check boxes to show or hide the following windows.

Command Input line;

Output Log window;

Status Bar;

Variable Watch window;

Standard Toolbar;

Run & Debug Toolbar;

Macros Toolbar;

Project window

Click Apply to apply your changes to the current IDL session. (This is the same as selecting the corresponding options in the Window menu.) Select the Specify Layout radio button and click OK to make the current layout the default.

Windows Section (Motif Only)

Use the options in this section to control the appearance of the window elements of the IDLDE.

Editor Layout - Click Multiple to display open Editor and Project windows separately from the main IDLDE window. Note that if the Multiple Windows option is enabled, the choice to hide or view the Editor windows is not available.

Hide - Select the check box for elements of the IDLDE you wish to hide from view. By default, none of the sections are hidden.

Control hides the toolbars;

View hides the Project window and the Editor window;

Log hides the Output Log window;

Watch hides the Variable Watch window;

Command hides the Input Command Line;

Status hides the fly over status line at the base of the Main IDL window;

Project hides the Project window and extends the Editor window to the full width of the IDLDE.

Separate - Select the check box for the constituent window you want to separate from the IDLDE Main Window. When the Separate action is applied, the element is "undocked" from the interface and appears as separate, free-floating window.

Click Apply to apply your changes to the current IDL session. (This is the same as selecting the corresponding options in the Window menu.) Select the Specify Layout radio button and click OK to make the current layout the default.

Control Panel Section (Motif Only)

You can specify how you would like to display the various toolbars on the Control Panel.

Hide Tools - Select the check box for any of the available toolbars (Standard, Run & Debug, and User) to hide that toolbar.

Number of Rows - Enter the number of rows to use in displaying any visible toolbars. You can select from 1 to 3 rows.

Vertical - Select this check box to cause the toolbars to be stacked vertically one on top of the other rather than horizontally next to each other.