Adjusting your workspace

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All the tools you require to create artwork with Microsoft Expression Design are provided on context-sensitive panels around the workspace:

  • Toolbox

  • The Properties panel

  • The Layers panel

  • The ActionBar

Hiding and displaying the tools

At times you may want to close one or more panels so that you have more room to work.

To hide or restore panels

  • To hide all panels, press TAB. To restore hidden panels, press TAB again.

To open or close the Properties or Layers panel, or the Action Bar

  • To open or close a panel, on the Window menu, click the name of the panel or use the following keyboard shortcuts:

  • For Action Bar, press F3.

  • For the Layers panel, press F4.

  • For the Properties panel, press F5.

Moving and adjusting the Properties and Layers panels

By default, the Properties and Layers panels are docked to the right side of the workspace window. To increase your working area, you can undock and move the panels to a more convenient location—including to a second monitor.

To move the Properties or Layers panel

  1. On the top-right corner of the panel, click the Float button Cc294627.8697ff5a-aa1b-4d88-ad81-d6a6e8970118(en-us,Expression.10).png.

  2. Drag the panel to your preferred location.

  3. To dock (or pin) a floating panel to the right of the workspace, click the Dock button Cc294627.e8d62bfb-6511-493f-8353-3d37b3ec87c2(en-us,Expression.10).png.

The Layers panel is docked by default

Cc294627.cfb5f2a2-e67a-41c9-9d64-d069607230b2(en-us,Expression.10).png

After you click the Float/Dock button, you can move it anywhere on your screen

Cc294627.d546440a-0119-4243-ae40-e2539a629d55(en-us,Expression.10).png

To resize the Properties or Layers panel

  • In the lower right corner of the panel, drag the Resize area.

Note

You can also resize the vertical pane where the panels are docked by dragging the left edge. (When you position the pointer over that edge, a double-headed arrow appears, which indicates that you can resize it.) While there is a minimum width, you can make the pane wider if you want.

Restore the default panel arrangement

You can also reset your workspace to the default panel arrangement.

To restore the default panel arrangement

  • On the Window menu, click Reset Active Workspace.

See also

Concepts

Toolbox

Action Bar