A layout in the context of NIS-Elements is a set of options describing the arrangement of control panels, tool bars and menu items. By default, there are two layouts represented by tabs in the top left corner of the application window.
To Create a New Layout
Select the Advanced layout.
Right click the tab and select Save Current Layout As.
Write the new layout name and confirm it by .
A new layout is created.
Modify the layout so that it suits your concept of work. You can add or remove control panels, tool bar buttons etc.
Right-click the tab of the new layout and select Save from the context menu.
Run View > Layout > Layout Manager to display the Layout Manager. The list of currently available layouts is placed on the left side of the layout manager. Each layout may contain information about controls, toolbars, menu, and commands to be performed when switching between layouts.
Figure 31. List of Layouts
Modifying the Layout Settings
Select items within the Global Layout list which you want to be shared by all layouts.
The check marks on the left of the layout names indicate the layout visibility. Select the ones you want to display in the application status bar.
If an item within some particular layout is not selected, it means you do not want to customize it and the global settings - if selected within the Global Layout - will be used. If the item is not selected within the Global Layout either, the settings of the most recently active layout will be used.
Set whether the layout is Private or Shared. If set Private, it will not be visible for other users. See User Rights.
Customize each item according to your needs (see below).
Note
When upgrading to NIS-Elements version 5.30, only the modified layouts from the older version are loaded into the new Layout Manager.
Making a Layout Default for All Users
Create the layout you would like to propagate to all NIS-Elements users.
Right-click the command name and select the Propagate this layout to command (you can choose either to All Users, or to a specific Group).
Restart NIS-Elements.
Note
No apparent change will be visible in the Layout Manager after propagating the layout. However, after the software is restarted, the layout will be present.
Caution
Users who have the privilege to Modify shared layouts can remove the layout via a context-menu, but this action will also affect all users!
Layout Manager Tools
Right-click a layout name to display this command and select a group of users. When the software starts, the layout will be activated for users of the selected group.
Create Layout Adds a new layout to the list of layouts.
Remove Layout Deletes the selected layout. The first two layouts cannot be deleted.
Set Layout as Active Makes the selected layout active.
Load Default Loads original settings of the selected pre-defined layout (Full Screen, Docked Controls, Measurement) so that it looks just like after the program installation.
Lock Layout Select a layout component and click this button to lock these elements so that they cannot be moved or closed. To unlock these components, click the button again or right-click the locked layout tab at the bottom and click Unlock Layout.
Apply to All Changes made on the currently edited layout are applied to all other layouts using this button. Global layout is not affected however changes made on the global layout are applied to other layouts.
Import Layouts Loads a previously saved set of layouts from an XML file. When you try to import a layout with already existing name, you will be prompted to choose whether: the imported layout replaces the existing colliding layout, or is not imported, or is imported and renamed.
Export Layouts The settings of layouts can be saved to an external XML file. Use this Export button. In the windows that appears, define the destination file name and check which layouts will be included in the exported xml file.