The user interface in Paratext 9 has many improvements from earlier versions. While this has brought many benefits, long time users have to learn a few new habits to get the most of these benefits. During the various Paratext training events a common question is:
“How can I keep Paratext from moving my windows all around every time I do a search?”
Yes, it can be annoying to have Paratext scramble your windows around every time you do a search or other operation (like Basic Checks) that opens a List window. In this article I will suggest three ways to control how Paratext opens the List window.
The secret is to make the List window part of your layout by having it open when you save your layout. You can save the List window in your layout as a panel, tab or auto-hide panel. By giving the List window its own place in your layout, it will not disturb all of the other windows when you do a search or other operation that generates a list of results. Much of the time the List window will be empty, but that does not hurt anything except taking up screen space if you have it in its own panel. If this is an issue, then place the List window in a tab or auto-hide panel.
List Window in a Panel
The way to produce this is:
- Open your desired layout
- Do any kind of search
- Organize your screen so the List window is in its own panel in the location where you want it to be. (I have it on the right side but you can put it anywhere you want.)
- Save your layout again
Now whenever you open your layout, the List window will always be in the same place.
Note when you first open Paratext, the List window will be empty as in the screenshot above.
List Window in a Tab
Notice that the List window is now in a tab in the panel with some of my other open resources. This way of organizing your layout gives more space to your project and other resources. When I do a search, Paratext will automatically open the tab with the List window, and will not disturb the panels in this layout.
Look what happens when I search for Cephas in the ESV Enhanced Resource. Paratext places the search results in the List window which is now in a tab, and it opens that tab so I can see the results.
The way to produce this is:
- Open your desired layout
- Do any kind of search
- Drag the List Window to the panel you want it to be in. (I have it on the right side with the ESV Enhanced Resource, but you can put it anywhere you want.)
- Save your layout again
Now whenever you open your layout the List window will always be in the same place.
Note when you first open Paratext, the List window will be empty.
List Window in Autohide (area)
Starting in version 9.0, Paratext has an autohide feature. Paratext Help describes the autohide area as being “for items that a user refers to ‘as needed’ (rather than having those items visible all the time).” You can learn more about autohide by searching for “autohide” in Paratext Help.
Now when I do a search the List window will pop out from the autohide area and cover part of the rightmost panel. None of the panels will be disturbed. It will remain visible until I click on anything outside of the List window.
The way to produce this is:
- Open your desired layout
- Do any kind of search
- Right click on the title bar of the List window
- Click on Move to autohide
- Save your layout again
Now whenever you open your layout, the List window will always be in the autohide. This is the method that saves the most screen space. You can adjust the width of the autohide area by dragging the left edge of the window to where you want it.
Note when you first open Paratext, the List window will be empty.
List Window Navigation Tip
Remember that wherever you have a list window open, you can use Alt + Up/Down Arrow to navigate from reference to reference in the list, even if the list window is hidden in autohide, or in an inactive tab.
More Help on Using Panels, Tabs, Autohide, and Making Layouts
In this article I have assumed that you know how to make a layout using panels, tabs and autohide. We have the following videos that demonstrate how to do these things, if you need more help:
