Working with Tool Palette Groups

Group tool palettes to better organize and access the most frequently used tools.

Palette groups are saved sets of tool palettes. You can display all tool palettes or only the palette group that you need.

The Tool Palettes displays only one palette group at a time. By organizing your tool palettes in groups, you can limit the number of tools displayed in the Tool Palettes so that you can quickly access the necessary tools.

Example: Organize tool palettes by similar content or by discipline. When you display only one palette group at a time, there is a smaller group of tools to choose from.

Use the CustomizeTP command to manage tool palettes and palette groups. The command displays the Customize - Tools Palette dialog box, where you create, modify, and organize palettes and palette groups. Additionally, you can export tool palettes and palette groups to external files which can be later imported. Palette groups are stored in XPG files. You can export groups in separate files or all groups in one file.

Export the palette group to an XPG file every time you modify a group to avoid data loss. XPG files do not automatically update when you update a palette group.

Notes:

• You can create as many palette groups as it is necessary.
• An individual tool palette may be part of multiple groups at the same time.
• Deleting a palette group removes only the grouping. Does not affect the original individual palette.

To create a palette group:

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Tool Palettes, click Options and select Customize Palette from the menu.
   • Type CustomizeTP.
2. In the Customize - Tools Palette dialog box, in Palette Groups, right-click in the empty area and select New Group from the context menu.
3. Type a name for the palette group and press Enter.
4. Drag tool palettes from the Palettes list into the newly created group in the Palette Groups list.

   You can also add copies of palettes from other groups by pressing Ctrl while dragging a palette from another group.

5. Click Close.

   The new group is available in the Group list on the Tool Palettes.

To add a tool palette to a palette group:

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Tool Palettes, click Options and select Customize Palette from the menu.
   • Type CustomizeTP.
2. In the Customize - Tools Palette dialog box, in Palette, select a tool palette and drag it to a group in the Palette Groups area.
3. Click Close.

To copy a tool palette from one group to another:

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Tool Palettes, click Options and select Customize Palette from the menu.
   • Type CustomizeTP.
2. In the Customize - Tools Palette dialog box, in Palette Groups, select the palette to copy.
3. Press Ctrl while dragging the selected tool palette to another group.
4. Click Close.

To delete a palette group:

You cannot recover deleted palette groups. Export palette groups to .xpg files before deleting them to avoid data loss.

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Tool Palettes, click Options and select Customize Palette from the menu.
   • Type CustomizeTP.
2. In the Customize - Tools Palette dialog box, in Palette Groups, right-click and select Delete from the context menu.

   Note: You cannot delete palette groups that contain other groups.

3. Click Close.

   Note: Deleting a palette group removes only the grouping. Original individual palettes are not deleted.

To display a palette group in the Tool Palettes:

The Tool Palette can display all tool palettes or only the tool palettes from a specified group.

• On the Tool Palette, from the group selection drop-down list, select one of the following:
  • The name of the group to display
  • All palettes.

Customize - Tool Palettes Dialog Box

This dialog box lets you create, modify, and organize, tool palettes and palette groups.

You can do the following:

• View the tools from tool palettes within a palette group
• Choose the palette group to display in the Tool Palettes
• Rename existing tool palettes and palette groups
• Remove tool palettes from a palette group
• Remove palette groups
• Create new palettes and palette groups
• Add and remove tool palettes within a group
• Export and import tool palettes and palette groups

The dialog box contains two panels:

• Palettes. Displays all tool palettes.
• Palette Groups. Displays the list of groups and tool palettes as a tree view. Each palette in a group is a palette on the Tool Palettes.

You can manage your tool palettes and palette groups using the options provided in the context menu. The available options vary according to the item that you select in the tree view.

• Right-click an item in the tree view displays a context menu
• Drag-and-drop palettes to organize them in groups

Palettes

Displays all tool palettes.

Right-clicking an item in the Palette area displays a context menu. You can use the context menu to create new tool palettes and to rename and delete existing ones.

Palette Groups

Displays the list of groups and tool palettes as a tree view.

Right-clicking an item in the Palette Group list displays a context menu. You can use the context menu to create new palette groups, add new palettes to existing groups, and export them to external files. The displayed options vary according to the selected item.

Access

Ribbon: Insert > Palettes > Tool Palettes

Command: CustomizeTP

Related Topic

Sharing Tool Palettes and Palette Groups