HyperPics: AutoCAD Tips and Windows Tips

Tip and Trick Detail

Saving Real Estate with Auto-hide feature for Palettes - Part 1
*Applies to: AutoCAD 2004 and 2005*

With the introduction of AutoCAD 2004 they redesigned the Dockable Container. The Dockable Container is the modeless interface that was used for Properties and Design Center when they were introduced back in 2000. The new Palettes have a feature called Auto-hide which allows you to keep the interface floating about your drawing, but kept as wide as a single toolbar. The new interface still can be docked on the left or right side of the screen, but that forces you to give up some Real Estate (or drawing area).

Step 1 -	You will want to make sure that the Palette that you want to enable and use Auto-hide on must be floating over the drawing area. If it isn't already floating position the mouse over the double lined grip bar at the top of the Palette. Click and then drag it to the center of the drawing area.
Step 2 -	Located at the bottom of the caption bar for the Palette you will find two images. The lower image brings up the Properties menu for the Palette and the one right above that controls the Auto-hide feature or what some call the Roll-up capability.
Step 3 -	The feature is disabled when the image appears to look like two back to back arrows <>. Click it once and the feature is then enabled. Once the feature is enabled the button should look like the image below.
Step 4 -	Now move the mouse away from the Palette and it will Roll-up and when the mouse is moved back over the Palette it Rolls out.