.. Perun PowerDesk Documentation
   file: main_window.rst
   Copyright (c) 2016
   Perun Technologies

PowerDesk Main Window
=====================

**Main Window** is the central component of the ``PowerDesk`` GUI. It consists of three main parts: **ribbon menu** on the top, **status bar** on the bottom, and the **main docking area** in between.

.. figure:: _static/images/main_window.png
  :figwidth: 70%
  :align: center

  **Main Window** with ribbon menu at the top, status bar at the bottom and main docking area in between.

.. _ribbonMenu:

Ribbon Menu
-----------

The **Ribbon Menu** is used to access all the basic functionality of ``PowerDesk``. It is based on the `Fluent.Ribbon` control suite (see https://github.com/fluentribbon/Fluent.Ribbon/wiki) and is designed to resemble ribbon menus simmilar to those found in ``Microsoft Office`` and other modern desktop applications.

Main Docking Area
-----------------

The **Main Docking Area** is the central workspace. In each of your projects, you will use the docking area to customize and adjust your work experience.

The docking area is based on the ``Avalon Dock`` control (see http://avalondock.codeplex.com/), and is essentially a dockable container used to store several **panes**. Each of these panes is a separate ``PowerDesk`` component, each devoted to a specific part of your project. For example, **Scope Panes** can be used to show *live* signals and spectra, **Project Explorer Pane** can be used to organize your project and devices, etc. In fact, each component of ``PowerDesk`` implements its own pane. A full list of components is given in :ref:`sec-components`.

Each pane can be *docked* or *undocked* within the main docking area. To undock a docked pane, juct click on its title and drag it from its current location.

.. figure:: _static/images/main_window_undock.png
  :figwidth: 70%
  :align: center

  **Main Window** with undocked **Project Explorer Pane**. Docking handles are shown at appropriate locations.


As soon as a pane has been undocked, a set of *docking handles* appears at each location of the docking area at which it can be docked back again. In order to dock a pane to a specific location, drag it by its title bar using left mouse button, position the mouse pointer above the desired handle and release the button.

A pane can be dockes at each of the four corners (top, bottom, left or right), or at the center of the main docking area. At each of these locations several panes can be docked at once. In such a case, panes can be stacked one over another, in a tabbed manner, or can be shown simultaneously.

.. figure:: _static/images/main_window_docking.png
  :figwidth: 70%
  :align: center

  An example of complex docking scenario.


Status Bar
----------

**Status Bar** appears discretely at the bottom of the ``PowerDesk`` Main Window. Nevertheless it is an extremenly important component, showing the user with the most important, condensed information regarding the current application state.