Palette window: Difference between revisions
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{{Unreferenced|date=September 2009}} |
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[[Image:Finder inspector|thumb|The [[Macintosh Finder|Finder's]] Inspector window is an example of a utility winodw]] |
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[[Image:Paint.NET 3.35 screenshot.png|thumb|right|The default [[paint.net]] interface makes use of palette windows.]] |
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The [[graphical control element]] '''palette window''', also known as '''utility window''' or '''floating palette''', floats on top of all regular windows and offers ready access tools, commands or information for the current [[Application software|application]]. |
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A '''utility window''' is a [[window (computing)|window]] in [[Mac OS X]] which floats on top of all other windows and offers tools or information for the current [[application]]. Utility windows are only visible while their parent application is in the focus. Some windows are system wide and thus shared between all applications. This includes the font window and the color window. Other windows are unique to each individual application. Utility windows have a specially unrounded titlebar to differentiate them from other types of windows. |
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Applications use palette windows to prevent [[toolbar]] clutter. While toolbars and [[Ribbon (computing)|ribbons]] are typically horizontal, locked to window or screen borders, and of fixed length; palettes are usually scaled to fit their contents, movable, and vertical, consuming less of a computer's commonly [[Page orientation|landscape oriented]] screen space, and work better with [[Multi-monitor|multiple monitors]]. |
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Some palettes are standard and provided by the OS, reappearing in many applications, while other palettes are unique to each individual application. An example of a common application-specific palette window is an [[inspector window]]. On the [[Macintosh]], palette windows are only visible while their parent application has [[Focus (computing)|focus]]. In a [[multiple document interface]] program, palettes are sometimes independent from the parent window. |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{Graphical control elements}} |
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Latest revision as of 19:51, 23 May 2024
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The graphical control element palette window, also known as utility window or floating palette, floats on top of all regular windows and offers ready access tools, commands or information for the current application.
Applications use palette windows to prevent toolbar clutter. While toolbars and ribbons are typically horizontal, locked to window or screen borders, and of fixed length; palettes are usually scaled to fit their contents, movable, and vertical, consuming less of a computer's commonly landscape oriented screen space, and work better with multiple monitors.
Some palettes are standard and provided by the OS, reappearing in many applications, while other palettes are unique to each individual application. An example of a common application-specific palette window is an inspector window. On the Macintosh, palette windows are only visible while their parent application has focus. In a multiple document interface program, palettes are sometimes independent from the parent window.