Layouts & workspaces
A layout saves a window’s split panes, tabs, folders and view settings for later use.
Saving and restoring
Each window can use a named layout or remain unnamed. When you switch layouts or quit tessoa, changes to the current unlocked layout are saved automatically. Loading it again restores its saved panes and tabs.
You can still open folders, add or close tabs and change views in a locked layout, but those changes do not overwrite it. See Locking a layout and Reloading a layout for how these changes are handled.
The sidebar Layouts page
Select Layouts in the sidebar tab strip to open its component page. To keep other pages visible, move it to a separate sidebar pane or drag it into the main area; see Sidebar & component pages.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Named layout | A saved layout; the filled dot beside its name marks the current layout |
| (Current Layout) | The current window is unnamed. Choose Rename to name and save it; clicking the row performs no action |
| (Last Unnamed) | The most recently retained unnamed window state. Click to restore it, or rename it to save a named layout |
A blank window that has not left the Start Page, or a window state identical to the destination layout, does not create a separate (Last Unnamed) entry.
(Last Unnamed) keeps only one record. The next retained window state replaces it. Rename it as a layout if you need to keep it.
Saving the current window
- Open the folders you need and arrange the panes, tabs and views.
- Select the sidebar's Layouts page.
- Open the ⋯ menu on the (Current Layout) row and choose Rename.
- Enter a layout name, such as "Design review".
The named layout becomes the current layout. You can also click ＋ at the right end of the tab strip and choose Save Current Window as Layout to save the window as a new layout.
Starting from a template
Layout templates provide preset split arrangements and let you choose a starting folder for each pane.
- Select the sidebar's Layouts page and click ＋ at the right end of its tab strip.
- Choose New from Template….
- Select a template under SHAPE on the left of the dialog.
- Click a pane under STARTING FOLDERS — CLICK A PANE TO CHANGE IT on the right and choose a folder.
- Click Create.
There are twelve templates with one to four panes:
| Panes | Arrangements |
|---|---|
| One | Single pane |
| Two | Two panes · side by side, Two panes · stacked |
| Three | Three panes · columns, Three · one left, two right, Three · two left, one right, Three · one top, two bottom, Three · two top, one bottom |
| Four | Four panes · grid, Four panes · columns, Four · one left, three right, Four · one top, three bottom |
The starting folder of each pane
When the dialog opens, it fills the starting folders from the current window in pane order. A template with fewer panes uses only the corresponding folders; extra panes use the home folder.
You can keep these folders and change only the split arrangement. The current unlocked layout is saved before the new layout is created.
| Action | Method |
|---|---|
| Change the folder | Click a pane, or select it and click Browse…, then choose a folder in the folder picker |
| Use the home folder | Select the pane and click Use home folder |
| Clear the chosen folder | Select the pane and press Delete; the pane then uses the home folder |
The Pane N label in the folder picker identifies the pane you are setting. Folders remain assigned while you change templates in the same dialog. For example, switching from four panes to two and back keeps all four folder choices.
Locations inside archives, tag views and phones cannot be used as starting folders; their panes use the home folder instead. The Start Page and This PC can be retained.
Quick actions
Once the starting folders are correct, press Enter to create the layout. Double-clicking a template on the left also creates it immediately, which is useful when you do not need to change the folders.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| ← → ↑ ↓ | Select a template |
| Tab / Shift+Tab | Select another pane |
| Space | Choose a folder for the selected pane |
| Delete | Set the selected pane to the home folder |
| Enter | Create the layout |
| Esc | Close the dialog without creating a layout |
The new layout uses the template name, such as "Two panes · side by side", and enters rename mode after creation. Layouts created from templates are unlocked by default and save changes automatically like other layouts.
The template itself does not remember your previous folder choices. To reuse the same folders, keep the layout you created rather than opening the template dialog again.
Switching layouts
Click the destination layout's name in the sidebar. Changes to the current unlocked layout are saved first, then the window restores the destination's panes and tabs.
When switching from an unnamed state, a window state that meets the retention conditions is saved as (Last Unnamed).
Save the contents of editor tabs before switching, reloading or creating layouts. These operations currently do not prompt you to save. Saving a layout does not preserve unsaved edits.
Locking a layout
Lock a layout to keep a fixed set of folders and panes for repeated use.
- Hover the layout's row.
- Click the lock button at its right edge, or choose Lock Layout from the ⋯ menu.
A locked layout displays a closed padlock. Click it again, or choose Unlock Layout, to resume automatic saving.
You can still change folders, tabs and views while using a locked layout. When you switch to another layout, the original keeps its saved configuration; a changed window state is retained as (Last Unnamed).
A locked layout cannot be deleted or overwritten using Save Current Window Here. Unlock it before performing either action.
Reloading a layout
Reload This Layout restores the current window to the layout's saved state.
- Hover the current layout's row, identified by the filled dot beside its name.
- Click ↻ at the right edge, or choose Reload This Layout from the ⋯ menu.
Clicking the current layout's name does not reload it. Other layouts offer Load This Layout in the same menu position, which has the same effect as clicking their name.
If the window state has changed before reloading, it is retained as (Last Unnamed). Click that row to restore it, or rename it if you need to keep it.
Managing layouts
The ⋯ menu on each layout row and the ＋ menu at the right end of the tab strip provide these actions:
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Save Current Window as Layout | In the ＋ menu; saves a new layout and makes it the current layout |
| New Blank Layout | In the ＋ menu; saves the current unlocked layout, then creates a layout showing the Start Page |
| Load This Layout | Loads the destination layout |
| Reload This Layout | Restores the current layout's saved state; see Reloading a layout |
| Save Current Window Here | Overwrites the destination layout with the current window state; use Undo in the completion message to restore it |
| Duplicate Layout | Creates a copy below the original and enters rename mode |
| Rename | Changes the name; double-clicking the layout name also starts renaming |
| Delete Layout | Deletes the saved layout. If it is the current layout, the tabs remain open and the window becomes unnamed |
| Reorder | Drag a layout row to its destination and release |
Layouts and session restoration
Layouts and session restoration save some of the same information, but serve different purposes:
| Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Session restoration | Restores the window state from the previous exit when tessoa starts again |
| Layouts | Keeps named configurations that you can choose and load while using tessoa |
Changes to the current unlocked layout are also saved on exit. Locked layouts keep their original configuration, while the session still saves the window state from before quitting.
Sidebar width, page order, stacked panes and collapsed state are saved with the window session; switching layouts does not replace that arrangement. Sidebar component tabs placed in the main area belong to the layout's tabs and are saved and restored with it. See Saved state and version compatibility.