Dock panel overlay enabled, showing transparent and auto-hidden panels
The dock panel overlay system is a feature to maximize the space available for the 3D view. It transforms standard docked panels, like the Combo View, into floating, transparent widgets that sit on top of the 3D view. This allows the 3D view to expand and use the space the panels previously occupied. The overlay panels become fully opaque and interactive when the mouse hovers over them, and transparent again when the mouse moves away, even enabling clicking through them to interact with the model.
The main switch for this feature is the Toggle overlay for all command. Additional commands are available for more granular control.
Overlay Modes
Each panel in the overlay system can be set to a different mode, allowing for a customized workflow. These settings are available by clicking the overlay mode button () in the title bar of an overlay panel.
None: This is the default mode. The panel remains visible but transparent when not in use, and becomes opaque on mouse-over. It provides a good balance between access to tools and 3D view space.
Auto hide: This mode completely hides the panel by sliding it off-screen. The panel will only reappear when you move your mouse to the edge of the window where it is hiding. This mode provides the maximum screen space and is suitable for panels that are used infrequently.
Show on edit: A context-aware mode that automatically shows the panel when an object's edit mode is entered (e.g., editing a sketch). When the edit is finished, the panel automatically hides again. This mode well suited for the Task panel, for instance.
Hide on edit: The opposite of "Show on edit". This mode automatically hides the panel when an object's edit mode is entered. This is useful for clearing away secondary panels (like the Report view) to reduce clutter while focusing on a specific task.
Auto task: A smart version of "Show on edit", designed for the Task panel. It shows the panel only when a command opens an active task, and hides it the moment the task is completed, providing a more automated workflow.
Commands
The following commands control the dock panel overlay feature:
Toggle overlay for all: The master switch for the overlay feature. Toggles overlay mode on or off for all panels.
Toggle transparent for all: Toggles the special "transparent active" mode, where panels remain transparent even when you mouse over them.
Toggle overlay: Toggles overlay mode for the single panel currently under the mouse cursor.
Toggle transparent mode: Toggles the "transparent active" mode for the single panel currently under the mouse cursor.