# Tour the Nodespell workspace interface > Find your way around the Nodespell workspace, including the top bar and menus, panels and tabs, docks and layouts, the status bar and the command palette. Source: https://docs.nodespell.com/start/interface/ · Last updated: 2026-11-10 The Nodespell workspace is the screen you see inside an open Project. It has a top bar with menus and status, a central area of panels such as **Graph**, **Parameters**, **Assets** and **Design**, and a status bar along the bottom. In **Graph** mode you can split, dock, float, color and save these panels as layouts. Most of this page describes **Graph** mode, which has the full panel system. **Create** and **Immersive** use fixed layouts; see [Choose a workspace mode](https://docs.nodespell.com/start/workspace-modes/). ## What is in the top bar? The top bar runs across the top of the window, from left to right: | Element | What it does | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Workspace mode** selector | Shows the current mode and switches between **Create**, **Graph** and **Immersive**. | | Menus | **File**, **Edit**, **View**, **Layout**, **Window**, **Help** and **Account**. The **Window** menu is hidden in Create. | | Project name and save status | Shows the Project name and whether your latest changes are **Saved**, **Saving…**, **Retrying**, **Not saved** or **Needs action**. Select it for details. | | Command palette button | Opens the command palette. The tooltip shows the shortcut `Cmd/Ctrl+K`. | | **Messages** | Opens messages from Nodespell, with a count of unread ones. | | Credits | Shows your remaining credits. Select it for the balance, renewal date and which credits this Project uses (personal or a team's shared pool). | Save status and recovery are covered in [Saving and recovery](https://docs.nodespell.com/projects/saving-and-recovery/). Credits are covered in [Plans and credits](https://docs.nodespell.com/account/plans-and-credits/). ## What is in each menu? | Menu | Main items | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **File** | **New Project**, **Open ...**, **Recent Projects**, **Save As**, **Save Version ...**, **Versions**, **Go To Live Version**, **Close Project** | | **Edit** | **Undo** (`Cmd/Ctrl+Z`), **Redo** (`Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z`), **Copy**, **Paste**, **Preferences** (`Cmd/Ctrl+,`) | | **View** | In Graph: **Save Current Layout**, **Edit Layout**, **Layouts**, **Built-in Layouts**, **Show Version Bar**. In all modes: **Show Status Bar** (not in Immersive), **Show Command Palette**, **Show Quick Node Creation Menu** (`Tab`). In Graph: **Toggle Top Dock**, **Toggle Bottom Dock**, **Toggle Left Dock**, **Toggle Right Dock** | | **Layout** | **Tidy up** and **Flow direction** for the current Level and Project defaults. See [Organize a graph](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/organize/). | | **Window** | **New Panel Window**, **Open Windows**, **Collect Offscreen Windows**, **Minimize All Windows**, **Restore All Windows** | | **Help** | Documentation, What's new, tutorials, support and feedback. See [Help menu and What's new](#help-menu-and-whats-new). | | **Account** | **My account**, **Assets**, **Cookie settings**, **Log out** | **Save Version ...** creates a Project Snapshot. See [Projects and snapshots](https://docs.nodespell.com/projects/projects-and-snapshots/). ## Panels, panes and tabs A **panel** is one tool, such as **Graph** or **Parameters**. A **pane** is a rectangle of the workspace that holds one or more panels as **tabs**. Only one tab in a pane is visible at a time; select a tab to show it. Add a panel to a pane: 1. Select **+** at the end of the pane's tab bar. 2. Choose a panel from the menu. It is grouped into **Essential** (**Graph**, **Parameters**, **Assets**, **Design**), **Library** (**Library**, **My Nodes**), **Automation** (**Tasks**, **Assistant**) and **Advanced** (**References**, **Tree View**, **Console**). Every panel is described in the [panels reference](https://docs.nodespell.com/reference/panels/). Right-click a tab (two-finger click on a trackpad) for its menu: | Tab menu item | What it does | | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Maximize pane** / **Restore pane** | Gives the pane the whole workspace, or returns it to its place. | | **Tear off** | Moves the panel into its own floating window. | | **Send to edge dock** | Moves the panel into the **Top dock**, **Bottom dock**, **Left dock** or **Right dock**. | | **Duplicate** | Opens a second copy of the panel. | | **Rename** | Changes the tab's title. | | **Colour** | Tints the tab. See [Color your panel tabs](#color-your-panel-tabs). | | **Move** | **Move to first**, **Move Left**, **Move Right**, **Move to last**. | | **Help** | Opens the documentation for that panel. | | **Close** | Closes the panel. | Double-click a tab, or an empty part of the tab bar, to maximize its pane; double-click again to restore it. The pane's tab bar menu also has **Auto-hide tab bar**, which hides the tab bar until you point at it. ## Split, move and resize panes Drag a tab to rearrange the workspace. While you drag, a preview shows where the panel will land and a label names the result. | Drop the tab on | Result | | --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Another tab bar | **Place tab here**: the panel joins that pane at that position. | | The middle of another pane | **Add to this pane**: the panel joins that pane as the last tab. | | The left, right, top or bottom edge of a pane | **Split left**, **Split right**, **Split top** or **Split bottom**: the pane divides in two. | | A dock strip at a window edge | **Dock to left edge** (or top, bottom, right). | | Anywhere while holding `Shift` | **Float as a window**. | Drag the divider between two panes to resize them. Select the **Delete Pane** button in a pane's corner to remove the pane. ## Floating windows A floating window is a panel outside the pane layout, which you can move anywhere over the workspace. - Create one from **Window** > **New Panel Window**, with **Tear off** on a tab, or by holding `Shift` while you drag a tab. - Each window has **Minimize**, **Maximize** and **Close** controls in its title bar, and **Return to workspace** to dock it again. You can also drag the title bar over a tab bar or a pane edge. - **Window** > **Open Windows** lists every window, including ones moved off screen, with **Move Into View**. **Collect Offscreen Windows** brings them all back. - The **Windows** button at the left of the status bar offers the same list. In Immersive, floating windows work the same way but cannot be docked. ## Edge docks An edge dock is a panel area that slides in from one edge of the window: top, bottom, left or right. Edge docks are available in Graph mode. | Action | How | | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Show or hide a dock | **View** > **Toggle Top Dock** (and Bottom, Left, Right), or `Cmd/Ctrl+1`, `Cmd/Ctrl+2`, `Cmd/Ctrl+3`, `Cmd/Ctrl+4` for top, bottom, left and right | | Put a panel in a dock | Right-click its tab and choose **Send to edge dock**, or drag the tab onto a dock strip | | Add a new panel to a dock | Select **+** in the dock | | Change a dock's size | **Dock size**: **Compact (25%)**, **Half (50%)**, **Large (75%)** or **Full (95%)** | | Return a panel to the panes | **Return to workspace** | An empty dock says **No panels in this dock.** ## Color your panel tabs Give a tab its own color so you can tell similar panels apart, such as two **Graph** panels showing different Levels. 1. Right-click the tab. 2. Choose **Colour**. 3. Choose one of 16 swatches (from **Red** to **Pink**), **Custom colour** for any color, or **No colour** to return to the default. Tab colors are saved with the layout. ## Save and restore layouts A layout is the arrangement of panes, tabs, docks and tab colors. Layouts are available in Graph mode. | Action | Menu path | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Save the current arrangement | **View** > **Save Current Layout**, enter a **Name**, select **Save** | | Switch to a saved layout | **View** > **Layouts** > the layout name | | Use a built-in layout | **View** > **Built-in Layouts** > **AI - Essential** or **Power User** | | Rename or delete layouts | **View** > **Edit Layout** | The command palette also lists each layout as **Restore Layout:** followed by its name. ## The status bar The status bar runs along the bottom of the workspace. Hide or show it with **View** > **Hide Status Bar** or **Show Status Bar**. | Area | What it shows | | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Windows** | A menu of floating windows. Not shown in Create. | | **Hints** | Shortcuts for what you are doing now, such as the pan and zoom gestures for your detected input device (**Mouse**, **Touchpad** and others). | | Console summary | The latest log message and counts of new errors and warnings. Select it to open a **Console** window. Not shown in Immersive. | ## Use the command palette The command palette is a searchable list of commands, settings, nodes and tools. 1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl+K`, select the command button in the top bar, or choose **View** > **Show Command Palette**. 2. Type part of a command name. The field reads "Type a command or search...". 3. Select a result, or use the arrow keys and press `Enter`. Commands are grouped, for example **File**, **Panels**, **Node Actions**, **Selection**, **Navigation & View**, **Tasks**, **User Preferences** and **Help**. Many show their keyboard shortcut. Examples: **Run Selected Tasks**, **Tidy up**, **Toggle Minimap**, **Toggle Theme**, **Open New Panel** and **Add Parameters Panel**. Panel commands are not offered in Create. All shortcuts are listed in [Shortcuts](https://docs.nodespell.com/reference/shortcuts/). ## Help menu and What's new The **Help** menu collects documentation, updates and support: | Item | What it does | | --------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Help** | Opens this documentation site. | | **What's new** | Opens the release notes. A **New** label and a dot on **Help** mean there are updates you have not seen. | | **Getting started tutorials** | Opens **Learn the essentials**, nine short lessons on core actions. | | **Show first-run guide** | Reopens the first-image guide in Create. Shown when Create is available. | | **Show suggestions** | Turns contextual tips on or off. | | **Email** | Copies the support email address. | | **Report a problem…** | Opens a message to support with technical details filled in. | | **Discord** / **YouTube channel** | Opens the Nodespell community and video channel. | | **Submit feedback** | Sends a **Feature Request**, **Bug Report**, **General Feedback** or **Question**. | | **About** | Opens **Help and about**, with links, legal documents and **Copy details** for support requests. | When a release ships, a **What's new** card can appear with **See what's new** and **Dismiss**. You can always find it again under **Help** > **What's new**, or under **More** > **What's new** on the dashboard. Every release is also listed on [What's new](https://docs.nodespell.com/whats-new/). For contacting support, see [Support](https://docs.nodespell.com/account/support/). ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I get a closed panel back? Select **+** on any tab bar and choose the panel again, or press `Cmd/Ctrl+K` and search for **Add** followed by the panel name, such as **Add Parameters Panel**. ### A floating window disappeared off the screen. How do I get it back? Choose **Window** > **Collect Offscreen Windows**, or open **Window** > **Open Windows**, find the window marked **(out)**, and choose **Move Into View**. ### Why can't I find layouts or docks? Layouts and edge docks are part of Graph mode. In Create and Immersive the **View** menu does not show them. Switch the **Workspace mode** selector to **Graph**. ### Are layouts saved per Project? Saved layouts belong to your account and appear under **View** > **Layouts** in any Project. Use **View** > **Edit Layout** to rename or delete them. ## Related - [Choose a workspace mode](https://docs.nodespell.com/start/workspace-modes/) — Create, Graph and Immersive. - [Panels reference](https://docs.nodespell.com/reference/panels/) — what every panel does. - [Shortcuts](https://docs.nodespell.com/reference/shortcuts/) — all keyboard shortcuts. - [Account settings](https://docs.nodespell.com/account/settings/) — Preferences, theme and language. - [Saving and recovery](https://docs.nodespell.com/projects/saving-and-recovery/) — save status and Needs attention.