Quick Start Tutorials > Using the Project Explorer > Tips & Tricks in the Project Explorer

You can have multiple projects open for editing at the same time in the Project Explorer. In addition to this you can also split off copies of parts of projects into separate Explorer panes to make editing, copying and pasting easier. The Explorer has a number of features that make these functions more useful.

You can edit multiple topics at the same time in "tabs" in the editor, which are like tabs in a modern web browser.

•To open a topic in a tab, right-click on the topic title in the Table of Contents pane and select Open topic in a new tab.

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If you don't like the Project Explorer position on the left of the editor pane you can change it. Just click in the title bar of the Explorer and drag it onto one of the four light blue position icons displayed on the edges of the program window while you are dragging.

You can position the Project Explorer to the left, right, above or below the Editor Pane. You can also undock the Project Explorer to an external window (see below).

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You can "undock" the entire Project Explorer to display it in a separate window. For example, if you have a dual monitor system you may want to display the Explorer in a separate monitor.

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Undocking the Explorer:

•Double-click on the Explorer title bar. You can then drag the new window and resize it as you like.

•Click in the Explorer title bar and drag it out of the Help & Manual window.

Redocking the Explorer:

•Double-click on the title bar of the undocked Explorer window.

Clicking on the "pin" tool in the Project Explorer title bar "pins" the Explorer into the left margin of the Help & Manual window. The Explorer then collapses into the left margin, showing only its title in a vertical tab. This can give you more room for editing on smaller monitors.

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•To display the pinned Explorer just move the mouse pointer over the vertical tab in the left margin.

•To unpin the Explorer first display it, then click on the pin tool in its title bar.

You can "split" the Project Explorer to display individual projects or parts of projects in separate panes. You can then undock these split panes or reposition them to make editing, copying and pasting easier.

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1.In the Project Explorer click on the section of your project you want to view separately, or on the title of a project (if you have more than one project open).

2.Select Explore > Split Explorer in Project > Manage Topics .

Productivity Tip

You can split any section of the Project Explorer into a separate pane, including the Configuration sections and the Project Files sections.

Undocking split Explorer panes

You can undock and redock split Explorer panes just like the main Explorer pane (see above). Doing this can make it easier to copy and paste topics between different sections of your project or between different projects.

Changing the positions of Explorer panes

•You can move Explorer panes to any side of the program window. To do this click in the pane's title bar and drag it onto one of the light blue position icons displayed on the sides of the program window while dragging.

•Dragging out of the main window or double-clicking in the pane title bar undocks the pane completely.

"Pinning" Explorer panes

You can also pin split Explorer panes to the left margin of the Help & Manual window in the same way as the main Explorer pane. Just click on the pin tool in the title bar of the pane (see above). You can then display the individual Explorer panes by moving the mouse pointer over their vertical tabs in the left margin.