Dock & Panel Layout¶
TaleNode uses a dockable panel system that lets you arrange your workspace to fit your workflow.
Available Panels¶
TaleNode has 20 panels, each accessible from the View menu:
| Panel | Description |
|---|---|
| Canvas | Main node graph workspace |
| Project | Characters, variables, and groups |
| Inspector | Edit properties of the selected node |
| Script Editor | Yarn-style text view of the graph |
| Validation | Real-time error and warning list |
| Playtest | Walk through dialogue interactively |
| Comments | Per-node comments and review status |
| Bookmarks | Tag-based node navigation |
| Analytics | Graph statistics and path analysis |
| Version History | Snapshot versioning with diff |
| Templates | Reusable node pattern library |
| Localization | Multi-language string management |
| Voice Generation | ElevenLabs AI voice synthesis |
| Collaboration | Real-time multiplayer editing |
| Barks | Ambient dialogue per character |
| Quests | Quest and objective tracking |
| Extensions | Plugin management |
| Timeline | Cutscene/event sequencer |
| World Database | Items, locations, and lore entities |
| AI Writing | AI-powered dialogue suggestions |
Opening and Closing Panels¶
- Open: Use the View menu and click on a panel name to toggle it on
- Close: Click the X button on a panel tab, or toggle it off from the View menu
Arranging Panels¶
Panels can be rearranged by dragging their tabs:
- Drag a tab to move it to a different position in the dock
- Drop between panels to create a new split (left/right or top/bottom)
- Drop on top of another panel to create a tabbed group
Auto-Focus Inspector¶
When you select a single node on the canvas, the Inspector panel automatically receives focus and scrolls to the top. This lets you quickly edit node properties without manually switching tabs.
Reset Layout¶
If your layout becomes cluttered or panels are lost off-screen:
- Menu: View > Reset Layout
This restores the default panel arrangement:
- Center: Canvas (main workspace)
- Left: Project panel (characters, variables, groups)
- Right: Inspector panel
- Bottom: Validation panel
Layout Persistence¶
Your panel layout is saved automatically as part of the .talenode project file. When you reopen a project, all panels are restored to their previous positions and sizes.
Tip
Different projects can have different layouts — a writing-focused project might emphasize the Script Editor, while a testing-focused project might keep Playtest and Validation prominent.