Tuesday, June 25, 2013

CorelDRAW basics: dockers

A docker displays the same types of controls as a dialog box but it has the advantage that it will stay opened (unless you choose to close it), so it would be easy for you to access the commands you need. If you are familiarized with other graphic programs you've probably encountered this feature under the name of "Palettes".

To access a docker, click Window -> Dockers, and click a docker. As you can see in the image below, there are many dockers available and, if you choose to open too many of them, the dockers panel will become cluttered and it will be hard to manage the dockers. You can avoid this problem by closing all unused dockers. To close a docker, click the X button located in the upper right corner of the docker's window.


Dockers can be either docked in the edge of the application window or floating over the application window (see the image below). I prefer to keep all the dockers grouped in the docker panel, but sometimes it's preferable to undock some of the dockers and to drag them in the drawing window.

If you open more than two dockers in the docker panel they usually appear nested, with only one docker fully displayed. In the image above I have 4 dockers opened: the Object properties docker which is floating over the drawing area and another three dockers stoked in the docker panel: the Blend docker, which is fully displayed and two hidden dockers: the Extrude docker and the Bevel docker. You can display a hidden docker by clicking the docker’s tab.

If you need more space for the drawing window you can collapse both the floating dockers and the dockers panel. To collapse or expand the dockers panel click the arrow button at the top corner (see the image below).