Toolbars Overview

Peter 20Nov14: Following a recent post by Koz about providing context I decided to add an image of the full set of toolbars.

• Peter 20Nov14: Once the front page imagemap has been updated I may consider cannibalizing it for the top tool-rack image.
• Peter 25Nov14: After much consideration I have implemented Strawman-6 from my tests.

  This version has a simple imagemap for the top tool docking area, each toolbar in that dock image has a single link that drives the used to the detailed Toolbar page. Additionally each toolbar image on the page is its own imagemap and clicking on it links the reader showing the reader a reference page showing each toolbar in context with a red box around it (as Koz originally proposed). See Toolbars red-boxed in context. I decided in favor of the full-dock images rather that the reduced ones I tried in Strawman-4 because as this is a reference page linked to from this page the full context is not so repetitious and "in your face". This page stays cleaner-looking this way too without any red-boxing on this page.

  This page will also be useful to Koz (and other Forum elves) as each image has a divid anchor to link to it e.g. Mixer: anchor #mixer. The other anchors are #transport, #tools, #recording, #playback, #mixer, #edit, #transcription, #device and #selection.

  Originally I considered implementing a cut-down version of Bill's-amazing-imagemap from the front page but that proved very tricky to get right. Furthermore I decided that I didn't want to clutter this page with the green numbers. They are useful on the front page as it is a complex image, but here it looked a bit messy when I tried it, plus renumbering would be neceassry as otherwise I would be starting counting at "2" so if a remake is required I thought it better to start from scratch.

  I also considered whether I would use finer-grained targets on the imagemap, as Bill does, targeting for example each button on the Transport Toolbar but decided against that. We could implement that later if though useful, but I don't think it's necessary here.

  The images of the top dock are all at default size in an Audacity window, but have been scaled to 91% of actual size in Microsoft Paint to fit withith the 810 pixels with that Connie likes. Scaling like this in Peint produces a clearer image the a "pipe 810px" in the markup on the page here.

The Toolbars provide quick access to many functions in Audacity. In some cases the functions provided by a toolbar are available only through that toolbar.

All Toolbars are enabled by default, but if your desired toolbar is not visible, choose View > Toolbars then click to put a checkmark by the toolbar you wish to enable.

There are two dock areas for toolbars in Audacity. By default, most of the Audacity toolbars are in the upper dock, as in the image below.

Hover over and click on the image to learn more. Skip the image

By default the lower dock only contains Selection Toolbar. However, toolbars can be arranged and resized within either of the two docks, or floated free of the docks.

The individual toolbars are described below.

Transport Toolbar

• Controls playback and recording and skips to start or end of project when neither playing or recording

Tools Toolbar

• Chooses various tools for selection, volume adjustment, zooming and time-shifting of audio

Recording Meter Toolbar

• Displays recording levels and toggles input monitoring when not recording.

  Note carefully the two vertical bars at the right of this toolbar which mean that this toolbar can be resized by clicking and dragging on the bars.

Playback Meter Toolbar

• Displays playback levels.

  Note carefully the two vertical bars at the right of this toolbar which mean that this toolbar can be resized by clicking and dragging on the bars.

Mixer Toolbar

• Adjusts the playback and recording volumes of the devices currently selected in Device Toolbar

Edit Toolbar

• Cut, copy, paste, trim audio, silence audio, undo, redo, sync-lock, zoom

Transcription Toolbar

• Plays audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, affecting pitch

Device Toolbar

• Selects audio host, recording device, playback device and number of recording channels.

  Note carefully the two vertical bars at the right of this toolbar which mean that this toolbar can be resized by clicking and dragging on the bars.

Selection Toolbar

The default position of the Selection Toolbar is at the bottom of the main Audacity window, thus it is not visible in the Toolbars image at the top of this page.

• Controls the sample rate of the project, snapping to the selection format and adjusts cursor and region position by keyboard input

Arranging and resizing Toolbars

Peter 11Nov14: ToDo-2 New images needed here (recording now before playback). P2 rather than P1 as these are non-default images anyway, so we could live with these.

Toolbars can be docked in two toolbar areas of the Audacity Project window, providing there is space available: either above the Timeline, or above the Status Bar at the bottom of the window (Selection Toolbar is in this location by default). Toolbars may also be floated anywhere else in or outside the project window, including on a secondary monitor. The toolbar positions on exiting Audacity are always remembered when restarting Audacity next time.

Toolbars are docked or floated by dragging on their serrated left edge. When docking a toolbar into a toolbar area, a blue triangle will appear, indicating an available docking position. The default toolbar docked positions can be restored at any time by clicking View > Toolbars > Reset Toolbars. Some of the Toolbars can be resized (the Meter Toolbars and the Device Toolbar) by clicking and dragging on the vertical bars at the right of the toolbars.

The image below shows Tools Toolbar being docked to the right of Transport Toolbar:

The image below shows some toolbars floated outside the Project window, with the Combined Meter Toolbar enlarged:

Peter 21Nov14: ToDo-2 this image will need to be replaced if the Combined Meter is removed.