Toolbars Overview

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Revision as of 01:04, 28 November 2014 by PeterSampson (talk | contribs) (Reply to Bill: *very* happy to go with an image like this, but I don't have the skills/tools to make it as clean as this)
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Peter 26Nov14: ToDo-1 images will need updating if and when the Toolrack is removed by Leland.
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 experimented with green boxes around the toolbars in the top dock image see Strawman-3 but I really didn't like that, it too looks messy imo. I think what I'd really like to be able to do would be to have hover-texts that included the requisite green box, but I've no idea how to do that or even if it's possible.

    • Gale 26Nov14: Can you explain more what you want to do?

    • Peter 26Nov14: what I'd ideally like is no permanent green boxes on the image bur rather when the cursor is hovered over one of the target rectangles in the imagemap the not only would you get the hovertext but also a temporary green rectangle drawn to the target rectangle boundary.
    • Gale 27Nov14: Sounds like you would want different images for each toolbar with only that toolbar bordered, and a javascript function to call the required image when you hover. In any case that would make the problem of figuring which toolbar is which even worse for users who can't use a mouse. I honestly think you should be able to tell which is which just by loading the page.
    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 with the 810 pixels with that Connie likes. Scaling like this in Paint produces a clearer image the a "pipe 810px" in the markup on the page here.

    • Steve 25Nov14: There's lots of ways that this "could" be done, and lots of pros and cons to balance. This looks good to me and I can certainly live with it as per "Strawman-6".
    • Gale 26Nov14: I can certainly live with it and mostly it has the best of all worlds. I do feel users who can't use a mouse are being somewhat disadvantaged in seeing which toolbar is which in this image. There is no strawman for Steve's arrowed text with this image. There are good precedents for that solution e.g. Device Toolbar. I agree a numbered list starting at 2 or disagreeing with the numbers on the magic image is not good.

Werkzeugleisten - Übersicht Flag of italy small.png FrenchFlagSmall.png Información general sobre las barras de herramientas Pregled alatnih traka


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.

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.

Hover over and click on each green-bordered toolbar in the image to learn more. Skip the image
Transport Toolbar has buttons for controlling playback and recording and for moving to the project start or endTools Toolbar lets you choose various tools for selection, volume adjustment, zooming and time-shifting of audioRecording Meter Toolbar lets you see if audio being recorded is clipped, which results in distortionPlayback Meter Toolbar lets you see if audio being edited is clipped, which results in distortionMixer Toolbar lets you adjust Recording Volume (the amplitude at which recordings will be made) and Playback Volume (how loud the project's audio sounds, not affecting the volume of exported audio)Edit Toolbar has buttons for editing, Sync-Lock Tracks and zooming which are an alternative to using menu items or keyboard shortcuts for these tasksTranscription Toolbar lets you play audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, also affecting pitchDevice Toolbar selects Audio Host, recording device, recording channels and playback device, avoiding the need to open Devices Preferences to make these settingsAudacity Toolbars Bordered.png
Bill 27Nov2014: Here's an alternative imagemap, with links into this page.
  • Peter 28Nov14: Bill, *very* happy to go with an image like this, but I don't have the skills/tools to make it as clean as this.
Transport Toolbar has buttons for controlling playback and recording and for moving to the project start or endTransport Toolbar has buttons for controlling playback and recording and for moving to the project start or endTools Toolbar lets you choose various tools for selection, volume adjustment, zooming and time-shifting of audioTools Toolbar lets you choose various tools for selection, volume adjustment, zooming and time-shifting of audioRecording Meter Toolbar lets you see if audio being recorded is clipped, which results in distortionRecording Meter Toolbar lets you see if audio being recorded is clipped, which results in distortionPlayback Meter Toolbar lets you see if audio being edited is clipped, which results in distortionPlayback Meter Toolbar lets you see if audio being edited is clipped, which results in distortionMixer Toolbar lets you adjust Recording Volume (the amplitude at which recordings will be made) and Playback Volume (how loud the project's audio sounds, not affecting the volume of exported audioMixer Toolbar lets you adjust Recording Volume (the amplitude at which recordings will be made) and Playback Volume (how loud the project's audio sounds, not affecting the volume of exported audioEdit Toolbar has buttons for editing, Sync-Lock Tracks and zooming which are an alternative to using menu items or keyboard shortcuts for these tasksEdit Toolbar has buttons for editing, Sync-Lock Tracks and zooming which are an alternative to using menu items or keyboard shortcuts for these tasksDevice Toolbar selects Audio Host, recording device, recording channels and playback device, avoiding the need to open Devices Preferences to make these settingsDevice Toolbar selects Audio Host, recording device, recording channels and playback device, avoiding the need to open Devices Preferences to make these settingsTranscription Toolbar|Transcription Toolbar lets you play audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, also affecting pitchTranscription Toolbar|Transcription Toolbar lets you play audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, also affecting pitchAudacity Toolbars Bordered Arrows.png

Ed 25Nov14: we have a note div - it is one thing to use the word "note" in the middle of a paragraph however, if we go so far as to say Note… and put it in bold and italics as a separate sentence-paragraph:

Note that the green boxes are not on the Audacity user interface - they are shown here to assist in identifying the toolbars.

the two greens even set each other off nicely.

  • Gale 26Nov14: Or don't say it - the magic image on the front page does not say it, nor does the big red border image currently on Transport Toolbar.
    • Peter 26Nov14: Ok, I removed that text.


The individual toolbars are described below. Click on any of the toolbar images below to see an image of that toolbar in context with its surroundings.

Transport Toolbar

Transport ToolbarControl basic7.png
  • Controls playback and recording and skips to start or end of project when neither playing or recording.

Tools Toolbar

Tools ToolbarTools toolbar basic7.png
  • Chooses various tools for selection, volume adjustment, zooming and time-shifting of audio.

Recording Meter Toolbar

Recording Meter ToolbarRecording Meter.png
  • Displays recording levels and toggles input monitoring when not recording.

    Note 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

Playback Meter ToolbarPlayback Meter.png
  • 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

Mixer ToolbarMixerToolbarWithoutInputSelect.png
  • Adjusts the recording and playback volumes of the devices currently selected in Device Toolbar.

Edit Toolbar

Edit ToolbarEditToolbarWithSyncLock.png
  • Cut, copy, paste, trim audio, silence audio, undo, redo, sync-lock, zoom.

Transcription Toolbar

Transcription ToolbarTranscription toolbar basic7.png
  • Plays audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, affecting pitch.

Device Toolbar

Device ToolbarDeviceToolbarWin7BasicNoNotes.png
  • Selects audio host, recording device, number of recording channels and playback device.

    Note 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 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.

Selection ToolbarSelection toolbar narrow basic7 without format selection arrows.png


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 can be 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:

Docking-a-toolbar.png

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

FloatingTools win7-basic.png
Peter 21Nov14: ToDo-2 this image will need to be replaced if the Combined Meter is removed.
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