🕑 Read time: 4 min
ftrack Studio’s sidebar has always been a fundamental component of our whole user experience and serves as the first source of information for projects and their objects (Tasks, Shots, Sequences, Versions, Users, Lists, Projects, etc.)
The new Sidebar experience is the first step toward a significant UX redesign of ftrack Studio. It provides a better user experience and reduces the risk of getting lost in navigation, featuring a brand new top info section, fresh design, and modern features.
Activating the new Sidebar
The new Sidebar can now be found and enabled from your personal ftrack account:
1. Click on your Profile icon at the top-right and choose My account.
2. This will take you to your Account page.
3. Ensure that the Enable new Sidebar checkbox is toggled on.
4. Save the setting.
Sidebar's interface
Clicking any object name link within the ftrack Studio interface will open the sidebar, presenting you with further details related to that object - this could be a task, version, shot, episode, folder, project, user, etc.
For example, open the Tasks spreadsheet and click an object name link in the Tasks column, opening the sidebar.
Sidebar’s top section
The new Sidebar offers a few differences compared to the previous version, especially in the top portion of the sidebar display, which presents the most critical information.
1. In the center of the display, you’ll find essential object information such as thumbnail, name, type, status, due date, etc.
To change the thumbnail, drag and drop a new image from your computer to the thumbnail space of the sidebar.
We've added new colored labels/chips under the thumbnail and object name to highlight key information.
Please note: The information you see will depend on the type of object you are viewing. |
2. In the lower-right corner, you’ll find selectable tabs to help you quickly navigate to further details related to or linked to that object.
The tab arrangement shows Notes, Tasks, Versions, Links, Activities, and detailed Information about the object.
Please note: The tabs you see will depend on the object you are viewing. |
3. In the lower-left corner, there are buttons to play the latest version of that object, display the available Actions, or Publish files using Connect.
4. In the upper-right corner, you can access a More dropdown menu by clicking the 3dot icon.
Please note: The menu options you see will depend on the object you are viewing. |
5. In the upper-left corner, you can hide or close the sidebar by clicking the > button. You can also close it by pressing the Esc key.
Sidebar’s navigation
To simplify navigation in the sidebar, we have added some tweaks that should fasten your workflow.
Collapsible top section - While scrolling down on the sidebar, the top section collapses, leaving more space for the information you are specifically looking for.
Pop-up model - Clicking on something in the sidebar opens a new pop-up model window without closing the previous view. If you close it, you will still have the previous sidebar where you left it.
Tip: To navigate between different pop-up model windows, you can go back and forward using your web browser's back and forward buttons. |
New docking modes - The updated sidebar introduces a new Docked mode that allows the sidebar to appear alongside the currently viewed screen instead of overlaying it.