This documentation is for a prerelease version of O3DE. Click here to switch to the latest release, or select a version from the dropdown.

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Customizing O3DE Editor Layout

You can customize your workspace by adjusting how the windows and tools are docked, customizing which toolbars and menus display, and updating the global editor settings.

Note:
To change the size setting for the toolbar icon, open the Editor.cfg file and enter a value for the ed_toolbarIconSize parameter. By default, the toolbar icon size is set to 0 (32 pixels).

Docking Windows and Toolbars

When you drag a window or toolbar over an interface element or the edges of the editor, docking targets appear to show you where you can dock them. These targets appear for the top, bottom, left, and right quadrants of the pane. You can dock windows relative to any open pane, whether it is already docked, floating as a tab, or split in a column or row.

  • To split a row or column, drop the window or toolbar on a docking target.

    Split the column into two panes

  • To dock a window or toolbar as a tab, drop it on the docking target in the middle of a pane.

    Dock the window into a tabbed view

  • To dock a window or toolbar to the editor window, drop it on the outer docking target. This creates a new column next to the existing column.

    Dock the window to the editor window and create a new column

  • To undock a window or toolbar, drag the title bar and move the selection window away. Avoid the docking targets to prevent from accidentally redocking the window. To help prevent accidental docking, a brief delay occurs before a docking target becomes active. You can also undock a window by right-clicking the title bar and choosing Undock.

    Undock the window from the tabbed view

  • To prevent a window from docking, press and hold Ctrl while moving the window.

  • To snap a window in place, move the window close to a stationary window. Snapping works on the top, bottom, left, and right borders of the pane.

Customizing Toolbars and Menus

You can also give toolbars and menus your own personal touch.

  1. Right-click the top toolbar and choose Customize.

  2. In the Customize window, for Toolbars, create, rename, and delete any custom toolbars and menus, or reset them to the default settings.

    Toolbars tab in the Customize window

  3. In the Commands tab, drag and drop menu commands to any menu category.

    Commands tab in the Customize window

Changing Preferences

You can change the default settings to customize the look and functionality of the editor.

  1. In O3DE Editor, choose Edit, Editor Settings, Global Preferences.

    General Settings tab in the Preferences window

General Settings

You can change the general O3DE Editor settings and file settings.

General Settings

ParameterDescription
Show Geometry Preview PanelDisplays a preview window for the selected object.
Enable Source ControlEnables Perforce version control.
Clear Console at game startupIf enabled, text in the Console will be cleared when entering Game Mode.
Console BackgroundChanges the background color mode for the console. Default: Dark
Auto-load last level at startupLoads the level that was last loaded.
Show Time in ConsoleDisplays the time in the console window.
Toolbar Icon SizeAdjusts the toolbar icon size. Default: 16 (32 pixels).
Stylus ModeEnables stylus mode for tablets and other pointing devices.
Enable Scene Inspector (EXPERIMENTAL)Enables the option to inspect scenes in files such as .fbx files.
Restore Viewport Camera on Game Mode ExitReturns the camera to the original transform when you exit gameplay mode.

Messaging

ParameterDescription
Show Welcome to O3DE at startupDisplays the Welcome to O3DE dialog box at startup.
Show Error: Circular dependencyShows an error message when adding a slice instance to a target would create cyclic asset dependency. All other overrides to slices will be saved.

Undo

ParameterDescription
Undo LevelsSpecifies the maximum number of times you can undo a level. Default: 50
Undo Slice Override SavesAllows you to undo override saves to slices.

Selection

ParameterDescription
Deep selection range
Stick duplicate to cursor

Vertex Snapping

ParameterDescription
Vertex Cube SizeAdjusts the vertex cube size.
Render Penetrated BoundboxesRenders penetrated bound boxes.

Metrics

ParameterDescription
Enable Metrics TrackingEnables metrics tracking.

Slices

ParameterDescription
New Slices Dynamic By DefaultWhen you create a slice, the slice is set to dynamic.

Files

ParameterDescription
Backup on SaveCreates a backup file when you save.
Maximum Save BackupsSpecifies the maximum number of saved backups.
Standard Temporary DirectorySpecifies the default temporary directory to use. Default = [root]\Temp
Auto Save Camera Tag PointsSaves the modified camera tag points.
Scripts EditorSpecifies the text editor to use for scripts.
Shaders EditorSpecifies the text editor to use for shaders.
BSpace EditorSpecifies the text editor to use for blend spaces.
Texture EditorSpecifies the program to use for textures.
Animation EditorSpecifies the program to use for animations.
EnableEnables auto backup.
Time IntervalSpecifies the frequency of auto backup (in minutes).
Maximum BackupsSpecifies the maximum number of auto backups.
Remind TimeSpecifies the frequency of auto backup reminders (in minutes).

Viewport

You can change the default settings for the viewport.

General

ParameterDescription
Synchronize 2D ViewportsEnables synchronization of 2D viewports to move and correspond with each other.
Perspective View FOVSpecifies the field of vision for the viewport.
Perspective View Aspect RatioSpecifies the length of the aspect ratio for the viewport, where height = 1.
Enable Right-Click Context MenuEnables the context menu that appears when you right-click in the viewport.
Show 4:3 Aspect Ratio FrameDisplays a 4:3 aspect ratio frame to show what is visible in game mode.
Highlight Selected GeometryHighlights the selected geometry.
Highlight Selected VegetationHighlights the selected vegetation.
Highlight Geometry on Mouse OverHighlights geometry on hover over.
Hide Cursor when CapturedShows or hides the mouse pointer in the viewport.
Drag Square SizeSpecifies the size of the drag square to prevent from accidentally moving objects when selecting.
Display Object LinksDisplays entity links in the viewport.
Display Animation TracksDisplays the animation path for any objects in the Track View. One line = one frame.
Always Show RadiiDisplays the area of effect (radius) for certain entities.
Always Show Prefab BoundsDisplays the prefab boundary helpers.
Always Show Prefab ObjectsDisplays the prefab object helpers.
Show Bounding BoxesDisplays a bounding box around each object.
Always Draw Entity LabelsDisplays entity names.
Always Show Trigger BoundsDisplays the trigger boundary helpers.
Show Object IconsDisplays object icons.
Scale Object Icons with DistanceScales object icons relative to distance.
Show Helpers of Frozen ObjectsDisplays the frozen object helper icons.
Fill Selected ShapesHighlights the inside area of a selected shape.
Show Snapping Grid GuideDisplays the grid in the viewport.
Display Dimension FiguresDisplays the measurement dimensions of selected assets; you must enable helpers.
Swap X/Y AxisReverses the x-axis and y-axis.
Map Texture ResolutionSpecifies the resolution for the displayed map.
EnabledDisplays object names.
DistanceSpecifies the visibility distance for text labels.
Prefab Bounding BoxSpecifies the color for the prefab bounding box.
Group Bounding BoxSpecifies the color for the group bounding box.
Entity Bounding BoxSpecifies the color for the entity bounding box.
Bounding Box Highlight AlphaSpecifies the amount of highlight alpha to add to the bounding box.
Geometry ColorSpecifies the geometry color.
Solid Brush Geometry ColorSpecifies the color of the solid brush geometry.
Geometry Highlight AlphaSpecifies the amount of highlight alpha to add to the geometry.
Child Geometry Highlight AlphaSpecifies the amount of highlight alpha to add to the child geometry.

Movement

ParameterDescription
Camera Movement SpeedSpecifies the speed of all movements in the viewport.
Camera Rotation SpeedSpecifies the speed of movement while you control the viewport camera.
Fast Movement ScaleSpecifies the multiplier for the camera speed; for example, a value of two doubles the movement speed of the camera.
Wheel Zoom SpeedSpecifies the speed of the camera zoom when using the mouse wheel.
Invert Y AxisInverts the direction that the camera moves on the y-axis when holding the right button on the mouse and moving the mouse up or down.
Invert PanInverts the direction that the camera moves when holding the middle button on the mouse and moving the mouse left or right.

Gizmos

ParameterDescription
SizeSpecifies the size of the xyz-axes gizmo.
Text LabelsDisplays the xyz-axes labels.
Max CountSpecifies the maximum number of xyz-axes gizmos that can display onscreen at one time.
Helpers ScaleSpecifies the size of onscreen helpers, including AIAnchors, Tagpoints, and CoverSurfaces.
Tagpoint Scale MultiplierSpecifies the scale of the tagpoint helper sphere and the base helper scale value.
Ruler Sphere ScaleSpecifies the scale of the locator sphere size when using the Ruler tool.
Ruler Sphere TransparencySpecifies the transparency level of the locator sphere when using the Ruler tool.

Debug

ParameterDescription
Show Mesh StatisticsDisplays the level of detail information, such as tris and verts, for selectable objects.
Warning Icons Draw DistanceSpecifies the distance to which to display warning icons in the viewport.
Show Scale WarningsDisplays an icon and warning text for objects that have been scaled.
Show Rotation WarningsDisplays an icon and warning text for objects that have been rotated.

Experimental Features

You can change the default settings for experimental features such as total illumination.

Lighting Settings

ParameterDescription
Total IlluminationEnables the total illumination lighting feature.