Modifying entity properties by using the Quick Properties pane

Compared with the Properties pane which typically displays in a large size and remains open until you close it manually, the Quick Properties pane displays in a smaller size and opens and closes dynamically. This allows you to access entity-specific properties dynamically when you need them without crowding available screen space. The pane displays automatically when you double-click an entity that does not have a double-click action assigned to it (for example, multiline text), and it closes automatically when you choose a subsequent command or action, or press Esc. The pane can also be set up to display automatically when you select an entity using a single-click, crossing window, etc. when a command is not active.

The Quick Properties pane generally doesnt display all properties of an entity, but you can easily open the Properties pane directly from the Quick Properties pane to work with all properties, if needed. The list of properties available in the Quick Properties pane for each entity type is customizable using the Customize UI command. For more details, see Customizing the Quick Properties pane.

To use the Quick Properties pane to modify properties of entities

   1   Do one of the following to display the Quick Properties pane:

    Double-click an entity.

    Select entities using any selection method. The Quick Properties pane displays if it is turned on for selection; press Ctrl + Shift + P, choose Quick Properties On/Off in the status bar when no entities are selected, or type dsettings and use the Quick Properties tab.

    Type quickproperties, select entities, then press Enter.

    2    Make changes to the properties. The available properties vary according to the entities you selected and the properties specified to display in the Quick Properties pane for each entity type.

To change the behavior of the Quick Properties pane

   1   Do one of the following to choose Drawing Settings ():

    On the ribbon, choose Application button > Drawing Utilities; Home > Drawing Settings (in Utilities); or Tools > Drawing Settings (in Manage).

    On the menu, choose Tools > Drawing Settings.

    On the Tools toolbar, click the Drawing Settings tool.

    Type dsettings and then press Enter.

    On the status bar, right-click Quick Properties On/Off, then choose Settings.

   2   Click the Quick Properties tab.

   3   To turn on the display of the Quick Properties pane when an entity is selected in the drawing (in addition to double-clicking):

    Mark Display the Quick Properties Pane on Selection.

    Choose All Entities to display the pane when any entity is selected or choose Only Entities with Specified Properties to display the pane only for entities that are specified in the Customize User Interface dialog box. For more details, see Customizing the Quick Properties pane.

Use a shortcut.
To change whether the Quick Properties pane displays on selection, press
Ctrl + Shift + P or click Quick Properties On/Off in the status bar when no entities are selected.

   4   To specify the default position of the Quick Properties pane when it displays, choose one of the following:

    Cursor-dependent Displays relative to the cursor location, below and to the right of the cursor.

    Static Displays in a fixed location without reference to the cursor. To specify a new location, click and drag the pane. The next time the pane opens, it displays at the same location.

   5   To display a collapsed version of the Quick Properties pane until the cursor hovers over it, when it then automatically expands to display all defined quick properties for the selected entity, do the following:

    Mark Collapse Pane Automatically.

    In Minimum Number of Rows, enter the number of properties to display when the pane displays as collapsed.

   6   Click OK.