minimize VST windows

[David Thiel]

first thing when an existing project is open I have the task of minimizing the open windows.

here is an example: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R6UW6DsYyEk88SFuifjlu08dONhehPt5/view?usp=sharing

(a google drive link to a .MP4)   The video shows the state of a small project after the project is loaded.  Nine minimize boxes need to be located with the mouse and pressed to get to a 'Working state' so I can see the track view.

I use 2 4K monitors in native resolution.  The video show the left monitor and the right (not shown) normally shows the piano roll view (full screen).

The project does not keep track of the window state and opens them all up.

And no, I don't want to keep them in the dock for my workflow.

and god forbid if I inadvertently invoke a screenset....  hitting 1 to get me back to my screenset leaves me with all the VST windows open again.

My feature request is a feature, probably lives in view, that minimizes all open VST windows.

a secondary request is for the projects to note the state of the VSTs and restore that on project load.

If there is already a way to achieve this, it would improve my workflow substantially?  I write music and also create sounds for games.  The sound projects are small but sometimes involved.  Anything that gets me to my working state would help.

Edited August 24 by David Thiel
clarification

[Promidi]

Have you considered setting up your windows as you like them, then locking your screenset(s)?

Also if you use the windows layouts in locked screensets, and you wish to use Workspaces (only available in Sonar Premium), then create a custom Workspace that is configured not to load Windows Layouts.  You do this in the Workspace Manger.

If I want to change my Windows layouts in my locked Screenset, I move my Windows to where I want them, then do a quick Screenset unlock/lock with a double press of the ALT+SHIFT+L Keyboard shortcut.  Done!

This has been my workflow since Lenses (as Workspaces were known as then) came out....  and my Windows layouts have never changed unintentionally.

[David Thiel]

Not explicitly used Workspaces at all.  It might be part of the solution.

18 hours ago, Promidi said:

Screenset unlock/lock with a double press of the ALT+SHIFT+L Keyboard shortcut. 

I tried and it didn't do anything.  Looking at keyboard preferences

 

 there is nothing assigned to this.  So I looked for the function using "screen" and "set" as search terms and I couldn't find anything.  This seems handy. 

I do have #1 screen set locked.

I couldn't unbind 1-9 to screensets so I did the next best thing and assigned some other functions to them so now I never inadvertently select a screenset.  

In anycase I am experimenting with workspaces to get a good starting space.  Thanks for the input.

[David Thiel]

In experimenting with settings of Screenset and Workspace I've lost the Sceenset module on the control bar.

maybe this is some form of it minimized?

it is not in the list of modules any more

any clue as to how one gets it back?

[Promidi]

1 hour ago, David Thiel said:

Not explicitly used Workspaces at all.  It might be part of the solution.

Then it would be over to screensets to store Windows Layouts.
 

1 hour ago, David Thiel said:

19 hours ago, Promidi said:

Screenset unlock/lock with a double press of the ALT+SHIFT+L Keyboard shortcut. 

I tried and it didn't do anything.  Looking at keyboard preferences

I am not sure how I was able to assign ALT+SHIFT+L to unlock/lock Screensets.  Maybe it is hard coded in, but not documented.  Then again, you would see it in your keybindings list.  I do see ALT+SHIFT+L as being assigned in my Keybindings preference screen - shown textually, but not graphically (with the line pointing to the listed item on the right pane).

If you look under the Views menu > Screensets, does “Lock/Unlock Current Screenset”  have ALT+SHIFT+L next to it?

It does on mine.  This is there on my Sonar Platinum as well.

1 hour ago, David Thiel said:

I do have #1 screen set locked.

If you unlock this, (using the menu as your ALT+SHIFT+L keybinding does not seem to be available to you), does this now remember your Windows position?

Note:  Every project uses at least one Screenset.  If no Screenset is explicitly set, you would be using the first one.  In your case, it’s locked.  Maybe this is your issue?
 

[Promidi]

2 minutes ago, David Thiel said:

In experimenting with settings of Screenset and Workspace I've lost the Sceenset module on the control bar.

You might have chosen a workspace that hides the Screenset module.  Remember, Workspaces can load their own Control Bar configuration.

 

3 minutes ago, David Thiel said:

any clue as to how one gets it back

Set your Workspace to None.

[David Thiel]

20 hours ago, Promidi said:

Set your Workspace to None.

Thank you, that got it back.  Though it doesn't increase my confidence that I couldn't not get it back.  

[David Thiel]

a deep dive into screensets:

the doc says

3. Arrange the views and windows the way you want, including zoom settings, etc.

so I am on unlocked screenset 1. 

 I minimize all my vst windows (which is how I want this)

I select screenset 2.   The doc says that this is a way to save the current screenset.

Then, selecting screenset 1 (which takes way too long IMO) all the VST windows are restored to their location in the "Restored Up" state.

this tells me that a screenset does not store whether a window is minimized.

or am I missing something?

[David Thiel]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tdiBD6a89ckPqGRTOaiH-BkmhpG1GbAl/view?usp=sharing

this video shows the screenset performance.  switching from a screenset with no open vst windows to a screenset with 7 open vst windows takes nearly 18 before work can resume.  This is why I have always avoided screensets.  Recently I overwrote 1-0 screenset bindings with something else just to avoid invoking them inadvertently. 

I have the parts for my new DAW and theoretically when I switch it will be faster but not fast enough.

 

[Promidi]

4 hours ago, David Thiel said:

this tells me that a screenset does not store whether a window is minimised.

I have a screenset that has a minimised Track View Window and this status is stored correctly.