Workaround: Attribute Inspector, Element List or Resource Manager are Hidden

Product(s):
XMetaL Author and XMetaL Author Enterprise versions 4.x thru 6.x

Description:
The Attribute Inspector, Element List, Resource Manager or toolbars may not appear when you ask them to. If they are floating they may not be re-sizeable. Together these items may be referred to as "sub-windows" (pretty much anything with a border that can be grabbed, resized and moved inside the XMetaL Author graphical user interface).

This problem may occur after changing the screen resolution or after switching between screens on a computer with a multiple monitor setup -- especially when one monitor is no longer present (as with a laptop that is periodically connected to an external monitor). Problems with the Windows Registry itself might also cause this issue.

Another known cause of this issue occurs if you drag a sub-window onto the Windows Taskbar. We hope to resolve this particular case in a future release.

The settings that keep track of where these sub-windows were last positioned are stored in the Windows Registry in a section that XMetaL Author reserves for storing its "Workspace" settings. Reinstalling XMetaL Author will not resolve this issue because these registry settings are not cleared during uninstallation. These settings are left alone as a convenience for people that wish to reinstall or repair the product while keeping their workspace settings.

Note that it is possible to have multiple workspaces configured and to switch between them - see "workspaces" in the XMetaL Author Help.

Workaround:
This issue is easily resolved by resetting the XMetaL Author "Workspace". This will reset all XMetaL Author sub-window position and size settings to their default values.

After performing the following steps the active workspace will be reset and will have the following layout:
the Resource Manager, Element List, and Attribute Inspector will be hidden; the main menu, "Standard" toolbar and "Formatting" toolbar will be the only toolbars visible.

1. Shut down XMetaL Author.
2. Hold the Ctrl key down while launching XMetaL Author.
3. Keep the Ctrl key down until you see the following message: "Do you want to skip opening the last session's workspace? Yes/No".
4. Answer "Yes".

At this point you will be able to reposition toolbars and make the Attribute Inspector, Element List and Resource Manager visible, resize them, or float them as desired.