The IDL Workbench > The IDL Workbench - Overview

# The IDL Workbench - Overview

The IDL Workbench is a graphical user interface (GUI) based on the Eclipse open-source framework (http://www.eclipse.org). The Workbench provides editing and debugging tools in an interface that looks and behaves the same way on all platforms supported by IDL.

Note: Full documentation of the underlying Eclipse Environment can be found at Eclipse.org (http://www.eclipse.org/documentation/). Exelis VIS has customized the Eclipse Development Environment for IDL, so some menu items and functionality may differ from those documented by Eclipse. Differences from the basic development environment will be documented here in IDL Help.

The figure below shows an annotated screenshot of the Workbench:

- Menubar - Controls for opening, editing, compiling, and running IDL programs, as well as controls for interacting with other features of theworkbench.
- Toolbar - Graphical controls similar to those on the Menubar.
- Project Explorer - A view that shows IDL programs, data, and support files in a directory on the file system. Click on a file name to open it in the Editor.
- Outline - A view presenting a tree hierarchy of procedures and functions included in the program file currently selected (active) in your Editor view. Click on a name in the tree to highlight its location in your open file.
- Editor - The view where you write, edit, and debug IDL programs. Several programs can be opened at one time, each on its own Editor tab. Click the name of the program on its tab to make it current in your Editor.
- Variables - A view listing the variables defined at the current level in the call stack.
- Console - The view that contains a command-line IDL interface; also where IDL returns information to the user. Can be used independent of, or in conjunction with, an active program in the Editor.
- Command History - A view listing recent statements entered at the command prompt in the Console. You can double-click or drag/drop statements from this view into the Console or Editor.

Note: Views can be moved and docked in different locations in theworkbench, or they can be torn off and placed elsewhere on your computer's desktop. If you have moved views around the Workbench, or torn them off and moved them to another location on your desktop, return them to their starting positions by clicking WINDOW > Reset Views from the Menubar.

Note: If you have minimized a view, use <CTRL><M> to maximize or restore it. Double-clicking on the View tab also restores the view.

## See Also

Bookmarks View, Class Hierarchy, Command History, Console View, Preferences, Editor View, Menubar and Toolbar, Outline View, Problems View, Profiler View, Project Explorer, Task View, Variables View