FeaturesWorkspace

Workspace Management

Lokus offers a flexible and powerful workspace system that lets you customize your note-taking environment to match your workflow. From split editors to customizable sidebars, every aspect is designed for maximum productivity.

Overview

The workspace system provides:

  • Flexible Layouts: Customize panel positions and sizes
  • Split Editor: Work with multiple files side-by-side
  • Sidebar Management: Toggle and resize left/right sidebars
  • Panel System: Organize tools and features
  • Multiple Workspaces: Switch between different note collections
  • Persistent State: Layouts saved across sessions
  • Customizable UI: Adjust to your preferences

Workspace Layout

Understanding the Layout

The Lokus workspace is divided into several key areas:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   Title Bar                         │
│  Logo | Tabs | File Name | Controls                │
├──────────┬──────────────────────────┬───────────────┤
│          │                          │               │
│  Left    │     Main Editor          │     Right     │
│ Sidebar  │      Content             │   Sidebar     │
│          │                          │               │
│ Files    │  ┌──────────────────┐   │  Outline      │
│ Tags     │  │                  │   │  Backlinks    │
│ Search   │  │  Your Notes      │   │  Graph        │
│          │  │                  │   │  History      │
│          │  └──────────────────┘   │               │
│          │                          │               │
├──────────┴──────────────────────────┴───────────────┤
│                   Status Bar                        │
│  Path | Word Count | Shortcuts | Mode              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Areas

1. Title Bar

  • Application logo and name
  • Open file tabs
  • Current file name
  • Window controls (minimize, maximize, close)

2. Left Sidebar (Default: 280px)

  • File tree/explorer
  • Tag browser
  • Search panel
  • Gmail integration
  • Bases (databases)

3. Main Editor

  • Primary editing area
  • Can split horizontally or vertically
  • Supports multiple panes
  • Tabs for open files

4. Right Sidebar (Default: 280px)

  • Document outline
  • Backlinks panel
  • Graph view
  • Version history
  • Editor mode switcher
  • Plugins panel

5. Status Bar

  • File path
  • Word/character count
  • Keyboard shortcuts hint
  • Editor mode
  • Sync status

Managing Sidebars

Left Sidebar

The left sidebar contains your file navigation and organization tools.

Toggle Left Sidebar

Keyboard Shortcut: Cmd+B (Windows: Ctrl+B)
Or: Click the hamburger menu icon

Available Panels

File Explorer (Default)

  • Browse your files and folders
  • Create, rename, delete files
  • Drag and drop organization

Tag Browser

  • View all tags in workspace
  • Filter by tags
  • Hierarchical tag display
  • Tag statistics

Search Panel

Keyboard Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+F (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+F)
  • Full-text search across all files
  • Advanced search options
  • Search in file names
  • Filter by date, tags

Gmail Integration

  • View and manage emails
  • Convert emails to notes
  • Search email archive

Bases

  • Database views for structured content
  • Table, board, calendar views
  • Data relationships

Resize Left Sidebar

Method 1: Drag Border

1. Hover over right edge of sidebar
2. Cursor changes to resize arrow
3. Click and drag left/right
4. Release to set size

Method 2: Double-click Border

Double-click the border to reset to default width (280px)

Size Limits:

  • Minimum: 220px
  • Maximum: 500px
  • Default: 280px

Right Sidebar

The right sidebar displays contextual information about your current note.

Toggle Right Sidebar

Keyboard Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+B (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+B)
Or: Click the panel icon in top-right

Available Panels

Editor Mode Switcher

  • Edit Mode: Full editing capabilities
  • Live Preview: Real-time preview while editing
  • Reading Mode: Distraction-free reading

Document Outline

  • Hierarchical heading structure
  • Click to jump to section
  • Auto-updates as you type
  • Collapsible sections

Backlinks Panel

  • Shows notes linking to current file
  • Click to navigate
  • Context snippets
  • Unlinked mentions

Graph View

  • Visual representation of connections
  • Local graph (current note + links)
  • Interactive node navigation
  • Filter by depth

Version History

  • View previous versions
  • Compare changes (diff view)
  • Restore old versions
  • Automatic snapshots

Plugins Panel

  • Active plugin list
  • Plugin controls
  • Custom plugin UIs

Resize Right Sidebar

Same resize behavior as left sidebar:

  • Min: 220px
  • Max: 500px
  • Default: 280px

Split Editor

Work with multiple files simultaneously using split view.

Activating Split View

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut

Toggle Split: Cmd+\ (Windows: Ctrl+\)
Toggle Direction: Cmd+Shift+\ (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+\)

Method 2: Context Menu

1. Right-click on editor
2. Select "Split Editor"
3. Choose "Split Horizontally" or "Split Vertically"

Method 3: Command Palette

1. Press Cmd+K (Windows: Ctrl+K)
2. Type "split"
3. Select split option

Split Configurations

Vertical Split (Side-by-side)

┌────────────────┬────────────────┐
│                │                │
│   Editor 1     │   Editor 2     │
│                │                │
│  (Active)      │                │
│                │                │
└────────────────┴────────────────┘

Horizontal Split (Top-bottom)

┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│          Editor 1                │
│         (Active)                 │
├──────────────────────────────────┤
│          Editor 2                │
│                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Managing Split Panes

Resize Panes

Drag Divider

1. Hover over divider between panes
2. Click and drag to resize
3. Both panes adjust proportionally

Reset Pane Sizes

Keyboard Shortcut: Cmd+Alt+\ (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+\)
Resets to 50/50 split

Switch Active Pane

Keyboard Navigation:

  • Tab: Switch to next pane
  • Shift+Tab: Switch to previous pane

Mouse:

  • Click in pane to make it active
  • Active pane has blue border

Close Split View

Method 1: Shortcut

Cmd+\ (Windows: Ctrl+\) - Toggles on/off

Method 2: Close Pane

Close file in one pane → Reverts to single editor

Split View Features

Synchronized Scrolling

Shortcut: Cmd+Alt+S (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+S)
Toggle: Scroll both panes together

Independent Files

  • Each pane can display different file
  • Separate undo/redo history
  • Independent cursor positions

Drag and Drop

1. Drag tab from tab bar
2. Drop into pane
3. Opens in that pane

Copy Content Between Panes

1. Select text in one pane
2. Copy (Cmd+C)
3. Click other pane
4. Paste (Cmd+V)

Tab Management

Working with Tabs

Tabs let you keep multiple files open for quick switching.

Tab Bar Features

Tab Elements:

  • File icon (indicates file type)
  • File name
  • Modified indicator (dot if unsaved)
  • Close button (×)

Tab States:

  • Active: Highlighted tab
  • Modified: Shows dot before name
  • Pinned: Stays left, can’t be closed accidentally

Opening Files in Tabs

New Tab

1. Click file in sidebar
2. Or: Cmd+Click to open in new tab
3. Or: Middle-click file

Maximum Tabs: 10 tabs (recommended for performance)

Navigating Tabs

Keyboard:

Next Tab: Cmd+Alt+Right (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+Right)
Previous Tab: Cmd+Alt+Left (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+Left)
Go to Tab 1-9: Cmd+1 through Cmd+9
Close Tab: Cmd+W (Windows: Ctrl+W)

Mouse:

Click: Switch to tab
Middle-click: Close tab
Drag: Reorder tabs

Reopen Closed Tab

Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+T (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+T)
Reopens last 20 closed tabs in order

Tab Context Menu

Right-click any tab:

ActionDescription
CloseClose this tab
Close OthersClose all except this
Close to RightClose tabs to the right
Close AllClose all tabs
Pin TabPin tab to left
Unpin TabUnpin tab
Copy PathCopy file path
Reveal in FinderShow in file explorer

Multiple Workspaces

Lokus supports multiple independent workspaces.

What is a Workspace?

A workspace is a collection of:

  • Note files and folders
  • Configuration settings
  • Open tabs and layout
  • Recent files history
  • Search history

Creating Workspaces

Method 1: From Welcome Screen

1. File → New Workspace
2. Choose folder location
3. Name your workspace
4. Click Create

Method 2: Open Folder as Workspace

1. File → Open Folder
2. Select existing folder
3. Lokus creates workspace

Switching Workspaces

Quick Switch

1. File → Recent Workspaces
2. Select workspace from list
3. Instantly switch

Open Multiple Windows

File → New Window
Select different workspace
Work with both simultaneously

Workspace Settings

Each workspace has independent settings:

Stored Per Workspace:

  • Theme preferences
  • Editor settings
  • Sidebar states
  • Plugin configurations
  • Keyboard shortcuts (optional)

Stored Globally:

  • Application preferences
  • Update settings
  • Default editor settings

Layout Customization

Saving Layouts

Lokus automatically saves your layout:

Auto-saved:

  • Sidebar widths
  • Split editor configuration
  • Open tabs
  • Active file
  • Panel visibility

On Exit:

  • Layout saved when closing Lokus
  • Restored on next launch

Layout Profiles

Create and switch between layout profiles:

Use Cases:

  • Writing Mode: Hide sidebars, focus on editor
  • Research Mode: Split view with multiple references
  • Organization Mode: Show file tree and tags
  • Review Mode: Show outline and backlinks

Quick Layouts (Coming Soon)

Cmd+Alt+1: Writing mode
Cmd+Alt+2: Research mode
Cmd+Alt+3: Organization mode

Reset Layout

Return to default layout:

View → Reset Layout
Or: Hold Shift while launching Lokus

Default Layout:

  • Left sidebar: 280px (visible)
  • Right sidebar: 280px (hidden)
  • Single editor (no split)
  • File tree active in left sidebar

Status Bar

The bottom status bar provides real-time information.

Status Bar Elements

Left Side:

  • File Path: Current file location
  • Sync Status: Cloud sync indicator (if enabled)
  • Git Status: Branch and changes (if in git repo)

Center:

  • Word Count: Total words in document
  • Character Count: With and without spaces
  • Line Count: Total lines
  • Selection: Selected text stats

Right Side:

  • Editor Mode: Edit/Live/Reading
  • Line:Column: Cursor position
  • File Encoding: UTF-8, etc.
  • Line Endings: LF/CRLF

Status Bar Actions

Click Elements:

  • File Path: Open file location
  • Word Count: Toggle count type
  • Editor Mode: Switch modes
  • Line:Column: Go to line dialog

Workspace Tips

Performance Optimization

Keep Workspace Fast:

  1. Close unused tabs (keep under 10)
  2. Limit files in root (use folders)
  3. Archive old notes regularly
  4. Clear search cache monthly

Organization Strategies

Folder Structure:

workspace/
├── 0-Inbox/          # Quick capture
├── 1-Projects/       # Active projects
├── 2-Areas/          # Ongoing responsibilities
├── 3-Resources/      # Reference material
└── 4-Archive/        # Completed items

PARA Method:

workspace/
├── Projects/         # Short-term efforts
├── Areas/            # Long-term responsibilities
├── Resources/        # Topics of interest
└── Archive/          # Inactive items

Zettelkasten:

workspace/
├── 0-Index/          # Entry points
├── 1-Literature/     # Source notes
├── 2-Permanent/      # Main notes
└── 3-Projects/       # Project-specific

Workflow Recommendations

Daily Workflow:

  1. Morning: Review outline in right sidebar
  2. Writing: Hide all sidebars (Cmd+B, Cmd+Shift+B)
  3. Research: Use split view
  4. Evening: Review backlinks, organize

Focus Mode:

1. Hide left sidebar (Cmd+B)
2. Hide right sidebar (Cmd+Shift+B)
3. Switch to Reading mode
4. Or: Use Zen Mode (F11 fullscreen)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Workspace Navigation

ShortcutAction
Cmd+BToggle left sidebar
Cmd+Shift+BToggle right sidebar
Cmd+\Toggle split editor
Cmd+Shift+\Toggle split direction
Cmd+Alt+\Reset pane sizes

Tab Management

ShortcutAction
Cmd+WClose current tab
Cmd+Shift+TReopen closed tab
Cmd+Alt+RightNext tab
Cmd+Alt+LeftPrevious tab
Cmd+1-9Go to tab 1-9

View Management

ShortcutAction
F11Toggle fullscreen
Cmd+PlusZoom in
Cmd+MinusZoom out
Cmd+0Reset zoom

Advanced Features

Panel Manager

Customize panel positions:

Panel Regions:

  • Left Sidebar
  • Right Sidebar
  • Bottom Panel
  • Floating Panels

Configure Panels:

1. View → Panel Settings
2. Drag panels to regions
3. Resize and arrange
4. Save configuration

Custom Workspace Scripts

Automate workspace setup (Advanced):

// workspace-setup.js
export default {
  name: "Research Mode",
  layout: {
    leftSidebar: { visible: true, width: 250 },
    rightSidebar: { visible: true, width: 300 },
    split: { enabled: true, direction: "vertical" }
  },
  files: [
    "Research/Current-Project.md",
    "Reference/Sources.md"
  ]
};

Workspace Sync

Sync workspace settings across devices:

Enable Sync:

1. Preferences → Sync
2. Enable workspace sync
3. Choose sync service
4. Login and sync

What Syncs:

  • Layout preferences
  • Sidebar states
  • Plugin configurations
  • Custom shortcuts

What Doesn’t Sync:

  • Note files (use git or cloud)
  • Open tabs
  • Window position

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Sidebar Won’t Open

  • Solution: Press Cmd+B twice to reset
  • Check View menu → Show Left Sidebar

Split View Not Working

  • Solution: Close all tabs, try again
  • Check available screen space
  • Reset layout (View → Reset Layout)

Tabs Not Saving

  • Solution: Check workspace permissions
  • Verify config file isn’t read-only
  • Try creating new workspace

Layout Resets on Restart

  • Solution: Check config file location
  • Verify write permissions
  • Don’t force quit (exit properly)

Performance Issues

  • Close extra tabs
  • Reduce sidebar width
  • Disable unused panels
  • Clear cache

Getting Help

For more assistance:

Related Features

What’s Next?

Explore these related topics:

File ManagementCommand Palette