How to Use Workviews to Save Window Layouts

Last updated 22 June 2026

How to Use Workviews to Save Window Layouts

Workviews are named window layout presets that control which windows are visible, their position, size, and docking arrangement. Switch between workviews to instantly reconfigure Backstage's interface for different tasks — editing nodes, warping outputs, or monitoring playback.

Per-workview layout persistence — as of the June 2026 update, each workview automatically remembers your window layout (including Presenter windows) when you switch away. Switching back restores exactly where you left off. Previously, workviews always loaded their factory baseline.

Before you start

  • Backstage is running (June 2026 update or later for per-workview persistence)
  • A project is loaded (workview layouts are stored per user, not per project, but the UI must be active)

Built-in workviews

Backstage includes eight built-in workviews on Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+8, each optimized for a different task. Custom presets you save yourself appear below them in the dropdown (without a shortcut):

Workview

Purpose

Shortcut

User

Your general-purpose layout. This is the default workview when Backstage starts.

Ctrl+1

Scene & Timeline

Building the 3D scene and editing sequences on the timeline.

Ctrl+2

Outputs and Routings

Configuring outputs and routing displays, projectors, and audio.

Ctrl+3

Node Editor

Working in the Node Editor.

Ctrl+4

Web Console

Building and serving Web Console pages.

Ctrl+5

Broadcast Scheduler

Programming the broadcast schedule.

Ctrl+6

Output Warping

Output warping and projector alignment.

Ctrl+7

Monitoring

Monitoring playback and system status.

Ctrl+8

Steps

1. Switch between workviews

Use the workview dropdown in the center of the top toolbar. Select a workview name from the list to switch to it. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+8 for the eight built-in workviews.

When you switch away from a workview, Backstage automatically saves the current window layout. When you switch back, your layout is restored exactly as you left it — including the position, size, and visibility of all windows and Presenter windows.

2. Customize a workview's layout

Rearrange, dock, resize, or show/hide windows while a workview is active. Open or close Presenter windows via View > Presenter. All changes are saved automatically when you switch to a different workview or close Backstage.

3. Reset a workview to its factory layout

Click the reset icon (circular arrow) next to the workview dropdown. Its tooltip reads "Reset to factory layout" for the User workview, or "Recall workview preset" for the other built-in workviews. This discards all your saved customizations for that workview and restores its factory baseline.

4. Create a custom workview

Arrange your windows exactly as you want them. Open View > Layout Presets > Save Preset... and enter a name. The current layout is saved as a new workview that appears in the dropdown below the built-in presets.

5. Replace or delete a custom workview

Open View > Layout Presets and right-click a custom workview name. Select Replace with Current to overwrite it with your current layout, or Delete Preset to remove it.

The right-click menu only appears on custom workviews you created with Save Preset. The eight built-in workviews (User, Scene & Timeline, Outputs and Routings, Node Editor, Web Console, Broadcast Scheduler, Output Warping, Monitoring) have no right-click menu and cannot be overwritten or deleted.

What the layout includes

Each workview stores:

  • Window visibility, position, and size for all Backstage windows (Inspector, Scene Objects, Assets, Outputs, Sequencer, Node Editor, etc.)

  • Window docking arrangement (which windows are docked together, tab order)

  • Presenter window visibility and position (new in June 2026)

  • Sequencer splitter position

  • Collapsible section (header) expand/collapse states

Common Mistakes

  • Right-clicking a workview does nothing — the Replace / Delete context menu is only available on custom workviews. The eight built-in workviews (User, Scene & Timeline, Outputs and Routings, Node Editor, Web Console, Broadcast Scheduler, Output Warping, Monitoring) have no right-click menu. Create your own workview with Save Preset... first.

  • Layout not restoring after update — Per-workview persistence is only available from the June 2026 update onward. On older versions, switching workviews always loads the factory preset. Update Backstage to get automatic layout persistence.

  • Trying to overwrite a built-in workview — The eight built-in workviews cannot be overwritten via Save Preset. However, your customizations are still saved automatically when you switch away. If you want a completely different starting point, create a custom workview with Save Preset instead.

  • Clicking the workview dropdown to reset — Re-selecting the already active workview from the dropdown does nothing. To reset a workview to its factory baseline, use the reset icon (circular arrow) next to the dropdown.

Tips

  • Workview layouts are stored per user, not per project. Your workview customizations follow you across all projects on the same machine.

  • Use Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+8 for instant switching. This is especially useful when toggling between node programming and output warping during setup.

  • Open Presenter windows in one workview and keep them hidden in another. Each workview independently tracks which Presenter windows are visible, so operators can have a dedicated "show control" workview with all Presenter panels open.

  • The View > Layout Presets menu provides the same workview list as the toolbar dropdown, plus the Save Preset... option for creating new workviews.

Build a Presenter Interface for Operators — How to create a Presenter interface for operators using the Node Editor.

How Backstage Thinks — Core concepts of Backstage: scenes, surfaces, outputs, sequences, and the Inspector.

UI Reference — Reference pages for Backstage's UI windows and panels.