interface manual basics

getting_started/introduction/first_look_at_the_editor.rst

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ This page will give you a brief overview of Godot's interface. We're going to
 look at the different main screens and docks to help you situate yourself.
 
 .. seealso:: For a comprehensive breakdown of the editor's interface and how to
-             use it, see the :ref:`Editor manual <doc_editor_introduction>`.
+             use it, see the :ref:`Editor manual <toc-editor-interface>`.
 
 The Project Manager
 -------------------

tutorials/editor/bottom_panel.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+.. _doc_bottom_panel:
+
+Bottom panel
+------------
+
+.. |expand| image:: img/editor_ui_bottom_panel_expand_button.webp
+
+Bottom panel lies at the bottom of the Godot's editor. The default bottom panels 
+at the startup are listed below, click on one page to read further about a
+panel. Depending on the selected node, additional panels can be visible. 
+If a panel is opened, its name is highlighted with blue.
+Right next to the Godot's version will then also show the |expand| button to extend 
+the opened panel to cover the viewport, which can be useful e.g., during 
+debugging, or animation creation.
+
+.. tip:: Shortcuts to toggle bottom panels as well as to perform 
+  some actions, can be found in Editor Settings > Shortcuts > Bottom Panel.
+
+Output
+~~~~~~
+
+This panel shows the generated messages from the editor, or the 
+running script or the game.
+
+.. image:: img/editor_ui_bottom_panel_output.webp
+
+The broom button clears all shown messages. The button next to it copies the selected
+messages into the clipboard.
+Below the broom button is the collapse button for the duplicated messages. If
+the same message is displayed consecutively, they will be shown as one, with the
+indication of the repetition count. Clicking on it again will change its behaviour
+to back.
+
+The magnifier opens and focuses the seach/filter bar. This lets you filter for 
+a specific message, immediately as you type.
+
+Below these four buttons, there is another set of four buttons with number 
+indicators for filtering different types of messages. 
+
+.. |info| image:: img/output-panel/info.webp
+.. |error| image:: img/output-panel/error.webp
+.. |warning| image:: img/output-panel/warning.webp
+.. |editor| image:: img/output-panel/editor.webp
+
+
+|info| This one is to show or hide the standard output messages, which are white.
+In the game, these are the messages created with using e.g., using ``print()`` 
+function.
+
+|error| one is to display or hide error messages produced by the editor or the game. 
+The error messages are red in the output. 
+
+|warning| Similarly, this is to show or hide the warning messages, which are yellow.
+
+|editor| This button is to show or hide messages produced by the editor, such as 
+information or feedback on settings changes.
+
+These buttons filter the messages even after they are generated, making them useful 
+for finding what you are looking for as well as for debugging. The message count 
+indicators will be blue if active; otherwise, they are grayed out.
+
+Debugger
+~~~~~~~~
+
+The Debugger panel provides tools to debug your project. It includes a debugger and 
+other tools such as a profiler and monitors to measure and observe how your 
+game is performing.
+
+.. image:: img/overview_debugger.webp
+
+See :ref:`doc_debugger_panel` for a detailed guide on debugging and this panel.
+
+Audio
+~~~~~
+
+This panel allows you to create audio buses (also known as `channels`) and add effects:
+
+.. image:: img/editor_ui_bottom_panel_audio.webp
+
+By default it has the master bus. **Add Bus** button adds additional buses. The next 
+four buttons are to **Load**, **Save**, **Create** a new bus layout, or to 
+**Load Default** layout.
+**S**, **M**, and **B** on the buses are abbreviations for Solo, Mute, and 
+Bypass.
+
+Each bus can have different effects, and the settings of 
+these effects are edited in the inspector dock after selecting one of the
+added effects.
+You can drag the buses to change the audio routing order.
+You can also use the three-dot menu to duplicate, or delete the buses.
+Master bus cannot be deleted.
+
+To see a detailed guide on audio buses and effects, you can read 
+:ref:`doc_audio_buses`.
+
+Animation
+~~~~~~~~~
+
+Godot's editor provides a powerful animation track editor, which 
+you can see the results directly on the 2D or 3D screen, without requiring
+you to run the game. If you open it without selecting an 
+:ref:`AnimationNode <class_AnimationNode>`, it will be empty:
+
+.. image:: img/editor_ui_bottom_panel_animation.webp
+
+Refer to :ref:`Animation <toc-learn-features-animation>` for an in-depth manual
+on animations.
+
+Shader Editor
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Shader Editor is a simplified version of Godot's Script Editor, with 
+a highlighting support for the shader language. You can learn more 
+on the Shaders in :ref:`doc_introduction_to_shaders` and read more on 
+shading language here: :ref:`doc_shading_language`.
+
+Godot provides a shading language based on 
+`OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) <https://www.khronos.org/opengl/wiki/OpenGL_Shading_Language>`__.
+Instead of using Godot's Script Editor, shader files are written 
+in the Shader Editor.
+Shader Editor is empty at startup. You need to create a shader file, 
+or open one to start working with:
+
+.. image:: img/editor_ui_bottom_panel_shader_editor.webp
+
+Alternatively, double-clicking on an existing ``.gdshader`` 
+or ``.gdshaderinc`` file in the FileSystem dock will also 
+open the file in the Shader Editor.
+
+While working with Shader Editor, you may consider expanding the panel 
+with the expand button to have more space for coding.
+
+The menus in the editor similar to the Godot's Script Editor menus.
+
+- **File** menu provides options to create a new file, load (open) an existing file, 
+  and save. You can also quickly open the viewed file in the inspector via this menu.
+- **Search** menu allows you to search or replace in the file.
+- **Go To** menu enables you to navigate to a specific line, create bookmarks and
+  navigate through existing bookmarks.
+- **Edit** menu provides options to perform actions on lines, or the selection, 
+  providing a limited subset of the options in the Script Editor.
+- **Help** takes you to the :ref:`Shading reference <toc-shading-reference>`
+  page.
+
+.. |float| image:: img/editor_ui_float_button.webp
+
+The |float| button next to the File menu allows you to float the editor, enabling 
+you to move it to other monitors, for example. You can close it to restore its 
+original location.
+
+.. seealso:: To learn more on customizing docks, refer to
+  :ref:`doc_customizing_editor`.