Tool Options and Toolbox parted ways [SOLVED]

Oregonian · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2012 11:51 am **(#1)**

GIMP Version: 2.8.2
Operating System: Linux
OS Version: Fedora 16
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

My tool options and toolbox are no longer together and I can't figure out how to fix it.
When I click a tool in the toolbox it does come up in the options but it's a bit unhandy.

Trying to drag the tool options window onto the Toolbox does not make them come together permanently.

saulgoode · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2012 11:59 am **(#2)**

When you drag the detached dialog back to the Toolbox, your starting mouse click should be when your mouse pointer is over the name of the tool* in the detached dialog (over the word "Text" in your example, but it might say something different if another Tool is active), and the mouse button should be released while the pointer is over the "You can drop dockable dialogs here" region under the Toolbox.

* The mouse pointer should change from an arrow to a hand while over the appropriate region.

Oregonian · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:03 pm **(#3)**

Nothing happens when I do that. Nothing drags over to the Toolbox.

molly · **Joined:** Apr 07, 2010 **Posts:** 14182

I deleted mine to see what happens. I then went to the little black arrow on the right and click tool options menu, then clicked add tab > tool options and it came back.

Oregonian · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:15 pm **(#5)**

I booted my machine and the tool options and the Toolbox somehow miraculously reunited. :roll:

Oregonian · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:16 pm **(#6)**

Thanks saulgoode and Molly for the helpful suggestions.

Molly, the Toolbox did not have an arrow on it. Don't know why.

YAFU · **Joined:** Nov 09, 2011 **Posts:** 726

This is the message I left a few months ago in GIMP IRC channel:

Code: Select all

I want to comment an experience. I usually recommend GIMP to new users accustomed to other graphics programs, and I was surprised that they fall into a common mistake, and then they do not know how to solve it.
It is very common for them to detach a tab accidentally, such as Tool Options tab. Of course they are get angry with GIMP because they do not know what happened. Could the "look tab to dook" were enabled by default on all tabs? Or perhaps, when the user detaches the tab might display a confirmation dialog to accept or not the action.

At that time there was no online developers. I hope that at least one of them has read it.

Oregonian · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:54 pm **(#8)**

I don't know if this had anything to do with it, but I had changed my Tool Options to show the tool icon in the tab. I have done that again and also locked the tab to the dock. Will see what happens.

I learned how to do that when I was watching a vid. Click the little arrow to the right of the tab, Tab Style, Current Status and the tool's icon shows on the tab.

Shieldmaiden · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2014 1:06 am **(#9)**

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows 7

Ever since I up-graded to 2.8.14 I have been having difficulty docking my Tool Options to the Tool Box. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. It also seems to disengage somewhat whimsically.

I have notice when I have successfully managed to connect the two items: both the docking area on the Toolbox and the Tool Options dock turn blue. Where exactly should I be grabbing the dock, and what should my settings be when I attempt to attached them together?

Thanks for your help.

rimfire39 · **Joined:** Feb 22, 2014 **Posts:** 4

This for others that may have the same problem.
Go to Edit / click Preferences in the dialog click WINDOW MANAGEMENT, then click
Rest saved window position to default values.
This take you back to very first time you loaded Gimp.

Shieldmaiden · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2014 2:31 pm **(#11)**

Thank you so much! It worked like a charm and I remembered to lock the tab to the dock this time.