Panel View Overview
When you start a session in Factory, you’re presented with a panel-based interface. This modular design allows you to organize your workspace efficiently, with each panel serving a specific purpose.
Types of Panels
Factory offers several types of panels, each designed for specific tasks:1. Chat Panel
Chat Panel Details
Chat Panel Details
- Primary interface for interacting with Factory’s AI
- Type queries, receive responses, and engage in conversation
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Supports code snippets, markdown formatting, and file uploads
2. Fragment Viewer
Fragment Viewer Details
Fragment Viewer Details
- Displays AI-generated code fragments
- Allows for easy viewing, copying, and exporting of code
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Supports syntax highlighting for various programming languages
3. Context Panel
Context Panel Details
Context Panel Details
- Shows the current context of your session
- Allows for multi-codebase search and file uploads
- Displays loaded files, tickets, documentation, and other relevant information

4. Chat History Panel
Chat History Panel Details
Chat History Panel Details
- Graph view of conversation based on refreshes and context changes
- Allows navigation through different branches of your conversation
- Useful for tracking the evolution of your work within a session

Customizing Your Panel Layout
Changing Panel Types
To change the type of a panel:- Locate the dropdown menu in the upper left corner of the panel.
- Click to open the menu and select the desired panel type.

Adding New Panels
New panels can be added in two ways:- Automatically: When certain actions are performed, like generating a new fragment.
- Manually: Move your mouse to the right edge of the screen to reveal the panel addition menu.

Resizing Panels
Adjust the size of your panels for optimal viewing:- Expand/Collapse: Click the expand button in the upper right corner of a panel to maximize it. Click again to restore the original size.
- Drag to Resize: Hover over the border between panels until you see the resize cursor, then click and drag to adjust the size.

Best Practices for Panel Management
- Optimize for Your Workflow: Arrange panels based on your current task. For coding, you might want the fragment panel prominent, while for exploration, the Chat panel might take center stage.
- Leverage the Chat History: Use the Chat History panel to navigate through your work process and revisit earlier parts of your conversation.
- Keep Context Visible: The Context panel can be crucial for understanding your current working environment. Consider keeping it visible, even if small.
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Utilize Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn and use keyboard shortcuts for quick panel navigation and management. (Tip: Use
Cmd/Ctrl + K
to open the command palette for quick actions)