Multi-Tab Layout
AI-ERD uses a flexible tab system powered by Golden Layout. You can open multiple diagrams side by side, split the workspace into panes, and rearrange tabs freely.
Opening tabs
- Double-click a diagram in the diagram list to open it in a new tab
- Click a diagram while holding
Ctrl(Cmdon macOS) to open without switching focus - Each tab shows the diagram name and a close button
The tab bar appears at the top of the canvas area. Click any tab to switch to that diagram.
Splitting the workspace
You can split the canvas into up to four independent panes — any combination of horizontal and vertical splits.
To split:
- Drag a tab from the tab bar
- Drop it on one of the four edges of an existing pane (top, bottom, left, right)
- A drop indicator highlights the target position
- Release to create the split
Each pane has its own tab bar and its own independent canvas — you can pan, zoom, and edit in each pane separately.
Rearranging tabs
- Drag a tab to another position in the same tab bar to reorder
- Drag a tab to a different pane's tab bar to move it there
- Drag a tab to the edge of a pane to create a new split
If you drag the last tab out of a pane, that pane closes automatically and the remaining panes resize to fill the space.
Same diagram in multiple panes
You can open the same diagram in more than one pane. This is useful for:
| Use case | How |
|---|---|
| Overview + detail | One pane zoomed out for the full picture, another zoomed in on a specific area |
| Comparing sections | Two views of the same large diagram focused on different table clusters |
| Editing while referencing | Edit a table in one pane while viewing its relationships in another |
Changes made in one pane are reflected in the other immediately — both views share the same underlying data.
Layout examples
Two panes — horizontal split
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│ Diagram A │ Diagram B │
│ │ │
│ │ │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────┘
Three panes — mixed split
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│ │ Diagram B │
│ Diagram A ├─────────────────┤
│ │ Diagram C │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────┘
Four panes — grid
┌─────────────┬─────────────┐
│ Diagram A │ Diagram B │
├─────────────┼─────────────┤
│ Diagram C │ Diagram D │
└─────────────┴─────────────┘
Tips
- Start simple — a single full-width tab is the default. Split only when you need to reference multiple diagrams simultaneously.
- Close unused panes — close tabs you are not actively using to reclaim canvas space. Drag the tab out and drop it nowhere to close, or click the X on the tab.
- Independent zoom — each pane has its own zoom level and scroll position, so zooming in one pane does not affect others.
- Minimap per pane — each pane has its own minimap in the bottom-right corner.