Workspace layout
The Atlas workspace is built around three functions: finding project material, doing focused research work, and asking grounded questions. The layout keeps those functions close without forcing a single linear workflow.
What this page covers
Learn the workspace regions, panel workflow, responsive changes, and navigation.
Main areas
| Area | Primary role | Common contents |
|---|---|---|
| Left panel | Find and organize project material. | Projects, sources, notes, chats, maps, account controls. |
| Main panel | Do the focused work. | PDF viewer, note editor, maps, summaries, tabs. |
| Right panel | Ask and verify questions. | Chat, citations, context-aware assistance. |
| Tabs | Keep multiple artifacts open. | Sources, notes, maps, generated views. |
| Split view | Compare surfaces. | PDF plus notes, source plus chat, map plus summary. |
Left panel
Use the left panel to choose the project and artifact. Check this area before importing a source or asking a question so you do not add work to the wrong project.
Main panel
The main panel is where reading, writing, and visual exploration happen. Before continuing, confirm that it shows the source, note, or map you intend to edit.
Right panel
The right panel is for grounded assistance: asking questions, checking citations, summarizing, and turning findings into notes or next steps.
Tabs and split view
Tabs prevent context loss when moving between several sources or notes. Split view is best when the task requires comparison, such as checking a citation while writing a note.
Responsive behavior
On small screens, panels may collapse or stack. Mobile is useful for review and capture, but desktop is better for dense PDF, map, and multi-panel work.
Workflow pattern
- Pick the correct project in the left panel.
- Open the source, note, or map in the main panel.
- Use chat in the right panel for questions and cited checks.
- Save durable findings into notes.
Work with the workspace panels
In this guide, you will open a source, ask a cited question, and save a note, all in one session without switching context. The goal is to learn how the three panels work together.
What you need
- An Atlas project with at least one processed source.
- About fifteen minutes.
How the panels work
| Panel | What it shows | What you do there |
|---|---|---|
| Left panel | Project navigation: sources, notes, chats, maps | Open items, add sources, switch projects |
| Middle panel | The active item: a source, note, or map | Read, write, or explore |
| Right panel | Chat | Ask questions, verify answers |
The three panels are three views of the same project. They update together.
1. Open the project from the left panel
Select the project you want to work in. Open its source list and confirm you have at least one processed source.
If the project is empty, add a source first. Read Add your first source if you are not sure how.
2. Open a source in the middle panel
Select a source from the left panel. It opens in the middle panel.
Skim the title, abstract or introduction, headings, and conclusion. This first pass identifies the source and its structure. The middle panel should answer one question: what am I working with right now?
3. Ask a question in chat
Type a question in the right panel about the source you have open. Keep it specific.
Examples:
- What is the main argument of this source?
- What evidence supports that argument?
- What limitations does this source identify?
Read the answer and check whether important claims include citation badges. If the source is processed correctly, you should see at least one citation linking back to it.
4. Verify a citation
Select a citation badge in the chat answer. The middle panel scrolls to the exact passage Atlas used.
Read the highlighted sentence and its surrounding passage. Confirm that the source supports the claim. Verification is what separates a finding from an unverified suggestion.
5. Save the finding in a note
Create or open a note in the middle panel. Write the finding in your own words and mention the source using @.
Type @ in the note editor and select the source from the picker. This creates a direct link from the note to the source in the project graph.
This is the core workspace loop: find material on the left, inspect it in the middle, ask and verify on the right, save the result back into the project.
Check your result
After this session you should have:
- One source open and verified in the middle panel.
- One citation you confirmed against the original passage.
- One note that mentions the source it draws from.
Next steps
- Work with two items at once: Use tabs and split view
- Learn the full layout: Workspace layout
- Open commands quickly: Command palette