Task based configuration presentation context

A method for developing industrial automation projects, comprising:

• rendering, by an industrial integrated development environment (IDE) system comprising a processor, a development interface on a client device, wherein the rendering comprises:
• rendering one or more workspace canvases on which respective development tasks are performed,
• rendering, on an edge of the development interface, a global panel control bar comprising one or more first visibility icons corresponding to one or more global panels that are globally applicable to development tasks supported by the development interface, wherein the one or more global panels comprise at least a cross reference panel that lists a cross-reference of usages or instances of a selected element within one or more workspace canvases,
• determining a development task having a current focus within a workspace canvas of the one or more workspace canvases,
• in response to the determining, rendering, on an edge of the workspace canvas, one or more second visibility icons corresponding to one or more content panels that are relevant to the development task, wherein the one or more content panels are a subset of a total set of content panels supported by the industrial IDE system, and
• in response to selection of a visibility icon from the one or more first visibility icons or the one or more second visibility icons, toggling a visibility of a corresponding panel on the development interface.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause an industrial integrated development environment (IDE) system comprising a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• rendering an integrated development environment (IDE) interface on a client device, wherein the rendering comprises:
• rendering one or more workspace canvases on which respective types of project content relating to an industrial automation project are displayed,
• rendering, on an edge of the IDE interface, a global panel control bar comprising one or more first visibility icons corresponding to one or more global panels that are globally applicable to development tasks supported by the IDE interface and that comprise at least a cross reference panel that lists a cross-reference of usages or instances of a selected element within the one or more workspace canvases,
• determining a type of project content having a current focus within a workspace canvas of the one or more workspace canvases,
• in response to the determining, rendering, on an edge of the workspace canvas, one or more second visibility icons corresponding to one or more content panels that are relevant to the type of project content having the current focus, wherein the one or more content panels are a subset of a total set of content panels supported by the industrial IDE system, and
• in response to selection of a visibility icon from the one or more first visibility icons or the one or more second visibility icons, toggling a visibility of a corresponding panel on the IDE interface.