Some windows are divided into separate viewing areas or panes. You often see a navigation pane and a pane with content. Panes can either be static or moveable. Use lowercase to describe a pane that does not have a name or title. The following are examples of panes:
A navigation pane with tabs or a hierarchical structure.
A content pane that contains fields, switches, and other UI elements. For example, after clicking a tab, you see a content pane with the settings you must configure.
A preview pane that you use to view content before printing or publishing it.
The reading pane that you see after clicking an email message in Outlook.
Usage in documentation
When documenting a simple window or page, do not mention the panes. Describe a pane when you need to draw attention to it or if the interface is complicated and requires detailed navigational information.
The following table provides examples of scenarios where it is useful to mention the pane in your documentation:
Examples
When you click an email message, you see the content in the reading pane.
Before publishing, review your content in the preview pane.
The contact center application contains a navigation pane on the left and at the top of the screen.
