# Layout Settings (/docs/guide/layout-settings)



The Inspector's **Layout** tab has three sections below the theme picker at the top (see [Customize the Appearance](/docs/guide/styling)). Which sections appear depends on what's selected.

## Whole Map [#whole-map]

These settings are always shown, regardless of selection.

* **Branch Color**: the color of branches across the whole map. For how color rows work, see [Customize the Appearance](/docs/guide/styling)
* **Boundary Line**: the line color of a boundary (the frame around a branch). Some themes may not reflect this in their appearance (see the callout in [Customize the Appearance](/docs/guide/styling))
* Four display toggles
  * **Hide Topic Adornments**: hides topic adornments (such as icons)
  * **Hide Callouts**: hides callouts
  * **Hide Completed Tasks**: hides tasks marked as complete
  * **Snap to Topic**: snaps to topics during drag operations

## Selected Branch [#selected-branch]

Shown only when you select a **floating topic** (a topic placed independently of the main topic). It lets you assign layout settings to just that branch, separate from the map's overall branch layout.

* **Branch Layout**: Right / Right Upper / Right Lower / Vertical / Top Down
* **Auto-Align**: Full / Balanced / Semi-Auto / Manual
* **Level 1 Link Style**: Curved / Straight / Elbow
* **Tapered**: whether the connecting lines taper
* **Level 2+ Link Style**: Curved / Straight / Elbow

When multiple floating topics are selected, the section heading shows a count. Changes here apply to every selected branch at once.

<Callout title="Why Regular Topics Don't Show This Section">
  Regular branches connected to the central topic follow the map's overall layout. Only floating topics — which can be placed anywhere on the map — can be overridden individually.
</Callout>

## Selected Topic [#selected-topic]

Shown when a topic is selected.

* **Width**: the topic's display width. You can change it only **while "Fit to Text Width" is off**. While it's on, the width field shows the current value but can't be edited
* **Fit to Text Width** (three states)
  * **Auto**: follows the theme's default
  * **On**: the box always resizes to fit the text width
  * **Off**: you can set the width manually

When multiple topics are selected, the section heading shows a count, and any field whose values don't match across the selection shows "—".