The Task Pane on the left that controls the operations to perform on the form to the right.
The Task Pane contains widgets appropriate to the current page. This is generally not a navigation pane, but more of an action/task pane. You can select and operate on items using available components.
Typical entries you see in a Task Pane are:
A list of different options related to the active page. Only one option can be current. As you select the options, the form to the right renders content as specified by the option you select. The current option is denoted by an orange background. This list is different depending on a users permission levels.
There could be a series of buttons in a “Tile” style format. These too are context sensitive and may display, enable or disable according to the option you select and/or the state of the panel on the right side.
It is possible to see a variety of different widgets in this pane at the same time. You can use widgets to select entries or display lists.
This Task Pane is always visible by default and has a fixed size. It shrinks and grows vertically depending on the browser window and the options shown. Horizontally, it is always the same width but you can resize it. It can be “minimized”. Click the arrow icon on the top right hand corner of the task pane to minimize it. Once minimized, an expand icon appears allowing you to maximize it. This icon is typically on the top left corner of the main panel.
In a minimized state, no content for the task pane is shown. To maximize the pane, click the maximize icon. The maximize/minimize state of the task pane is remembered for the current panel and its state redisplays in future sessions.
The task pane does not honor the search bar. Regardless of what you enter, the toolbar’s search box will not effect in the task pane.