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# Use drawers to manage complex workflows (Beta)
> Add drawers to Sigma workbooks to surface additional content and context without fully disrupting workflows.
This documentation describes one or more public beta features that are in development. Beta features are subject to quick, iterative changes; therefore the current user experience in the Sigma service can differ from the information provided in this page.
This page should not be considered official published documentation until Sigma removes this notice and the beta flag on the corresponding feature(s) in the Sigma service. For the full beta feature disclaimer, see [Beta features](/docs/sigma-product-releases#beta-features).
Use drawers to open side panels that overlay the page temporarily, allowing you to display new content and information at specific points in a workflow. For example, in a shopping application, a drawer can open from the side of the page to show the user's cart and offer checkout options without navigating away.
An open drawer overlays part of a workbook page without obscuring it entirely like a modal. The partial overlay lets you present form fields, provide details on specific records, or offer new navigation options without navigating away from the page.
Drawers are a [layout element](/docs/intro-to-layout-elements), allowing you to guide users and create focused interfaces as you build [AI apps](/docs/ai-apps) in Sigma.
Use drawers when you want to:
* Add context to a page without navigating away entirely.
* Open multiple side panels on the same page.
* Implement a step in a workflow that can appear on multiple pages.
This document explains how to create and customize drawers. To incorporate a drawer into an app, you must configure an **Open modal/drawer** action. For more information about opening a drawer with an action, see [Create actions that control modals, drawers, and tabbed containers](/docs/create-actions-that-control-modals-drawers-and-tabbed-containers).
## User requirements
The ability to create and modify drawers requires the following:
* To use this feature, you must have **Can edit** or **Can explore** [access](/docs/folder-and-document-permissions) to the individual workbook.
* You must be in **Edit** or **Explore** mode for the workbook. See [workbook modes overview](/docs/workbook-modes-overview).
## Add a drawer to a workbook
There are multiple ways to add a drawer to a workbook:
* [Add a drawer from the Add element bar](#add-a-drawer-from-the-add-element-bar)
* [Add a drawer from the workbook footer](#add-a-drawer-from-the-workbook-footer)
### Add a drawer from the Add element bar
To add a drawer from the **Add element** bar:
1. Open a workbook for editing.
2. In the **Add element** bar, select **Layout** and then select **Drawer**.
A button labeled **Open drawer** appears on the workbook canvas, and the drawer opens for viewing. To begin editing the drawer and adding contents, select **Edit drawer**.
### Add a drawer from the workbook footer
To add a drawer from the workbook footer:
1. Open a workbook for editing.
2. In the workbook footer, select the caret (
) for **More options**, then select **Add drawer**.
A tab for the new drawer appears in the workbook footer, and the drawer opens for editing. You can add elements to the drawer, set format options, and more.
## Customize a drawer
Customize drawers for the use case. For example, a drawer that displays a [single row container](/docs/use-single-row-containers-to-show-records-in-detail) with additional details on a product or user might not need to support interactivity, but a drawer that applies filters to tables on the workbook page might benefit from dynamic text in the title.
By default, a drawer includes a header with a title and a close icon. You can customize the drawer by removing these defaults, adding elements, and configuring actions.
To customize the appearance and feature of a drawer, see the following sections:
* [Customize the header of a drawer](#customize-the-header-of-a-drawer)
* [Customize drawer appearance](#customize-drawer-appearance)
* [Configure actions for a drawer](#configure-actions-for-a-drawer)
### Customize the header of a drawer
By default, a drawer includes a header with a default title, **New drawer**, and a close icon. To hide or modify the header contents for the drawer:
1. Select the drawer on the workbook page.
2. In the editor panel, select **Format**.
3. Open the **Header** section.
4. (Optional) Turn the **Show title** toggle off to hide the title. **Show title** is enabled by default.
5. If the title is shown, use the text box to add or update the title. Enter an equals sign (=) to use a dynamic text formula. See [Add dynamic text based on your data](/docs/text-elements#add-dynamic-text-based-on-your-data).
6. (Optional) To change the title text's formatting, use the formatting tools to add bold, change the text color, or change the text size.
7. (Optional) To hide the close icon, turn the **Show close icon** toggle off. **Show close icon** is enabled by default.
Hiding both the title and the close icon hides the header.
### Customize drawer appearance
You can customize the appearance of a drawer and its elements, including spacing, padding, width, background color, and how it interacts with the workbook page.
To customize the appearance of the drawer, including elements added to it:
1. Select the drawer on the workbook page.
2. In the editor panel, select **Format**.
3. Select **Drawer style** to expand the section and view the style options:
| Style | Details |
| :------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Width** | Set the width of the drawer. Choose between **Small**, **Medium** (default), and **Large**. |
| **Spacing** | Manage the space around the outside of the drawer and between rows. Choose between **Small**, **Medium** (default), and **Large**. |
| **Padding** | Adds padding to the drawer. Turn off the toggle to remove padding between the drawer's contents and its edges. |
| **Element gap** | Adds padding between elements. Turn off the toggle to remove all space between elements. |
| **Page overlay** | Adds a shadow overlaying the workbook page. Turn off the toggle to remove the shadow and improve visibility of the workbook page when the drawer is open. |
| **Background color** | Select a background color for the drawer. |
### Configure actions for a drawer
To configure workflows based on the state of the drawer:
1. Select the drawer on the workbook page.
2. In the editor panel, select **Actions**.
3. Configure one or more action sequences with an **On close** trigger.
When the drawer is closed, the action sequences trigger.
## Delete a drawer
To delete a drawer, select the caret () in the tab to open the menu, then select **Delete**.
Deleting a drawer deletes all elements inside the drawer.
## Related resources
* [Use modals to create focused content view](/docs/use-modals-to-create-focused-content-views)