Clumsy PS CS6...

[Dreambird]

... well clumsy to me anyway.

It's quite different from the CS2 I was so fond of and used to.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to set up CS6 so the windows and side menus are more handy as I found them in CS2? I don't care for the way a separate tab is opened for very file I open, every new file I create... I'm used to everything in one place and find clicking back and forth annoying. I suppose I could get used to that but another thing drives me batty... that's how the stuff I like to keep in a menu on the right side of screen. I always had history and layers open and ready to go. I generally use the layers window a fair bit... now they are shut up into a thin strip and if I open something to look at it, it often encroaches on the piece I'm trying to work on.

I don't know... perhaps these are things I simply have to get used to but I was hoping there were some preferences I'm not aware of. *sigh** 'Tis the dangers of being too set in one's ways!  

[Xairbusdriver]

First, you absolutely must remember that Adobe knows what you should have and where it should be... at least until the next upgrade, at that point, things may be totally different... again.

However, if you really want to be frustrated by trying to make one version look like another, there are some possibilities. Just don't expect perfection... unless it comes from Adobe, of course. I don't have (can't afford) any CS stuff, but I may be able to help with the PS display/settings. Pictures at 11!

Preferences for enabling 'floating' (non-tabbing) windows. This was a horrendous change in Elements 9, corrected in 10. Remains in 11


Panels (a list shown later) normally appear at the extreme right of the window.


However, you can 'tear off' the panels and float them anywhere you want. Note that multiple panels can be added to the floating mini-window.


Selecting the panels and setting the window behaviors are in this Menu.


Here are three windows first appear in the Elements window after selecting all three and using command-O.

I hope this helps a little. But PS may be completely different.

[Dreambird]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Feb 14 2013, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First, you absolutely must remember that Adobe knows what you should have and where it should be...

Uh-huh...  
 
Your suggestions did help... making the windows float rather than tabs went off pretty much as you described and I managed to get a workspace the way "I" like it!  

Let's see if it all holds... last time I messed around it didn't even though I did save the thing under my name. If not it should come back if I click on restore that particular workspace. In theory... didn't last time but maybe I got it right this time?

I've got settings and options in different places as you mentioned I might however you did lead me in the proper direction...   Thank you!