def switchCurrentView(self, viewType):
        """
        Swaps the current tab view for the inputed action's type.

        :param      action | <QAction>

        :return     <XView> || None
        """
        if not self.count():
            return self.addView(viewType)

        # make sure we're not trying to switch to the same type
        view = self.currentView()
        if type(view) == viewType:
            return view

        # create a new view and close the old one
        self.blockSignals(True)
        self.setUpdatesEnabled(False)

        # create the new view
        index = self.indexOf(view)
        if not view.close():
            return None
        #else:
        #    self.tabBar().removeTab(index)

        index = self.currentIndex()
        new_view = viewType.createInstance(self.viewWidget(), self.viewWidget())

        # add the new view
        self.insertTab(index, new_view, new_view.windowTitle())

        self.blockSignals(False)
        self.setUpdatesEnabled(True)
        self.setCurrentIndex(index)

        return new_view