title: Shortcut Key to Hide "Bottom Panel" in Visual Studio; regardless of number of Tool Windows
body: <p>Context:</p>
  
  <p>In SSMS, one can press Ctrl+R to Show/Hide the "Result Panel" displayed below the query editor. After learning (and using) this shortcut, I am extremely displeased by the amount of permanent vertical space Visual Studio takes up! (I do not wish to change the general panel layout or float panels or use Auto Hide functionality.)</p>
  
  <p>Question:</p>
  
  <p>Is there a method in Visual Studio to toggle the "Bottom Panel" Visibility (e.g Manual-Show/Hide) with the keyboard? My wish is to, with a keyboard shortcut, <strong>toggle the Entire bottom Panel visibility at once, <em>regardless of the number of Tool Windows</em> that may be in it.</strong></p>
  
  <p>Attempted Approaches / Results / Observations:</p>
  
  <p>The <em>closest</em> I've been able to come is use a Keybinding (eg <code>Ctrl+W, C</code>) to Close/Hide the current displayed Window (bound to <code>Window.CloseToolWindow</code> / <code>Window.Hide</code>). This approach is 'acceptable' even if one must first switch to a Tool Window in the Panel (eg <code>Ctrl+W, O</code>). Preferably, it could be done in a single shortcut.. and preferably the command could work as a toggle to also Show the panel..</p>
  
  <p><em>However/regardless</em>, both commands above (<code>Window.CloseToolWindow</code> / <code>Window.Hide</code>) leave any other Tool Windows that were also in the panel alone - which must all be closed, one-by-one, for the panel itself to Hide: the intent is that the <em>entire Panel</em>, as opposed to individual Windows, can be Hidden with a fixed shortcut or pair of shortcuts.</p>
  
  <p>When the "Auto Hide" Panel setting is toggled, closing any Tool Window (using either command above) will Hide the Panel; this approach is also not ideal because the panel Auto Hides when navigating [back] to the Editor, which is undesirable / off-putting to my flow :}</p>
  
  <p>In addition, the sometimes suggested "Close button affects active window only" in <code>Settings -&gt; Environment -&gt; General</code> affects the <em>UI Close Button</em> and does not appear to affect the bound (<code>Window.CloseToolWindow</code> / <code>Window.Hide</code>) commands.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>There are several similar questions, most for 'old' version of Visual Studio, that don't achieve the behavior above (see "must all be closed, one-by-one") - maybe something has changed in the years? ReSharper 2018.3 is also installed, if that provides such support. An appropriate Extension would also be suitable.</p>