diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.cc b/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.cc
index 94e0680c9..671a338a7 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.cc
@@ -23,12 +23,13 @@
 #include "layControlWidgetStack.h"
 
 #include <QLabel>
+#include <QEvent>
 
 namespace lay
 {
 
-ControlWidgetStack::ControlWidgetStack(QWidget *parent, const char *name)
-  : QFrame (parent), mp_current_widget (0)
+ControlWidgetStack::ControlWidgetStack(QWidget *parent, const char *name, bool size_follows_content)
+  : QFrame (parent), mp_current_widget (0), m_size_follows_content (size_follows_content)
 {
   setObjectName (QString::fromUtf8 (name));
 
@@ -66,10 +67,35 @@ void ControlWidgetStack::add_widget(QWidget *w)
     setMinimumWidth (mw);
     resize (minimumWidth (), height ());
   }
+
+  if (m_size_follows_content) {
+    updateGeometry ();
+  }
+}
+
+bool ControlWidgetStack::event(QEvent *e)
+{
+  if (e->type () == QEvent::LayoutRequest) {
+    if (m_size_follows_content) {
+      int h = sizeHint ().height ();
+      setMinimumHeight (h);
+      setMaximumHeight (h);
+      updateGeometry ();
+    }
+  }
+  return QWidget::event (e);
 }
 
 QSize ControlWidgetStack::sizeHint() const
 {
+  if (m_size_follows_content) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < m_widgets.size (); ++i) {
+      if (m_widgets [i] && m_widgets [i]->isVisible ()) {
+        return m_widgets [i]->sizeHint ();
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   int w = 0;
   for (size_t i = 0; i < m_widgets.size (); ++i) {
     w = std::max (m_widgets [i]->sizeHint ().width (), w);
@@ -88,6 +114,10 @@ void ControlWidgetStack::remove_widget(size_t index)
   if (m_widgets.size () == 0) {
     mp_bglabel->show ();
   }
+
+  if (m_size_follows_content) {
+    updateGeometry ();
+  }
 }
 
 void ControlWidgetStack::raise_widget(size_t index)
@@ -111,6 +141,10 @@ void ControlWidgetStack::raise_widget(size_t index)
   } else {
     mp_bglabel->hide ();
   }
+
+  if (m_size_follows_content) {
+    updateGeometry ();
+  }
 }
 
 QWidget *ControlWidgetStack::widget(size_t index)
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.h b/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.h
index b68f42154..3d2fbcb5f 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.h
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layControlWidgetStack.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class ControlWidgetStack
   : public QFrame
 {
 public:
-  ControlWidgetStack (QWidget *parent = 0, const char *name = 0);
+  ControlWidgetStack (QWidget *parent = 0, const char *name = 0, bool size_follows_content = false);
 
   void focusInEvent (QFocusEvent *);
 
@@ -67,9 +67,12 @@ protected:
 
   void resize_children ();
 
+  bool event (QEvent *e);
+
   std::vector <QWidget *> m_widgets;
   QWidget *mp_current_widget;
   QLabel *mp_bglabel;
+  bool m_size_follows_content;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
index 924fdf29e..524fda937 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
@@ -274,9 +274,9 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow (QApplication *app, const char *name, bool undo_enabled)
 
   mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget = new QDockWidget (QObject::tr ("Layer Toolbox"), this);
   mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget->setObjectName (QString::fromUtf8 ("lt_dock_widget"));
-  mp_layer_toolbox = new LayerToolbox (mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget, "layer_toolbox");
-  mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget->setWidget (mp_layer_toolbox);
-  mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget->setFocusProxy (mp_layer_toolbox);
+  mp_layer_toolbox_stack = new ControlWidgetStack (mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget, "layer_toolbox_stack", true);
+  mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget->setWidget (mp_layer_toolbox_stack);
+  mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget->setFocusProxy (mp_layer_toolbox_stack);
   connect (mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget, SIGNAL (visibilityChanged (bool)), this, SLOT (dock_widget_visibility_changed (bool)));
   m_layer_toolbox_visible = true;
 
@@ -667,7 +667,6 @@ void
 MainWindow::close_all ()
 {
   cancel ();
-  mp_layer_toolbox->set_view (0);
 
   //  try a smooth shutdown of the current view
   lay::LayoutView::set_current (0);
@@ -697,6 +696,7 @@ MainWindow::close_all ()
 
     lay::LayoutViewWidget *view = mp_views.back ();
     mp_views.pop_back ();
+    mp_layer_toolbox_stack->remove_widget (mp_views.size ());
     mp_lp_stack->remove_widget (mp_views.size ());
     mp_hp_stack->remove_widget (mp_views.size ());
     mp_libs_stack->remove_widget (mp_views.size ());
@@ -980,63 +980,6 @@ MainWindow::configure (const std::string &name, const std::string &value)
 
     return true;
 
-  } else if (name == cfg_stipple_palette) {
-
-    lay::StipplePalette palette = lay::StipplePalette::default_palette ();
-
-    try {
-      //  empty string means: default palette
-      if (! value.empty ()) {
-        palette.from_string (value);
-      }
-    } catch (...) {
-      //  ignore errors: just reset the palette
-      palette = lay::StipplePalette::default_palette ();
-    }
-
-    mp_layer_toolbox->set_palette (palette);
-
-    // others need this property too ..
-    return false;
-
-  } else if (name == cfg_line_style_palette) {
-
-    lay::LineStylePalette palette = lay::LineStylePalette::default_palette ();
-
-    try {
-      //  empty string means: default palette
-      if (! value.empty ()) {
-        palette.from_string (value);
-      }
-    } catch (...) {
-      //  ignore errors: just reset the palette
-      palette = lay::LineStylePalette::default_palette ();
-    }
-
-    mp_layer_toolbox->set_palette (palette);
-
-    // others need this property too ..
-    return false;
-
-  } else if (name == cfg_color_palette) {
-
-    lay::ColorPalette palette = lay::ColorPalette::default_palette ();
-
-    try {
-      //  empty string means: default palette
-      if (! value.empty ()) {
-        palette.from_string (value);
-      }
-    } catch (...) {
-      //  ignore errors: just reset the palette
-      palette = lay::ColorPalette::default_palette ();
-    }
-
-    mp_layer_toolbox->set_palette (palette);
-
-    // others need this property too ..
-    return false;
-
   } else if (name == cfg_mru) {
 
     tl::Extractor ex (value.c_str ());
@@ -2391,8 +2334,6 @@ MainWindow::select_view (int index)
 
     view (index)->set_current ();
 
-    mp_layer_toolbox->set_view (current_view ());
-
     if (current_view ()) {
 
       if (box_set) {
@@ -2401,6 +2342,7 @@ MainWindow::select_view (int index)
 
       mp_view_stack->raise_widget (index);
       mp_hp_stack->raise_widget (index);
+      mp_layer_toolbox_stack->raise_widget (index);
       mp_lp_stack->raise_widget (index);
       mp_libs_stack->raise_widget (index);
       mp_eo_stack->raise_widget (index);
@@ -2601,10 +2543,9 @@ MainWindow::clone_current_view ()
 
   mp_views.back ()->view ()->set_current ();
 
-  mp_layer_toolbox->set_view (current_view ());
-
   mp_view_stack->add_widget (view_widget);
   mp_lp_stack->add_widget (view_widget->layer_control_frame ());
+  mp_layer_toolbox_stack->add_widget (view_widget->layer_toolbox_frame ());
   mp_hp_stack->add_widget (view_widget->hierarchy_control_frame ());
   mp_libs_stack->add_widget (view_widget->libraries_frame ());
   mp_eo_stack->add_widget (view_widget->editor_options_frame ());
@@ -2856,6 +2797,7 @@ MainWindow::close_view (int index)
       mp_tab_bar->removeTab (index);
       mp_view_stack->remove_widget (index);
       mp_lp_stack->remove_widget (index);
+      mp_layer_toolbox_stack->remove_widget (index);
       mp_hp_stack->remove_widget (index);
       mp_libs_stack->remove_widget (index);
       mp_eo_stack->remove_widget (index);
@@ -2880,7 +2822,6 @@ MainWindow::close_view (int index)
 
         //  last view closed
 
-        mp_layer_toolbox->set_view (0);
         current_view_changed ();
 
         clear_current_pos ();
@@ -3419,10 +3360,9 @@ MainWindow::create_view ()
   //  add a new tab and make the new view the current one
   mp_views.back ()->view ()->set_current ();
 
-  mp_layer_toolbox->set_view (current_view ());
-
   mp_view_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ());
   mp_lp_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->layer_control_frame ());
+  mp_layer_toolbox_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->layer_toolbox_frame ());
   mp_hp_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->hierarchy_control_frame ());
   mp_libs_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->libraries_frame ());
   mp_eo_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->editor_options_frame ());
@@ -3483,10 +3423,9 @@ MainWindow::create_or_load_layout (const std::string *filename, const db::LoadLa
 
       mp_views.back ()->view ()->set_current ();
 
-      mp_layer_toolbox->set_view (current_view ());
-
       mp_view_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ());
       mp_lp_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->layer_control_frame ());
+      mp_layer_toolbox_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->layer_toolbox_frame ());
       mp_hp_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->hierarchy_control_frame ());
       mp_libs_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->libraries_frame ());
       mp_eo_stack->add_widget (mp_views.back ()->editor_options_frame ());
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.h b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.h
index c1df91385..c2a34468d 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.h
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.h
@@ -687,10 +687,9 @@ private:
   QDockWidget *mp_navigator_dock_widget;
   lay::Navigator *mp_navigator;
   QDockWidget *mp_hp_dock_widget, *mp_lp_dock_widget, *mp_libs_dock_widget, *mp_eo_dock_widget, *mp_bm_dock_widget;
-  ControlWidgetStack *mp_hp_stack, *mp_lp_stack, *mp_libs_stack, *mp_eo_stack, *mp_bm_stack;
+  ControlWidgetStack *mp_hp_stack, *mp_lp_stack, *mp_layer_toolbox_stack, *mp_libs_stack, *mp_eo_stack, *mp_bm_stack;
   bool m_hp_visible, m_lp_visible, m_libs_visible, m_eo_visible, m_bm_visible, m_navigator_visible, m_layer_toolbox_visible, m_always_exit_without_saving;
   QDockWidget *mp_layer_toolbox_dock_widget;
-  lay::LayerToolbox *mp_layer_toolbox;
   ViewWidgetStack *mp_view_stack;
   lay::FileDialog *mp_bookmarks_fdia;
   lay::FileDialog *mp_session_fdia;
diff --git a/src/layui/layui/layLayerToolbox.cc b/src/layui/layui/layLayerToolbox.cc
index ab19c19c5..bfe251c47 100644
--- a/src/layui/layui/layLayerToolbox.cc
+++ b/src/layui/layui/layLayerToolbox.cc
@@ -1047,6 +1047,8 @@ LayerToolbox::panel_button_clicked (int index)
   int h = sizeHint ().height ();
   setMinimumHeight (h);
   setMaximumHeight (h);
+
+  updateGeometry ();
 }
 
 template <class Op>
diff --git a/src/layview/layview/gsiDeclLayLayoutView_qt.cc b/src/layview/layview/gsiDeclLayLayoutView_qt.cc
index f55a8c244..a46586861 100644
--- a/src/layview/layview/gsiDeclLayLayoutView_qt.cc
+++ b/src/layview/layview/gsiDeclLayLayoutView_qt.cc
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ static QWidget *layer_control_frame (lay::LayoutViewWidget *lv)
   return lv->layer_control_frame ();
 }
 
+static QWidget *layer_toolbox_frame (lay::LayoutViewWidget *lv)
+{
+  return lv->layer_toolbox_frame ();
+}
+
 static QWidget *hierarchy_control_frame (lay::LayoutViewWidget *lv)
 {
   return lv->hierarchy_control_frame ();
@@ -102,6 +107,16 @@ Class<lay::LayoutViewWidget> decl_LayoutViewWidget (QT_EXTERNAL_BASE (QFrame) "l
     "\n"
     "This method has been introduced in version 0.27\n"
   ) +
+  gsi::method_ext ("layer_toolbox_frame", &layer_toolbox_frame,
+    "@brief Gets the layer toolbox side widget\n"
+    "A 'side widget' is a widget attached to the view. It does not have a parent, so you can "
+    "embed it into a different context. Please note that with embedding through 'setParent' it will be "
+    "destroyed when your parent widget gets destroyed. It will be lost then to the view.\n"
+    "\n"
+    "The side widget can be configured through the views configuration interface.\n"
+    "\n"
+    "This method has been introduced in version 0.28\n"
+  ) +
   gsi::method_ext ("hierarchy_control_frame", &hierarchy_control_frame,
     "@brief Gets the cell view (hierarchy view) side widget\n"
     "For details about side widgets see \\layer_control_frame.\n"
diff --git a/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.cc b/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.cc
index 26bc8a78e..c8e9e9218 100644
--- a/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.cc
+++ b/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.cc
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 #include "laySelector.h"
 #include "layLayoutCanvas.h"
 #include "layLayerControlPanel.h"
+#include "layLayerToolbox.h"
 #include "layHierarchyControlPanel.h"
 #include "layLibrariesView.h"
 #include "layBrowser.h"
@@ -166,6 +167,11 @@ QWidget *LayoutViewWidget::layer_control_frame ()
   return !mp_view ? 0 : mp_view->layer_control_frame ();
 }
 
+QWidget *LayoutViewWidget::layer_toolbox_frame ()
+{
+  return !mp_view ? 0 : mp_view->layer_toolbox_frame ();
+}
+
 QWidget *LayoutViewWidget::hierarchy_control_frame ()
 {
   return !mp_view ? 0 : mp_view->hierarchy_control_frame ();
@@ -345,6 +351,8 @@ LayoutView::init_ui ()
   mp_libraries_view = 0;
   mp_bookmarks_view = 0;
   mp_control_frame = 0;
+  mp_toolbox = 0;
+  mp_toolbox_frame = 0;
   mp_hierarchy_frame = 0;
   mp_libraries_frame = 0;
   mp_bookmarks_frame = 0;
@@ -463,6 +471,18 @@ LayoutView::init_ui ()
       QObject::connect (mp_control_panel, SIGNAL (order_changed ()), mp_connector, SLOT (layer_order_changed ()));
       QObject::connect (mp_control_panel, SIGNAL (current_layer_changed (const lay::LayerPropertiesConstIterator &)), mp_connector, SLOT (current_layer_changed_slot (const lay::LayerPropertiesConstIterator &)));
 
+      mp_toolbox_frame = new QFrame (0);
+      mp_toolbox_frame->setObjectName (QString::fromUtf8 ("lt_frame"));
+      QVBoxLayout *lt_frame_ly = new QVBoxLayout (mp_toolbox_frame);
+      lt_frame_ly->setContentsMargins (0, 0, 0, 0);
+      lt_frame_ly->setSpacing (0);
+
+      mp_toolbox = new lay::LayerToolbox (mp_toolbox_frame, "lt");
+      mp_toolbox->set_view (this);
+      lt_frame_ly->addWidget (mp_toolbox, 0 /*stretch*/);
+
+      QObject::connect (mp_toolbox_frame, SIGNAL (destroyed ()), mp_connector, SLOT (side_panel_destroyed ()));
+
     }
 
     mp_timer = new QTimer (mp_widget);
@@ -506,6 +526,12 @@ void LayoutView::close()
   mp_control_panel = 0;
   mp_control_frame = 0;
 
+  if (mp_toolbox_frame) {
+    delete mp_toolbox_frame;
+  }
+  mp_toolbox = 0;
+  mp_toolbox_frame = 0;
+
   if (mp_hierarchy_frame) {
     delete mp_hierarchy_frame;
   }
@@ -584,6 +610,9 @@ void LayoutView::side_panel_destroyed (QObject *sender)
   } else if (sender == mp_bookmarks_frame) {
     mp_bookmarks_frame = 0;
     mp_bookmarks_view = 0;
+  } else if (sender == mp_toolbox_frame) {
+    mp_toolbox_frame = 0;
+    mp_toolbox = 0;
   }
 }
 
@@ -797,6 +826,69 @@ LayoutView::configure (const std::string &name, const std::string &value)
 
     return true;
 
+  } else if (name == cfg_stipple_palette) {
+
+    lay::StipplePalette palette = lay::StipplePalette::default_palette ();
+
+    try {
+      //  empty string means: default palette
+      if (! value.empty ()) {
+        palette.from_string (value);
+      }
+    } catch (...) {
+      //  ignore errors: just reset the palette
+      palette = lay::StipplePalette::default_palette ();
+    }
+
+    if (mp_toolbox) {
+      mp_toolbox->set_palette (palette);
+    }
+
+    // others need this property too ..
+    return false;
+
+  } else if (name == cfg_line_style_palette) {
+
+    lay::LineStylePalette palette = lay::LineStylePalette::default_palette ();
+
+    try {
+      //  empty string means: default palette
+      if (! value.empty ()) {
+        palette.from_string (value);
+      }
+    } catch (...) {
+      //  ignore errors: just reset the palette
+      palette = lay::LineStylePalette::default_palette ();
+    }
+
+    if (mp_toolbox) {
+      mp_toolbox->set_palette (palette);
+    }
+
+    // others need this property too ..
+    return false;
+
+  } else if (name == cfg_color_palette) {
+
+    lay::ColorPalette palette = lay::ColorPalette::default_palette ();
+
+    try {
+      //  empty string means: default palette
+      if (! value.empty ()) {
+        palette.from_string (value);
+      }
+    } catch (...) {
+      //  ignore errors: just reset the palette
+      palette = lay::ColorPalette::default_palette ();
+    }
+
+    if (mp_toolbox) {
+      mp_toolbox->set_palette (palette);
+    }
+
+    // others need this property too ..
+    return false;
+
   } else {
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.h b/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.h
index 1c3c4ca4b..061c7551f 100644
--- a/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.h
+++ b/src/layview/layview/layLayoutView_qt.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ namespace lay {
 class LayoutViewWidget;
 class AbstractMenu;
 class LayerControlPanel;
+class LayerToolbox;
 class HierarchyControlPanel;
 class LibrariesView;
 class BookmarksView;
@@ -379,6 +380,14 @@ public:
     return mp_hierarchy_panel;
   }
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the layer toolbox
+   */
+  virtual lay::LayerToolbox *layer_toolbox ()
+  {
+    return mp_toolbox;
+  }
+
   /**
    *  @brief Resizes the view to the given width and height in pixels
    */
@@ -597,7 +606,8 @@ private:
   lay::HierarchyControlPanel *mp_hierarchy_panel;
   lay::LibrariesView *mp_libraries_view;
   lay::BookmarksView *mp_bookmarks_view;
-  QWidget *mp_control_frame, *mp_hierarchy_frame, *mp_libraries_frame, *mp_bookmarks_frame;
+  lay::LayerToolbox *mp_toolbox;
+  QWidget *mp_control_frame, *mp_toolbox_frame, *mp_hierarchy_frame, *mp_libraries_frame, *mp_bookmarks_frame;
   lay::EditorOptionsFrame *mp_editor_options_frame;
   QSpinBox *mp_min_hier_spbx;
   QSpinBox *mp_max_hier_spbx;
@@ -623,6 +633,7 @@ private:
   void do_setup_editor_options_pages ();
 
   QWidget *layer_control_frame () { return mp_control_frame; }
+  QWidget *layer_toolbox_frame () { return mp_toolbox_frame; }
   QWidget *hierarchy_control_frame () { return mp_hierarchy_frame; }
   QWidget *libraries_frame () { return mp_libraries_frame; }
   QWidget *bookmarks_frame () { return mp_bookmarks_frame; }
@@ -727,6 +738,11 @@ public:
    */
   QWidget *layer_control_frame ();
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the container with the layer toolbox
+   */
+  QWidget *layer_toolbox_frame ();
+
   /**
    *  @brief Gets the container with the hierarchy control panel
    */