A tool palette or a set of text attributes could be implemented in a utility window.
Utility windows float on top of document windows.
The user can open several utility windows at a time. The user can easily use any utility windows from the active document window. That is, the user doesn't have to click a utility window once to make it active and then click again to make a choice or activate a setting in the window. Figure 5-6 shows an example of a utility window. You can create utility windows as a way to present controls or settings that affect the active window.