Fix #52809 - add setting to hide TOC entirely

src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/main.contribution.ts

@@ -310,8 +310,13 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 		'workbench.settings.settingsSearchTocBehavior': {
 			'type': 'string',
 			'enum': ['hide', 'filter', 'show'],
-			'description': nls.localize('settingsSearchTocBehavior', "Controls the behavior of the settings editor TOC while searching."),
+			'description': nls.localize('settingsSearchTocBehavior', "Controls the behavior of the settings editor Table of Contents while searching."),
 			'default': 'hide'
+		},
+		'workbench.settings.tocVisible': {
+			'type': 'boolean',
+			'description': nls.localize('settingsTocVisible', "Controls whether the settings editor Table of Contents is visible."),
+			'default': true
 		}
 	}
 });

src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/media/settingsEditor2.css

@@ -111,10 +111,11 @@
 .settings-editor > .settings-body .settings-toc-container {
 	width: 175px;
 	margin-right: 5px;
+	padding-top: 5px;
 }
 
-.settings-editor > .settings-body .settings-toc-container {
-	padding-top: 5px;
+.settings-editor > .settings-body .settings-toc-container.hidden {
+	display: none;
 }
 
 .search-mode .settings-toc-container {

src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/settingsEditor2.ts

@@ -99,7 +99,13 @@ export class SettingsEditor2 extends BaseEditor {
 		this.inSettingsEditorContextKey = CONTEXT_SETTINGS_EDITOR.bindTo(contextKeyService);
 		this.searchFocusContextKey = CONTEXT_SETTINGS_SEARCH_FOCUS.bindTo(contextKeyService);
 
-		this._register(configurationService.onDidChangeConfiguration(() => this.onConfigUpdate()));
+		this._register(configurationService.onDidChangeConfiguration(e => {
+			this.onConfigUpdate();
+
+			if (e.affectsConfiguration('workbench.settings.tocVisible')) {
+				this.updateTOCVisible();
+			}
+		}));
 	}
 
 	createEditor(parent: HTMLElement): void {
@@ -259,6 +265,13 @@ export class SettingsEditor2 extends BaseEditor {
 				}
 			}
 		}));
+
+		this.updateTOCVisible();
+	}
+
+	private updateTOCVisible(): void {
+		const visible = !!this.configurationService.getValue('workbench.settings.tocVisible');
+		DOM.toggleClass(this.tocTreeContainer, 'hidden', !visible);
 	}
 
 	private createSettingsTree(parent: HTMLElement): void {