show forms on tab pages or improved MDI?

[ZenRhapsody]

This may be a completely screwy question, but here goes.......

I am working on design of a Windows Forms app.(yes, I can no longer avoid
GUI's!!) Have had VB6 UI experience, but no.NET UI work other than simple
test forms to run class libraries.

In this app, there will be many types of child windows (many not modal) that
must be shown at the same or different times. Some windows may dock, some
may need to slide in and out of sight like C# toolbox. Also, I do like the
'start page' in Visual Studio, with links and "tabs".

My previous large scale GUI experience is with MDIParent and child forms
back when the Internet was in it's infancy. While that would work here, I
dont' think it's jazzy enough. I don't want to clutter up 1 form with lots
of code to support multiple tab pages.

So, can someone point me in the direction of how to have "child" type forms
shows on a parent form, with cool features like docking, auto hide, and
updated appearances, and such? I just need some guidance of what others
have done with the Windows Forms in the age of the internet.

Thanks!

 

[Mehdi]

So, can someone point me in the direction of how to have "child" type forms
shows on a parent form, with cool features like docking, auto hide, and
updated appearances, and such? I just need some guidance of what others
have done with the Windows Forms in the age of the internet.

For all these features, you'll need to use a third party docking framework.
There are both free and commercial ones. You'll find some free examples on
<www.codeproject.com>. Here are example of commercial ones (Google will
give you many more of these):

<http://divil.co.uk/net/controls/sanddock/>
<http://infragistics.com/products/NetAdvantage/WinForms/default.aspx>

 

[ZenRhapsody]

I did find the simple answer for container type controls...

tabpage1.Controls.Add(childFrm); works like a charm!