MDI applications that act like SDI

[ddd]

Hi,

Does anyone know how to create in VB.net an application which acts similarly
to Excel/Word 2003, whereby it is an MDI application, but the user has the
choice between displaying the windows within the MDI interface or in the
taskbar (which makes the app look like an SDI application). Currently
Excel/Word allow the user to modify this setting in Tools>Options Windows in
Taskbar checkbox.

I took a look at the MSDN and searched the web but I couldn't find anything
abt how they achieve this in the office applications. any ideas/suggestions?

thanks

tony

 

[Guest]

Hi ddd

You'll have to code this yourself, which is probably why you haven't found
information on MSDN!

For the MDI application, have an MDI Parent form where you set the
IsMdiContainer property to true - make this your startup form. When you call
File | New add child windows set the MdiParent property to this MDI Parent
form object. For the SDI application, when you do file new in this case, just
Show() the form.

It's not so much work to support both, and to allow users to toggle between
the two.

HTH

Nigel Armstrong

 

[ddd]

Nigel,

Do I need "if statements" for all the pieces of code that reference the
parent(from child form) or the child(from parent or other child forms), or
is the relationship always the same weather I use show or not?

Also I noticed that word automatically places the child forms within the MDI
if I uncheck the the feature, and the opposite when I check it. How do they
achieve this? Do they use a loop to go through all children and redisplay
them?

thanks

tony