Tabbed MDI Package

The Tabbed MDI(Multiple Document Interface)package provides a new Tabbed MDI layout mode(as an alternative to the default 'Cascade' and 'Tiled' modes) popularized by VS.NET. This framework was built with great consideration for ease of use. You do not have to modify your existing MDI applications in any way to enable Tabbed MDI mode. With a single method call, you can switch between Tabbed and regular MDI layout modes.

Our Tabbed MDI framework will retain the MDI scheme in Tabbed mode. The child forms will still be MDIChildren of the parent (they will NOT be moved into a tab control; this results in loss of MDI functionality like merged menus, switching using CTRL?, etc.), thereby enhancing your applications without interfering with the general MDI scheme.

The Tabbed MDI framework provides users the exact functionality and look and feel of VS.NET tabbed child windows.

Lets the user arrange MDIchildren within horizontal or vertical, resizable Tab Groups seen as in the Visual Studio.NET IDE.

Users can create one or more horizontal or vertical Tab Groups and move the MDIchildren across different Tab Groups via simple drag-and-drop or through the Tab Context Menu.

Users can easily resize the horizontal or vertical Tab Groups using a Splitter. The sizes also change proportionately when the user resizes the Form.

Simply attach an MDI container to the TabbedMDIManager and let it take care of the alignment and activation logic. Toggle between Normal MDI mode and Tabbed MDI mode by attaching and detaching the MDI container Form from the TabbedMDIManager.

The TabbedMDIManager automatically persists Tab Groups and Tab Group sizes for use across application invocations.

The TabbedMDIManager lets users merge custom menu items to the default Tab Context Menu. Custom items on a Tab Context Menuu are illustrated below:

The tab styles available when using the TabbedMDIManager are illustrated below:

Grouping options are available for the MDI child forms when tabbing them using the TabbedMDIManager. Dragging of an MDI child from one group to another will be disabled in such situations.

TabbedMDI provides the user with close buttons for individual tabs.

TabbedMDI Package includes VS 2005 Style Drop-DownList Button which lists the child MDI windows and eliminates the use of scroll buttons.

TabbedMDI tabs can be aligned along any desired edge (Left, Right, Top or Bottom) of the main form.

The close button provided for individual tabs can be viewed in a 3D-embossed style. Tabs with 3D-Style close buttons are illustrated below: