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A multi document tabbed interface

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29 Jan 2000 1  
A variation on the MDI that indicates the open child windows in a tab control.
  • Download demo project - 30 Kb
  • Download source files - 11 Kb
  • Download self-extracting installer - 363 Kb

    Sample Image - TabbedMDI.gif

    We have introduced a new interface extension for MDI (multiple document interface) based applications - MDI tabbed interface or MTI. This class is part of the Ultimate Toolbox class library and can be used freely.

    We haven't changed anything in the relationships between the main frame window (MDIFrame window) and its children (MDIChild windows). We added functionality that is usually overlooked when developing MDI applications.

    The MDIClient window which resides in the client area of the MDIFrame window manages MDIChild windows. Instead of just displaying the MDIClient window we also display a standard tab control (hence tabbed MDI) in which we create an item for every MDIChild window. The window icon and text will be associated with the corresponding tab item.

    Using the tab control you can switch quickly between MDIChild windows by just clicking on the tab item. If you double click over a tab item, the corresponding MDIChild window will be maximized/restored. And, finally, when any object is dragged over the tab control items (using standard OLE drag and drop) the corresponding MDIChild window will be activated.

    We use a standard tab control so you can customize its appearance using the standard set of relevant functions (refer for CTabCtrl description in the MFC documentation).

    We developed three classes in order to provide the above described functionality:

    COXTabWorkspaceDropTarget COleDropTarget derived class used to support the changing of active MDIChild when any object is dragged over tab control items (This is an internal class)
    COXTabWorkspace CTabCtrl derived class. Covers MDIClient area. For every MDIChild window there will be the tab item that will use window text and icon as item text and icon. Whenever you click on the item the coresponding child window will be activated. Whenever you double click on the item the corresponding MDIChild window will be maximized/restored
    COXTabClientWnd CWnd derived class. Subclasses MDIClient window. Manages the placement of the MDIClient and tab control regarding each other.

    Almost all the logic of the classes is implemented internally and there are few public members. Refer to COXTabWorkspace reference for the list of  functions available to customize the tab control appearance.

    COXTabClientWnd class has a few public functions (refer to COXTabClientWnd reference for details) but primarily you will be interested in the following ones:

    Attach()

    Detach()

    Below you two steps that should be taken in order to implement tabbed MDI interface in your MDI application

    1. In your CMainFrame class declare variable of COXTabClientWnd class:
      COXTabClientWnd m_MTIClientWnd;
              
    2. In your CMainFrame::OnCreate(LPCREATESTRUCT lpCreateStruct) function implementation add the following line of code:
      m_MTIClientWnd.Attach(this);

    That's it.

    Sample

    The TabbedMDI project included in the samples directory shows the class in action. There you will see how you can customize the tabbed MDI interface appearance.


    COXTabWorkspace

    SetOffset

    Sets the margin between tab control and MDIFrame client area borders

    GetOffset

    Retrieves the margin between tab control and MDIFrame client area borders

    AcceptDraggedObject

    Sets/Removes dragging object over support for the tab control

    IsAcceptingDraggedObject

    Retrieves the flag that specifies whether the control activate the corresponding MDIChild window when an object is dragged over tab control items.

    void SetOffset(const DWORD dwOffset)

    Parameters

    dwOffset

    offset in points from the MDIFrame window client area where the tab control will be displayed

    Remarks

    Sets the tab control offset from MDIFrame client area borders

    DWORD GetOffset() const

    Return Value

    offset in points from the MDIFrame window client area where the tab control will be displayed

    Remarks

    Retrievs the tab control offset from MDIFrame borders

    void AcceptDraggedObject(const BOOL bAccept=TRUE)

    Parameters

    bAccept if TRUE then when any object is dragged over tab items the corresponding MDIChild windows will be activated

    Remarks

    Set/Remove drag over object support for the tab control

    BOOL IsAcceptingDraggedObject() const

    Parameters

    bAccept

    if TRUE then when any object is dragged over tab items the corresponding MDIChild windows will be activated

    Return Value

    TRUE if when any object is dragged over tab items the corresponding MDIChild windows will be activated


    COXTabClientWnd

    Attach

    Substitutes the standard MDI interface with tabbed MDI

    Detach

    Restores the standard MDI interface

    IsAttached

    Retrieves the flag that specifies whether the standard MDI interface was substituted with enhanced tabbed MDI or not.

    GetTabCtrl

    Gets the fellow tab control

    GetParentFrame

    Gets the parent MDIFrame

    BOOL Attach(const CMDIFrameWnd* pParentFrame, DWORD dwTabCtrlStyle=DEFAULT_TABCTRLSTYLE)

    Parameters

    pParentFrame pointer to MDIFrame window of  the application
    dwTabCtrlStyle tab control styles that will be used while creating the tab control. Refer to the Windows SDK documentation for list of all available styles. The following styles are used by default:
    TCS_MULTILINE
    TCS_BOTTOM
    TCS_HOTTRACK
    TCS_SCROLLOPPOSITE
    TCS_RIGHTJUSTIFY

    Return Value

    TRUE if success or FALSE otherwise.

    Remarks

    Substitutes the standard MDI interface with enhanced tabbed MDI

    BOOL Detach()

    Return Value

    TRUE if successful or FALSE otherwise.

    Remarks

    Restore the standard MDI interface

    BOOL IsAttached() const

    Return Value

    TRUE if the tabbed MDI interface is active.

    Remarks

    Retrieves the flag that specifies whether the standard MDI interface was substituted with enhanced tabbed MDI or not.

    COXTabWorkspace* GetTabCtrl()

    Return Value

    pointer to the tab control

    Remarks

    Retrieves pointer to the tab control

    CMDIFrameWnd* GetParentFrame()

    Return Value

    pointer to the parent MDIFrame window or NULL if none was attached

    Remarks

    Retrieves pointer to the parent MDIFrame window

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