How to: Implement the tabbed interface in an MDI application

Nov 13, 2018
3 minutes to read

This example shows how to use an XtraTabbedMdiManager component to implement the tabbed interface in an MDI application.

The Load event handler of the main form (MDI Parent) binds an XtraTabbedMdiManager object to the form via the XtraTabbedMdiManager.MdiParent property.

The example creates a bar with the New command. An MDI child form created by this command is automatically displayed as a tab by the XtraTabbedMdiManager.

The XtraTabbedMdiManager.PageAdded event handler customizes tooltips of created tab pages.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.XtraBars;
using DevExpress.XtraTabbedMdi;
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication4 {
    public partial class Form1 : Form {
        public Form1() {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        XtraTabbedMdiManager mdiManager;

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) {
            // Create a Bar Manager that will display a bar of commands at the top of the main form.
            BarManager barManager = new BarManager();
            barManager.Form = this;
            // Create a bar with a New button.
            barManager.BeginUpdate();
            Bar bar = new Bar(barManager, "My Bar");
            bar.DockStyle = BarDockStyle.Top;
            barManager.MainMenu = bar;
            BarItem barItem = new BarButtonItem(barManager, "New");
            barItem.ItemClick += new ItemClickEventHandler(barItem_ItemClick);
            bar.ItemLinks.Add(barItem);
            barManager.EndUpdate();
            // Create an XtraTabbedMdiManager that will manage MDI child windows.
            mdiManager = new XtraTabbedMdiManager(components);
            mdiManager.MdiParent = this;
            mdiManager.PageAdded += MdiManager_PageAdded;

        }

        private void MdiManager_PageAdded(object sender, MdiTabPageEventArgs e) {
            XtraMdiTabPage page = e.Page;
            page.Tooltip = "Tooltip for the page " + page.Text;
        }

        int ctr = 0;
        void barItem_ItemClick(object sender, ItemClickEventArgs e) {
            // Create an MDI child form.
            Form2 f = new Form2();
            f.Text = "Child Form " + (++ctr).ToString();
            f.MdiParent = this;
            f.Show();
        }
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.XtraBars
Imports DevExpress.XtraTabbedMdi

Public Class Form1
    Dim mdiManager As XtraTabbedMdiManager

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        ' Create a Bar Manager that will display a bar of commands at the top of the main form.
        Dim barManager As BarManager = New BarManager()
        barManager.Form = Me
        ' Create a bar with a New button.
        barManager.BeginUpdate()
        Dim bar As Bar = New Bar(barManager, "My Bar")
        bar.DockStyle = BarDockStyle.Top
        barManager.MainMenu = bar
        Dim barItem As BarItem = New BarButtonItem(barManager, "New")
        AddHandler barItem.ItemClick, AddressOf barItem_ItemClick
        bar.ItemLinks.Add(barItem)
        barManager.EndUpdate()
        ' Create an XtraTabbedMdiManager that will manage MDI child windows.
        mdiManager = New XtraTabbedMdiManager(components)
        mdiManager.MdiParent = Me
        AddHandler mdiManager.PageAdded, AddressOf MdiManager_PageAdded
    End Sub

    Private Sub MdiManager_PageAdded(sender As Object, e As MdiTabPageEventArgs)
        Dim page As XtraMdiTabPage = e.Page
        page.Tooltip = "Tooltip for the page " + page.Text
    End Sub

    Private ctr As Integer = 0
    Private Sub barItem_ItemClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ItemClickEventArgs)
        ' Create an MDI child form.
        Dim f As Form2 = New Form2()
        ctr = ctr + 1
        f.Text = "Child Form " & ctr.ToString()
        f.MdiParent = Me
        f.Show()
    End Sub
End Class