Applies to: Nevron User Interface for .NET
How to split a big panel application without losing the VS design support?
Programming the panels in separate NDockingPanel classes and spawn them on at runtime works fine, but there is no top level window - and no design tools. Calculating all field positions is a very grinding work, especially when enhancing the panel.
The NDockManager requires a valid Form instance to be attached to so it may receive managed Activated/Deactivate notifications. You may however use a Form component as a child control also. All you have to do is to adjust some properties:
[C#]
public class MyChildForm : Form
{
public MyChildForm()
{
InitializeComponent();
//a must, otherwise an exception will be thrown
this.TopLevel = false;
//optional but preferred
this.FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.None;
//preferred dock so it will be layouted properly
this.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
//make it visible since it is initially hidden
this.Show();
}
}
[VB.NET]
Public Class MyChildForm
Inherits Form
Public Sub New()
InitializeComponent()
'a must, otherwise an exception will be thrown
Me.TopLevel = False
'optional but preferred
Me.FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.None
'preferred dock so it will be layouted properly
Me.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
'make it visible since it is initially hidden
Me.Show()
End Sub
End Class
Now this Form may be inserted as a child to any other valid System.Windows.Forms.Control instance. So, you may split large amount of panels into such child Forms without losing the VS Designer support.
Article ID: 189, Created On: 4/14/2011, Modified: 8/2/2011