Constraining RadWindows in MDI Container

[Nic]

Hi,

I'd like to implement an MDI-like workspace. So in my application, at the top would be a file menu, followed by a toolbar and then the mdi-window content-region. The content-region would hold multiple RadWindows which can be dragged around, minimized, maximized, etc.

For dragging, I'd like it so that the windows themselves cannot be dragged outside of the mdi-window content region. Right now it's possible to drag a window over the menubar and toolbar. Basically anywhere in the Silverlight plugin's content region of the web page.

I'd appreciate any help/sample solution on how to implement this.

Thanks,
Nic

[Hristo Borisov]

Hello Nic,

Thank you for writing us. Currently, RadWindow doesn't have integrated boundary detection in order to constrain inside an area. I have implemented a sample project which demonstrates how to constrain RadWindow inside a grid. Unfortunately, as our control doesn't have that functionality integrated you will have some limitations while using the control. You should set the ResizeMode of RadWindow to NoResize, otherwise you will expect some strange behavior while resizing or maximizing the control. I hope this will suite your needs for now, and if you think that boundary detection is must-have feature, we will consider its priority for our future releases.

Regards,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[Nic]

Hi Hristo,

Thank you for the sample code. I was wondering if there was any way to detect the resizing/maximising events of the window, and constrain in a similar manner shown in your sample code.

I do need this sort of functionality in an enterprise application we are developing so would appreciate any further help you can provide.

I was thinking along the lines of a layout control similar to http://blogs.msdn.com/mgrayson/archive/2008/08/01/silverlight-2-samples-dragging-docking-expanding-panels-part-1.aspx but with the panels instead being Telerik RadWindows.

Thanks,
Nic

[Hristo Borisov]

Hi Nic,

RadWindow exposes SizeChanged and WindowStateChanged events, but it will be extremely difficult to implement that functionality without editing the control itself. We have some ideas about implementing some layout logic behind the window, but there are still some issues. I hope that you can rely on the example I provided you, and I also hope this problem not to be a show-stopper for your future use of our controls. For now, we are sorry for the caused inconvenience and we advice you to achieve proper use without implementing complete external layout system for RadWindow, because as soon as we introduce our own, it will be struggle for you to update your application.

Sincerely yours,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[Nic]

Hi Hristo,

Would you be able to shed some more light on the layout system you have in mind and how it will work. If you could provide some guidance on when a beta or release of this feature is planned that would be appreciated as well :-)

Thanks again,
Nic

[Hristo Borisov]

Hi Nic,

Our roadmap includes some boundary detection features as well as layout arranging, but as I said before this is still in the research stage and we are still evaluating the importance of this feature upon others. That is why, for now I don't want to say anything that isn't a safe bet. For our next releases we are planning to improve the presentation layer and performance experience of our controls, so I really cannot take any risk promising or exposing some information.

Sincerely yours,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[Nic]

Hi Hristo,

Although I would have liked more details I can understand that it may be too early for you to reveal any details. Fair enough and thanks for your help on the sample code and advice.

--Nic

[Russell Warren]

It has been a while... is there any update on this?  I'm very interested in doing MDI with RadWindows as well.

[Russell Warren]

Just to clarify, the MDI style I'm interested in is the "classic" MDI style where you can tile or cascade the "documents".  I realize that RadWindows can do MDI via tabs, but that is not what I am after.

[Hristo Borisov]

Hi Russell Warren,

Since your last request, we have implemented two properties that will be very useful in implementing an MDI logic. Now, RadWindow supports boundary detection which is by default turned off. If you want to restrict the RadWindow you can use the IsRestricted property and RestrictedAreaMargin which is of type Thickness. The only constraint is that you cannot have a modal dialog inside a container. This is in our roadmap and is part of our priority list. Thank you for using RadWindow and I hope this functionality will be suitable for your scenario.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us again.

Best wishes,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[Nick Nugent]

Hi Hristo,

Any chance you could provide some sample code that demonstrates using the new properties to emulate MDI style behaviour with the RadWindow?

Also any update on when it will be possible to use modal dialogs inside containers?

Thanks,

Nick

[Miroslav Nedyalkov]

Hello Nick,

 Unfortunately we don't have such an example that demonstrates emulating an MDI window.

I cannot understand your second request - what does it mean to use a modal dialog into a container?

Greetings,
Miroslav Nedyalkov
the Telerik team