Windows TaskBar like functionality in for RadWindow

[chintan]

Hi

If we have multiple RadWindow then it is hard to manage the windows.

Because you can't navigate to the background window if foreground window is covering it. You much have to minimize/move the foreground window to see the background window.

We want to implement the windows taskbar like functionality from which we can navigate to any window we want

According to our scenario could you please answer following questions??

1) how to create task bar and mange the multiple RadWindow, The TaskBar should support the multiple window ( if the number of windows increases, the  taskbar button's width gets reduced to fit the all the buttons, even it number of buttons increases to fit in the taskBar it should behave the same way what windows does)

2) If We have implemented taskbar then the maximized RadWindow may not hide the task bar and may resize with the browser's window

It would be great if you can provide sample

Thanks,

[Hristo Borisov]

Hi Chintan,

Yes, you can achieve a TaskBar like functionality if you are using a RadWindowManager that exposes all windows in the current page.

I have created a simple demo that demonstrates how to use the RadWindowManager and a listbox with a horizontal orientation that is display over all RadWindows. Moreover, you can create your own ItemTemplate that looks like a minimized RadWindow and thus achieve better look as I have rather layout out the foundation of your work.

Note that I use the latest binaries from our Q2 release that are already online. I have also attached a solution based on Silverlight 3 as the popup control in Silverlight 2 seems to have some problems with focus. If you are going to adopt Silverlight 3 I would recommend to you our second solution as it's a little bit more neat. It uses a popup control that is functioning properly.

If you have any other questions concerning our controls, feel free to contact us immediately.

Sincerely yours,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[chintan]

Hi Hristo Borisov,

Thank you verymuch for your prompt reply.

I liked your solution, even we are using your SL3 binaries

But i think not all of my requirements is getting fullfilled from your solution...

Like.

1) the task bar overlapes the windows when window is in maximized mode, so window's contents get hidden due to taskbar.

2) There are three windows in your SL3 solution. Access, Excel, Word.
     I minimize the first window(Word), then i restored the second window (Excel), now at this point of time the taskbar is on top of the all windows, but as soon as tries to maximize the second window (Excel) the window fills thourght out the screen and hides the ask bar.

3) Even when we minimize the window it should get hidden and when i click on the task bar it should appear again

Could you please help me to solve this ??

Thanks in advance

[Hristo Borisov]

Hi Chintan,

This example wasn't trying to reproduce a complete a taskbar functionality. It rather shows how you can benefit of the RadWindowManager collection and how to use a popup to display an item over RadWindow. You shouldn't take my solution as granted, but rather you should build up your own logic and understanding of a taskbar control around this code. If you have any other questions concerning the functionality of RadWindow feel free to contact us.

Greetings,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[chintan]

Hi Hristo,

I understand that, the sample is to demonstrate the functionality of RadWindowManager...

Even I have to develop the logic from scratch to manage windows,
Still i have one issue to restrict the window to specific width and height when it is maximized.
And if it is not maximized then it should not hide the taskbar

e.g. Taskbar consumes the bottom 50px in the height and width is 100%
Now any window gets maximized should be in the rest of the aread then the taskbar

Your help will be appreciated

[Hristo Borisov]

Hi Chintan,

If you use our version 2009.1.526 you should be able to set the width and the height of RadWindow when your state is maximized. Try the following scenario, create a simple RadWindow with a button, and change the width or the height of RadWindow when the button is clicked. Open the window, maximize it and click the button. This should get you around the problem. Unfortunately, we have changed this functionality in our latest release, that is why we are still considering whether to respect the width and height of RadWindow when in Maximized State. Please excuse us for any inconvenience caused by this.

Best wishes,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[chintan]

hi,

We are planning to buy Telerik Silverlight controls with higher level support and source code. With this purchase would you be able to help us change the source code to manage the width and height with the latest version?

 

[Hristo Borisov]

Hello Chintan,

We don't encourage you tampering with the code, as the support is only for our official binaries. You should rather wait until our service pack release in which we are planning to resolve this issue. I hope this is not a show stopper for you. Please excuse us for any inconvenience caused by this problem.

Regards,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[chintan]

Hi Hristo,

Thanks for the help,

But still i have question...

We are using your SL3 binaries, and i think you just came out with a release. Will it take months(s) for this enhancement to include??  or when can we expect this enhancement?

[Hristo Borisov]

Hello Chintan,

We have released an internal build which is not an official release. Internal builds are only used for adoption purposes. The internal builds are our latest stage of development, and as you understand we have a priority list for every feature and bug that we are implementing during our schedule. I will increase the priority of this feature as it's obviously a show stopper for you. Sorry for the caused inconvenience and look forward to downloading our latest internal builds in the next two weeks, which I hope will possess the fix.

Regards,
Hristo Borisov
the Telerik team

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[Jaime Bula]

Is there a new Approach for Silverlight 5 and the latest controls?

[Nasko]

Hi Jaime,

With the current implementation of RadWindow there is no other approach that currently we suggest you then the one proposed by Hristo - using RadWindowManager to achieve a TaskBar like functionality.

Such functionality has been introduces for WPF using the RadWindowInteropHelper. However, for Silverlight application that does not have TaskBar by design the only approach that we could suggest you is the one with RadWindowManager.

Hopes the provided information will help you.

Regards,
Nasko
Telerik