# Creating ToolWindow and DocumentWindow at Runtime

## Creating ToolWindow at Runtime

To create a new **ToolWindow**, construct a **ToolWindow** instance, set properties and call the **DockWindow()** method, passing a reference to the **ToolWindow** and a **DockPosition** enumeration value.

### Creating a ToolWindow

```C#
ToolWindow windowTop = new ToolWindow();
windowTop.Text = "Window Top";
this.radDock1.DockWindow(windowTop, DockPosition.Top);
```

```VB.NET
Dim windowTop As ToolWindow = New ToolWindow()
windowTop.Text = "Window Top"
Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(windowTop, DockPosition.Top)
```

## Creating DocumentWindow at Runtime

To create a **DocumentWindow**, construct an instance of **DocumentWindow**, assign properties and call the **AddDocument** method, passing the **DocumentWindow** instance.

### Creating a DocumentWindow

```C#
DocumentWindow documentTop = new DocumentWindow();
documentTop.Text = "New Document";
this.radDock1.AddDocument(documentTop);
```

```VB.NET
Dim documentTop As DocumentWindow = New DocumentWindow()
documentTop.Text = "New Document"
Me.RadDock1.AddDocument(documentTop)
```

## Example: Creating Multiple ToolWindow and DocumentWindow at Runtime

The following example creates multiple panels and document panes at runtime.

![WinForms RadDock Creating Multiple ToolWindow and DocumentWindow at Runtime](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/900037c5f2466cfedca0e596372e5d62/dock-object-model-creating-toolwindow-and-documentwindow-at-runtime001.png)

### Creating ToolWindows and DocumentWindows

```C#
ToolWindow windowLeft = new ToolWindow();
windowLeft.Text = "Window Left";
this.radDock1.DockWindow(windowLeft, DockPosition.Left);
ToolWindow windowBottom = new ToolWindow();
windowBottom.Text = "Window Bottom";
this.radDock1.DockWindow(windowBottom, DockPosition.Bottom);
ToolWindow windowBottomRight = new ToolWindow();
windowBottomRight.Text = "Window Bottom Right";
this.radDock1.DockWindow(windowBottomRight, windowBottom, DockPosition.Right);
DocumentWindow document1 = new DocumentWindow();
document1.Text = "Document 1";
this.radDock1.AddDocument(document1);
DocumentWindow document2 = new DocumentWindow();
document2.Text = "Document 2";
this.radDock1.AddDocument(document2);
DocumentWindow document3 = new DocumentWindow();
document3.Text = "Document 3";
this.radDock1.AddDocument(document3);
```

```VB.NET
Dim windowLeft As ToolWindow = New ToolWindow()
windowLeft.Text = "Window Left"
Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(windowLeft, DockPosition.Top)
Dim windowBottom As ToolWindow = New ToolWindow()
windowBottom.Text = "Window Bottom"
Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(windowBottom, DockPosition.Bottom)
Dim windowBottomRight As ToolWindow = New ToolWindow()
windowBottomRight.Text = "Window Bottom Right"
Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(windowBottomRight, windowBottom, DockPosition.Right)
Dim document1 As DocumentWindow = New DocumentWindow()
document1.Text = "Document 1"
Me.RadDock1.AddDocument(document1)
Dim document2 As DocumentWindow = New DocumentWindow()
document2.Text = "Document 2"
Me.RadDock1.AddDocument(document2)
Dim document3 As DocumentWindow = New DocumentWindow()
document3.Text = "Document 3"
Me.RadDock1.AddDocument(document3)
```

## Creating and docking multiple windows in a single strip

There are cases in which you might prefer docking two or more windows to the right edge of **RadDock** only, so that these right-edged windows are tabbed in a single container. For example, let’s say that we have `Team Explorer`, `Solution Explorer` and `Server Explorer` windows and they are all initially closed. We also have a menu that allows us to open these windows, and after clicking all the corresponding menu items we want to get this picture:

![WinForms RadDock Menu Item for Multiple Windows](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/85807d628a37b0c4fc01da53c8d70d75/dock-how-to-docking-windows-in-a-single-strip001.png)

The bellow code shows how you can create each one of the windows:

```C#
private void menuItemTeamExplorer_Click1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    TeamExplorerUserControl teuc = new TeamExplorerUserControl();
    DockPosition dockTo = DockPosition.Right;
    HostWindow hw = this.radDock1.DockControl(teuc, dockTo);
    hw.Text = "Team Explorer";
}

private void menuItemServerExplorer_Click1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    ServerExplorerUserControl seuc = new ServerExplorerUserControl();
    DockPosition dockTo = DockPosition.Right;
    HostWindow hw = this.radDock1.DockControl(seuc, dockTo);
    hw.Text = "Server Explorer";
}

private void menuItemSolutionExplorer_Click1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    SolutionExplorerUserControl seuc = new SolutionExplorerUserControl();
    DockPosition dockTo = DockPosition.Right;
    HostWindow hw = this.radDock1.DockControl(seuc, dockTo);
    hw.Text = "Solution Explorer";
}
```

```VB.NET
Private Sub menuItemTeamExplorer_Click1(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    Dim teuc As New TeamExplorerUserControl()
    Dim dockTo As DockPosition = DockPosition.Right
    Dim hw As HostWindow = Me.RadDock1.DockControl(teuc, dockTo)
    hw.Text = "Team Explorer"
End Sub

Private Sub menuItemServerExplorer_Click1(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    Dim seuc As New ServerExplorerUserControl()
    Dim dockTo As DockPosition = DockPosition.Right
    Dim hw As HostWindow = Me.RadDock1.DockControl(seuc, dockTo)
    hw.Text = "Server Explorer"
End Sub

Private Sub menuItemSolutionExplorer_Click1(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    Dim seuc As New SolutionExplorerUserControl()
    Dim dockTo As DockPosition = DockPosition.Right
    Dim hw As HostWindow = Me.RadDock1.DockControl(seuc, dockTo)
    hw.Text = "Solution Explorer"
End Sub
```

However, this API docks the windows to right of **RadDock**, not taking into consideration other right-docked windows:

![WinForms RadDock Windows are Docked To the Right](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/882ae20eb2d3303980125975e5713b36/dock-object-model-creating-toolwindow-and-documentwindow-at-runtime002.png)

So, we need to follow another approach. What we need to do is to globally define a **ToolTabStrip** variable that would be set the first time a window is right-docked. Then, the next time we dock a window, we will do it in the context of the already created **ToolTabStrip**. Here is what should be done in code on click of the menu items:

```C#
ToolTabStrip rightHandStrip = null;

private void menuItemTeamExplorer_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    TeamExplorerUserControl teuc = new TeamExplorerUserControl();
    ToolWindow teucW = new ToolWindow();
    teucW.Controls.Add(teuc);
    teucW.Text = "Team Explorer";
    if (rightHandStrip == null)
    {
        this.radDock1.DockWindow(teucW, DockPosition.Right);
        rightHandStrip = (ToolTabStrip)teucW.Parent;
    }
    else
    {
        this.radDock1.DockWindow(teucW, rightHandStrip, DockPosition.Fill);
    }
}

private void menuItemServerExplorer_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    ServerExplorerUserControl seuc = new ServerExplorerUserControl();
    ToolWindow seucW = new ToolWindow();
    seucW.Controls.Add(seuc);
    seucW.Text = "Server Explorer";
    if (rightHandStrip == null)
    {
        this.radDock1.DockWindow(seucW, DockPosition.Right);
        rightHandStrip = (ToolTabStrip)seucW.Parent;
    }
    else
    {
        this.radDock1.DockWindow(seucW, rightHandStrip, DockPosition.Fill);
    }
}

private void menuItemSolutionExplorer_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    SolutionExplorerUserControl seuc = new SolutionExplorerUserControl();
    ToolWindow seucW = new ToolWindow();
    seucW.Controls.Add(seuc);
    seucW.Text = "Solution Explorer";
    if (rightHandStrip == null)
    {
        this.radDock1.DockWindow(seucW, DockPosition.Right);
        rightHandStrip = (ToolTabStrip)seucW.Parent;
    }
    else
    {
        this.radDock1.DockWindow(seucW, rightHandStrip, DockPosition.Fill);
    }
}
```

```VB.NET
Private rightHandStrip As ToolTabStrip = Nothing

Private Sub menuItemTeamExplorer_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    Dim teuc As New TeamExplorerUserControl()
    Dim teucW As New ToolWindow()
    teucW.Controls.Add(teuc)
    teucW.Text = "Team Explorer"
    If rightHandStrip Is Nothing Then
        Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(teucW, DockPosition.Right)
        rightHandStrip = CType(teucW.Parent, ToolTabStrip)
    Else
        Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(teucW, rightHandStrip, DockPosition.Fill)
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub menuItemServerExplorer_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    Dim seuc As New ServerExplorerUserControl()
    Dim seucW As New ToolWindow()
    seucW.Controls.Add(seuc)
    seucW.Text = "Server Explorer"
    If rightHandStrip Is Nothing Then
        Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(seucW, DockPosition.Right)
        rightHandStrip = CType(seucW.Parent, ToolTabStrip)
    Else
        Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(seucW, rightHandStrip, DockPosition.Fill)
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub menuItemSolutionExplorer_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    Dim seuc As New SolutionExplorerUserControl()
    Dim seucW As New ToolWindow()
    seucW.Controls.Add(seuc)
    seucW.Text = "Solution Explorer"
    If rightHandStrip Is Nothing Then
        Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(seucW, DockPosition.Right)
        rightHandStrip = CType(seucW.Parent, ToolTabStrip)
    Else
        Me.RadDock1.DockWindow(seucW, rightHandStrip, DockPosition.Fill)
    End If
End Sub
```

## See Also

* [AllowedDockStates](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/alloweddockstates)
* [Creating a RadDock at Runtime](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/creating-a-raddock-at-runtime)
* [Accessing DockWindows](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/accessing-dockwindows)
* [Customizing Floating Windows](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/customizing-floating-windows)
* [Customizing TabStrip Items](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/customizing-tabstrip-items)
* [Building an Advanced Layout at Runtime](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/example-building-an-advanced-layout-at-runtime)
* [RadDock Properties and Methods](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/raddock-properties-and-methods)
* [Removing ToolWindow and DocumentWindow at Runtime](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/removing-toolwindow-and-documentwindow-at-runtime)
* [Tabs and Captions](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/tabs-and-captions)
* [ToolWindow and DocumentWindow Properties and Methods](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/toolwindow-and-documentwindow-properties-and-methods)
* [Tracking the ActiveWindow](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dock/object-model/tracking-the-activewindow)