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In this article, I will introduce the structure of the multi-document interface (MDI), single-document interface (SDI) and multi-frame interface (MFI) UI.
Document interface
The document-based interface is the most popular UI paradigm in desktop application development. From web browsers to professional tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio and Adobe Photoshop, you can see this paradigm almost anywhere. "Documents" refers to completely independent client areas, which are combined into one application framework. The document-based interface allows users to switch between different graphical windows while maintaining constant access to the main application menu and related navigation elements.
Document-based interfaces can be divided into three categories:
- MDI (Multiple Document Interface)-allows users to view multiple documents at the same time.
- SDI (Single Document Interface)-Unlike MDI, SDI only supports a single "active" document. The classic example of an SDI interface is static tags.
- MFI (Multi-Frame Interface)-The hallmark of the MFI application is-each document looks like a completely independent instance of the application, with its own button in the Windows taskbar. Nevertheless, MFI documents are still part of a single application. In Microsoft Word, each text document is opened in a separate window, but you can use the "Switch Windows" Ribbon command to navigate between these windows (the document is Interconnected).
Multi-document interface
If you want to incorporate multi-document UI in your application, then the best option is to use the DevExpress XtraTabbedMdiManager component. With this UI control, you can create floating or docked "documents" and merge parent/child BarManager or ribbon menus.
Just like XtraTabbedMdiManager, WinForms Document Manager enables you to easily build MDI applications. Unlike XtraTabbedMdiManager, WinForms Document Managers also allows you to:
- Use "Widget View" to create dashboard-inspired applications
- Use "Windows UI View" to create Windows Store-inspired modern applications
- Use with WinForms Dock Manager
- Load content on demand at runtime and improve application startup speed
- Use "non-document mode" and display a single document
Single document interface
To create a tab-based UI and force users to use a single tab, use the classic XtraTabControl or DevExpress TabPane .
If you are willing to consider alternatives and seek new design ideas, WinForms Navigation Frame may be very suitable. If you are willing to consider alternatives and seek new design ideas, our WinForms navigation framework may be a suitable control for you. This is simple The SDI container requires you to manually implement the navigation UI (switch between pages).
Multi-frame interface
If you want your application to imitate the UI functions of modern web browsers, just use DevExpress Tab Form. With WinForms Tab Form, users can split tabs into separate windows and merge them together as needed.
This form merges the label title into its title bar, and the undocked label is placed in a window that completely duplicates the parent form. Just like Toolbar Forms, Tab Forms can display bar items in the title bar. Two buttons are added to the left of the label: Skin and Palette selectors.
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