The NDockManager controls most of the aspects of visual representation. It exposes the following styles used to control docking framework's appearance:

• NCaptionStyle - controls appearance of panels' captions.
• NSplitterStyle - controls appearance of splitters.
• NTabStyle - controls appearance of tabs.
• NDocumentStyle - controls the appearance of documents, document strips, document view, etc.

The following example demonstrates how to change the tabs appearance using the TabStyle property:

NTabStyle style = this.nDockManager1.TabStyle;
style.TabAlign = TabAlign.Top;
style.UseAutomaticTabStyle = false;
style.TabStyle = TabStyle.Buttons;
style.Font = new Font("Arial", 9.0f);

Dim style As NTabStyle = Me.nDockManager1.TabStyle
style.TabAlign = TabAlign.Top
style.UseAutomaticTabStyle = false
style.TabStyle = TabStyle.Buttons
style.Font = New Font("Arial", 9.0F)

The result of the above code.

Each element in the docking framework should be attached to a valid NDockManager instance in order to function properly. You should use the manager to create and add docking containers as it will automatically update the container's references. By default when assigned a valid Form instance the manager will add its RootContainer to the Form's controls collection. If you want to add additional nested containers use the manager's AddContainer method.

The following code demonstrates how to add docking containers:

//create a valid manager and attach it to the form
NDockManager nDockManager1 = new NDockManager();
nDockManager1.Form = this;

//create a container
NDockingPanelContainer container = this.nDockManager1.AddContainer(DockStyle.Fill);
//add the container as a child to an existing docking panel
this.nDockingPanel1.Controls.Add(container);

'create a valid manager and attach it to the form
Dim nDockManager1 As NDockManager = New NDockManager()
nDockManager1.Form = Me

'create a container
Dim container As NDockingPanelContainer = Me.nDockManager1.AddContainer(DockStyle.Fill)
'add the container as a child to an existing docking panel
Me.nDockingPanel1.Controls.Add(container)

The NDockManager component might start batch operation which actually suspends any layout and notification events.

The following code demonstrates how to start and end a batch operation:

this.nDockManager1.StartBatchOperation();

//perform your application-defined job here

//do not forget to end the batch operation
this.nDockManager1.EndBatchOperation();

Me.nDockManager1.StartBatchOperation()

'perform your application-defined job here

'do not forget to end the batch operation
Me.nDockManager1.EndBatchOperation()

The NDockManager might be used to perform various updates on the entire docking framework.

The following table describes these methods:

The NDockManager keeps track of all the containers and panels currently being part of the framework. It exposes lots of properties and methods to perform various queries upon framework's elements.

The following table demonstrates these queries:

The NDockManager provides some sharable object to be used by the entire framework. These are:

• Renderer - the default renderer to be used by all UI elements in the framework.
• LayoutEngine - the default layout engine to be used by all the dock zones in the framework.
• DragHandler - the default INDragHandler implementation to be used by all docking panels.