Move Panels Between DockLayoutManager Instances

• Sep 27, 2022

Run Demo: Dock Layout Manager - Drag Panels Between Dock Managers Demo

Create a Link

Use the Link(DockLayoutManager, DockLayoutManager) method to link two DockLayoutManager instances. The link allows you to drag and drop panels between DockLayoutManager instances within one application domain.

XAML

<dxdo:DockLayoutManager x:Name="dockLayoutManagerTop" DockPanel.Dock="Top" FloatingMode="Desktop">
    <!--...-->
</dxdo:DockLayoutManager>
<dxdo:DockLayoutManager x:Name="dockLayoutManagerBottom" DockPanel.Dock="Bottom" FloatingMode="Desktop">
    <!--...-->
</dxdo:DockLayoutManager>

C#

DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerBottom);

VB.NET

DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerBottom)

Note

The linked DockLayoutManager instances should have the same FloatingMode property value.

If you link several DockLayoutManager controls and save/restore the layout for them, item names within all these controls must be unique.

Limitation

You cannot drag DockLayoutManager panels between different applications/threads.

Remove a Link

Use the DockLayoutManagerLinker.Unlink method to remove a link between two DockLayoutManager instances.

C#

DockLayoutManagerLinker.Unlink(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerBottom);

VB.NET

DockLayoutManagerLinker.Unlink(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerBottom)

Create a Link Between Multiple DockLayoutManagers

Link DockLayoutManager instances to drag and drop panels between these instances.

XAML

<dxdo:DockLayoutManager x:Name="dockLayoutManagerTop" DockPanel.Dock="Top" FloatingMode="Desktop">
    <!--...-->
</dxdo:DockLayoutManager>
<dxdo:DockLayoutManager x:Name="dockLayoutManagerBottom" DockPanel.Dock="Bottom" FloatingMode="Desktop">
    <!--...-->
</dxdo:DockLayoutManager>
<dxdo:DockLayoutManager x:Name="dockLayoutManagerRight" DockPanel.Dock="Right" FloatingMode="Desktop">
    <!--...-->
</dxdo:DockLayoutManager>

C#

DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerBottom);
DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerRight);
DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerBottom, dockLayoutManagerRight);

VB.NET

DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerBottom)
DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerTop, dockLayoutManagerRight)
DockLayoutManagerLinker.Link(dockLayoutManagerBottom, dockLayoutManagerRight)