Click here to Skip to main content
15,867,453 members
Articles / Desktop Programming / WPF

DockPanel Splitter Control for WPF

Rate me:
Please Sign up or sign in to vote.
4.50/5 (19 votes)
10 Aug 2009CPOL 213K   6.8K   55   43
A splitter control for the WPF DockPanel
Sample Image

Introduction

This control adds size adjustment functionality to elements of a DockPanel in the same way a GridSplitter can adjust the size of columns and rows in a Grid. When resizing the parent container, the elements will be resized proportionally unless the ProportionalResize property is set to False.

Using the Code

Add the OpenSourceControls namespace and add a DockPanelSplitter control after each panel you want to adjust. The DockPanel.Dock attribute controls which edge of the panel the splitter works on.

XML
<Window x:Class="DockPanelSplitterDemo.Window1"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:osc="clr-namespace:OpenSourceControls"
    Title="DockPanelSplitter demo" Height="400" Width="600">
    <DockPanel>
        <Grid Name="LeftPane" DockPanel.Dock="Left" 
                      Width="200" MinWidth="40">
            <Rectangle Fill="LightBlue"/>
        </Grid>
        <osc:DockPanelSplitter DockPanel.Dock="Left" Width="4"/>
 
        <Grid Name="RightPane" DockPanel.Dock="Right" Width="80">
            <Rectangle Fill="Yellow"/>
        </Grid>
        <osc:DockPanelSplitter DockPanel.Dock="Right" Width="4"/>
        
        <Grid Name="TopPane" DockPanel.Dock="Top" 
                     Height="80" MinHeight="20">
            <Rectangle Fill="LightGreen"/>
        </Grid>
        <osc:DockPanelSplitter DockPanel.Dock="Top" Height="4"/>
        
        <Grid Name="BottomPane" DockPanel.Dock="Bottom" Height="70">
            <Rectangle Fill="LightPink"/>
        </Grid>
        <osc:DockPanelSplitter DockPanel.Dock="Bottom" Height="4"/>
        
        <Grid Name="MainPane" Background="Coral" >
            <Rectangle Fill="Coral"/>
        </Grid>
    </DockPanel>
</Window>

The proportional sizing mode can be turned off by setting the ProprtionalResize dependency property to False.

XML
<osc:DockPanelSplitter DockPanel.Dock="Right" Width="4" ProportionalResize="False"/>

Links to Related Projects

  • WpfContrib DockSplitter (cannot find the control in ProportionalResize dependency property to False. Creating resizable panels with splitter bars (links don't work??)
  • Thumb example

Future Enhancements

  • Use the Thumb control instead of capturing mouse events

History

  • March 21, 2009 - First post
  • May 25, 2009 - Added proportional resizing
  • August 09, 2009 - Changed to custom control, added template demo, constrained size on client area

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Norway Norway
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionWhy do the panels behave differentlyh? Pin
Dominick Marciano7-Feb-17 4:51
professionalDominick Marciano7-Feb-17 4:51 
GeneralVery helpfull control - thank you! Pin
Member 99136139-May-14 8:42
Member 99136139-May-14 8:42 
QuestionNameSpace Error Pin
Surajit T. Karmakar6-Nov-13 19:24
professionalSurajit T. Karmakar6-Nov-13 19:24 
SuggestionSuggestion For Expanders Pin
c_manboy6-Oct-13 13:53
c_manboy6-Oct-13 13:53 
QuestionExcellent control Pin
rquintalr27-May-13 3:15
rquintalr27-May-13 3:15 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Preev21-Mar-12 13:17
Preev21-Mar-12 13:17 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
napnit10-Nov-11 1:11
napnit10-Nov-11 1:11 
QuestionHow to collapse one side, the other side, or both sides of the DockPanelSplitter control? Pin
CalvinDale27-Sep-11 8:55
CalvinDale27-Sep-11 8:55 
AnswerRe: How to collapse one side, the other side, or both sides of the DockPanelSplitter control? Pin
objo29-Sep-11 20:32
objo29-Sep-11 20:32 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
ferahl28-Apr-11 6:45
ferahl28-Apr-11 6:45 
Generalsilverlight Pin
joe brockhaus1-Nov-10 10:50
joe brockhaus1-Nov-10 10:50 
GeneralRe: silverlight Pin
daniel Moody17-Jul-12 9:58
daniel Moody17-Jul-12 9:58 
GeneralSplitter movement restriction Pin
Prasoon Chaudhary29-Apr-10 9:06
Prasoon Chaudhary29-Apr-10 9:06 
GeneralSystem.ArgumentException was unhandled Pin
kiol28-Jan-10 22:40
kiol28-Jan-10 22:40 
GeneralRe: System.ArgumentException was unhandled Pin
objo2-Feb-10 4:29
objo2-Feb-10 4:29 
GeneralRe: System.ArgumentException was unhandled Pin
HHick1234512-May-10 1:42
HHick1234512-May-10 1:42 
Hi,

I observe the same problem as kiol!
"Moving down the if statements" worked for me Big Grin | :-D
Regards, H

Btw: Great work!!
GeneralCode Behind Pin
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 3:41
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 3:41 
GeneralRe: Code Behind Pin
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 4:39
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 4:39 
AnswerRe: Code Behind Pin
objo15-Dec-09 4:53
objo15-Dec-09 4:53 
NewsRe: Code Behind Pin
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 5:05
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 5:05 
GeneralRe: Code Behind Pin
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 5:44
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 5:44 
GeneralRe: Code Behind Pin
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 5:58
Jason McPeak15-Dec-09 5:58 
GeneralWell done! Pin
brents11-Dec-09 14:25
brents11-Dec-09 14:25 
GeneralTo add this code to your own assembly... Pin
SerialHobbyist17-Aug-09 3:02
SerialHobbyist17-Aug-09 3:02 
AnswerRe: To add this code to your own assembly... Pin
objo17-Aug-09 6:33
objo17-Aug-09 6:33 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Praise Praise    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.