CodeProject: Collapsible, resizable and dockable XP style control bar. Free source code and programming help

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• Download demo project - 209 Kb

Introduction

This class can be used to create a collapsible, resizable and dockable XP style control bar with very few lines of code.

The following files must be added to your project.

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• CollapsiblePanel.h
  
• CollapsiblePanel.cpp

Resources

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• An empty dialog to define the initial control bar size.
  
• A bitmap image for the logo of the button (if required).
  
• A bitmap image for the expand icon of the button.
  
• A dialog that will be displayed by the collapsible button.

Sample code

In your CMainFrame header file, define a variable of the type CCollapsiblePanel :

CCollapsiblePanel m_wndCollapsiblePanel;

In the CMainFrame::OnCreate() method, create the CDialog corresponding to the panels of the collapsible button :

CDialog* m_wndView1 = new CDialogButton1();

Set the Collapsible control bar (dockable, color and bitmaps.) :

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.CreateTheContainer(this, IDD_PANEL, true);

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.SetTheBkColor(RGB(100, 149, 237)); 

//m_wndCollapsiblePanel.SetDefaultSystemColor();

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.SetExpandBitmap(IDB_BITMAP_EXPAND);

Indicate if the program uses a toolbar or a status bar.

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.SetTheControlBar(&m_wndToolBar, &m_wndStatusBar);

Finally append the buttons.

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.AppendButton("Text Button 1", 

  IDB_BITMAP_DW, m_wndView1, IDD_DIALOG_BUTTON1);

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.AppendButton("Text Button 2", IDB_BITMAP_FW, 

  m_wndView2, IDD_DIALOG_BUTTON2);

m_wndCollapsiblePanel.AppendButton("text Button 3", NULL, NULL, NULL);