Attached is the latest version of my docking manager, which can be used to demonstrate some flaws in the LCL. See the issues mentioned in the EasyDockSite unit header.

This version still lacks zone resize capabilities, but everything else has been implemented as far as possible with the current LCL.

Now it's time to think about the integration of this (or other) docking manager into the LCL. I could try to add the missing functionality to the LCL myself, but it would be easier if some other developer would fix the flaws, who is more familiar with the LCL than I am.

Most important are improved notifications of docking managers, so that these can react on changes to the docking site (resize...) and on the docked controls themselves (changed visibility...). Related is a more "conforming" behaviour of all controls, which should e.g. not undock immediately when they are simply clicked (both in floating and docked state).

For the implementation of notebooks with docked components, the interaction between the dock performer and the docking manager should be improved. Currently the landing zone and insertion mode (alignment) is determined exclusively by the control, onto which another control is dropped. This prevents the use of special docking modes, as e.g. docking into a notebook. IMO the docking manager should take over the visual feedback for drop zones and modes, instead of the docked controls, which have no special information about the capabilities of the docking manager of their dock site.

DoDi
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: EasyLDock-3.zip
Type: application/zip
Size: 22915 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/pipermail/lazarus/attachments/20090127/cf3673a0/attachment-0001.zip