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Windows that can stay open together with other IDE windows use at the
moment the EnvironmentOptions.IDEWindowLayoutList. But there is no IDE
interface for this, because this should be replaced by the docking manager.
For example the idea of the anchor docking manager is, that every window
has a TLazControlDocker (just put one onto a form in the designer). The
rest is done by the docking manager. But I had not the time to complete
the restore algorithm and the recent changes probably broke some parts.
I had a quick look at TLazControlDocker, but I don't understand how to use it.
Maybe DoDi can outline what his docking manager requires. Maybe we can
then create an IDE interface for IDE windows.
I've not yet looked deeper into persistent layouts. IMO there should exist a global registration instance, for all dockable components. Every such component registers itself, when it's created, just like a DockSite registers itself with the DragManager. It also should provide identifying information, that can be saved by an docking manager. On rebuild of a layout the manager should be able to create all components, that do not already exist. The creation sequence may be important, so that e.g. a Code Explorer can be created for and linked to a specific editor window, as the Delphi IDE can do.
My next demo application will be an editor with multiple windows, where I can look deeper into details of saving and loading docking layouts. My docking notebook already allows to dock individual pages, so that multiple editor windows already are possible. As long as we don't have files with multiple viewers, another global manager will be required to prevent multiple concurrent edits of the same source, in multiple editor pages.
DoDi
