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Kinds of Windows

The integrated development environment (IDE) contains two basic window types, tool windows and document windows. These two window types behave in slightly different ways.

Tool Windows

Tool windows are listed on the View menu and are defined by the current application and its add-ins.

You can configure tool windows in the IDE as follows:

  • Show or hide automatically

  • Tab link with other tool windows

  • Dock against the edges of the IDE

  • Float over

  • Display on other monitors

In addition, you can display more than one instance of certain tool windows at a time. For example, you can display more than one Web browser window. You can create new instances of a tool window by clicking New Window on the Window menu. Also, you can determine how the Close and Auto Hide buttons affect a group of tool windows that are docked together.

Document Windows

Document windows are dynamically created when you open or create files or other items. The list of open document windows appears on the Window menu in the current z-order, with the top-most window listed first.

You can tile document windows, either by using the Tile options on the Windows menu or by dragging them onto an arrow in the guide diamond that appears in the center of the editing frame.

You can also float document windows over or outside the IDE, and onto other monitors, in the same manner as with tool windows. Double-click the title bar of the window to restore it to its last tabbed or docked position.

Tab Groups

Tab Groups extend your ability to manage limited workspace while you are working with two or more open documents in the IDE. You can organize multiple document windows and tool windows into either vertical or horizontal Tab Groups and shuffle documents from one Tab Group to another.

Note

Tabbed documents can be dragged across the IDE by their tabs.

Tiled or Cascading Windows

You can tile windows or arrange them into cascading stacks by using the Tile options on the Windows menu or by dragging them onto an arrow in the guide diamond that appears in the center of the editing frame.

Split Windows

When you have to view or edit two locations at once in a document, you can split windows. To divide your document into two independently scrolling sections, click Split on the Window menu. Click Remove Split on the Window menu to restore the single view.

Displaying Help Topics in Windows

Help topics can be displayed internally or externally. These options are available in the Options dialog box under Environment, Help..

Note

Changes to these settings do not take affect until the IDE is restarted.

By default, Help displays Help topics in an external program. Help tool windows can be floated, docked and pinned open, or set to auto-hide when not in use, much like tool windows in the IDE.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Arrange and Dock Windows

How to: Move Around in the Development Environment

Other Resources

Arranging and Using Windows in Visual Studio

Finding and Replacing