Vista - Multiple layers of layout?

Hi all,

Starting to get into even messier questions now... Is it possible to
have multiple layers of layout going on in the application? Let's say
that I'm using a grid layout to neatly and symmetrically define a number
of controls and elements. On top of that, I wish to randomly scattered
some other overlayed things on top. That second layer really doesn't
fit into the idea of a grid layout as it is somewhat irregular, what I
really need is to manage the arrangement of those myself, which would
lend itself to an canvas.

So given that scenario, can you give a window both a grid layout and a
canvas layout, and put different controls/visuals into the different
layers? Or perhaps the answer is using the canvas for the base layout,
and then nesting a full window sized grid within that canvas. Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Jason

Jason Dolinger wrote:

> Starting to get into even messier questions now... Is it possible to
> have multiple layers of layout going on in the application? Let's say
> that I'm using a grid layout to neatly and symmetrically define a
> number of controls and elements. On top of that, I wish to randomly
> scattered some other overlayed things on top. That second layer
> really doesn't fit into the idea of a grid layout as it is somewhat
> irregular, what I really need is to manage the arrangement of those
> myself, which would lend itself to an canvas.
>
> So given that scenario, can you give a window both a grid layout and a
> canvas layout, and put different controls/visuals into the different
> layers? Or perhaps the answer is using the canvas for the base
> layout, and then nesting a full window sized grid within that canvas.
> Any thoughts?

A Grid supports multiple layers within the same cell, so what you would do
is something like this:

<Window>
<Grid>
<Grid><!-- this is the grid you talk about for structured layout --></Grid>
<Canvas><!-- this is the canvas you talk about for positioned layout
--></Canvas>
</Grid>
</Window>

HTH,
Drew
___________________________________
Drew Marsh
Chief Software Architect
Mimeo.com, Inc. - http://www.mimeo.com
Microsoft C# / WPF MVP
Weblog - http://blog.hackedbrain.com/

Drew Marsh wrote:
> Jason Dolinger wrote:
>
>> Starting to get into even messier questions now... Is it possible to
>> have multiple layers of layout going on in the application? Let's say
>> that I'm using a grid layout to neatly and symmetrically define a
>> number of controls and elements. On top of that, I wish to randomly
>> scattered some other overlayed things on top. That second layer
>> really doesn't fit into the idea of a grid layout as it is somewhat
>> irregular, what I really need is to manage the arrangement of those
>> myself, which would lend itself to an canvas.
>>
>> So given that scenario, can you give a window both a grid layout and a
>> canvas layout, and put different controls/visuals into the different
>> layers? Or perhaps the answer is using the canvas for the base
>> layout, and then nesting a full window sized grid within that canvas.
>> Any thoughts?
>
>
> A Grid supports multiple layers within the same cell, so what you would
> do is something like this:
>
> <Window>
> <Grid>
> <Grid><!-- this is the grid you talk about for structured layout
> --></Grid>
> <Canvas><!-- this is the canvas you talk about for positioned layout
> --></Canvas>
> </Grid>
> </Window>
>
> HTH,
> Drew
> ___________________________________
> Drew Marsh
> Chief Software Architect
> Mimeo.com, Inc. - http://www.mimeo.com
> Microsoft C# / WPF MVP
> Weblog - http://blog.hackedbrain.com/
>
>

Very cool, thanks Drew!