DockingManager

AvalonDock.DockingManager is the root control of AvalonDock. It hosts the entire docking layout, manages floating windows, handles drag-and-drop operations, and applies themes.

Inheritance

System.Windows.Controls.Control
  └── DockingManager

Implements: IOverlayWindowHost, ISerializableDockingManager, IDockingManager

Key Properties

Layout

Property	Type	Description
`Layout`	`LayoutRoot`	The root of the layout tree. Set this to define or replace the entire layout.
`Theme`	`Theme`	The active theme. Change at runtime to switch themes.
`ActiveContent`	`object`	The currently active content (document or anchorable). Bindable.

Data Binding (MVVM)

Property	Type	Description
`DocumentsSource`	`IEnumerable`	Bind to a collection of document view models.
`AnchorablesSource`	`IEnumerable`	Bind to a collection of anchorable view models.
`DocumentTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Default template for rendering documents.
`AnchorableTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Default template for rendering anchorables.
`LayoutItemTemplateSelector`	`DataTemplateSelector`	Select templates based on content type.
`LayoutItemContainerStyle`	`Style`	Style applied to `LayoutItem` containers (target type: `LayoutItem`).
`LayoutItemContainerStyleSelector`	`StyleSelector`	Select container styles based on content type.

Behavior

Property	Type	Description
`AllowMixedOrientation`	`bool`	Allow panels with mixed horizontal/vertical orientation.
`ShowSystemMenu`	`bool`	Show system menu on floating windows.
`AllowDrop`	`bool`	Enable drag-and-drop docking (inherited from WPF).

Layout Update Strategy

Property	Type	Description
`LayoutUpdateStrategy`	`ILayoutUpdateStrategy`	Custom strategy for handling layout updates during drag operations.

Key Methods

Method	Returns	Description
`GetFloatingWindows()`	`IEnumerable<LayoutFloatingWindowControl>`	Get all active floating windows.

Events

Document Events

Event	Args	Description
`DocumentClosing`	`DocumentClosingEventArgs`	Before a document closes. Cancellable.
`DocumentClosed`	`DocumentClosedEventArgs`	After a document is closed.

Anchorable Events

Event	Args	Description
`AnchorableClosing`	`AnchorableClosingEventArgs`	Before an anchorable closes. Cancellable.
`AnchorableClosed`	`AnchorableClosedEventArgs`	After an anchorable is closed.
`AnchorableHiding`	`AnchorableHidingEventArgs`	Before an anchorable hides. Cancellable.
`AnchorableHidden`	`AnchorableHiddenEventArgs`	After an anchorable is hidden.

Docking Events

Event	Args	Description
`ContentDocked`	`ContentDockedEventArgs`	When floating content is docked back.
`ContentFloating`	`ContentFloatingEventArgs`	When docked content starts floating.
`LayoutFloatingWindowControlClosed`	`LayoutFloatingWindowControlClosedEventArgs`	When a floating window control is closed.

Layout Events

Event	Args	Description
`ActiveContentChanged`	`EventArgs`	When the active content changes.
`LayoutChanged`	`EventArgs`	When the layout structure changes.
`LayoutChanging`	`EventArgs`	Before the layout structure changes.

XAML Example

<avalonDock:DockingManager
    x:Name="dockManager"
    DocumentsSource="{Binding Documents}"
    AnchorablesSource="{Binding Tools}"
    ActiveContent="{Binding ActiveContent, Mode=TwoWay}"
    DocumentClosing="OnDocumentClosing"
    AnchorableHiding="OnAnchorableHiding">

    <avalonDock:DockingManager.Theme>
        <themes:ArcDarkTheme />
    </avalonDock:DockingManager.Theme>

    <avalonDock:DockingManager.DocumentTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <ContentPresenter Content="{Binding}" />
        </DataTemplate>
    </avalonDock:DockingManager.DocumentTemplate>

    <avalonDock:LayoutRoot>
        <avalonDock:LayoutPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
            <avalonDock:LayoutAnchorablePane DockWidth="250" />
            <avalonDock:LayoutDocumentPane />
        </avalonDock:LayoutPanel>
    </avalonDock:LayoutRoot>
</avalonDock:DockingManager>

Code Example

// Create and configure a DockingManager
var dockManager = new DockingManager();

// Set theme
dockManager.Theme = new ArcDarkTheme();

// Handle document closing
dockManager.DocumentClosing += (sender, args) =>
{
    if (args.Document.Content is IModified modified && modified.HasChanges)
    {
        var result = MessageBox.Show(
            "Save changes?", "Confirm",
            MessageBoxButton.YesNoCancel);

        if (result == MessageBoxResult.Cancel)
            args.Cancel = true;
    }
};

// Set the layout
dockManager.Layout = new LayoutRoot
{
    RootPanel = new LayoutPanel(new LayoutDocumentPane())
};