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.
`DockLayout`	`IRootDock`	The MVVM layout model. When set, the manager keeps this ViewModel tree in sync with the internal layout. Leave it `null` for classic (v4.x) mode.
`Theme`	`Theme`	The active theme. Change at runtime to switch themes.
`ActiveContent`	`object`	The currently active content (document or anchorable). Bindable.
`LayoutEngine`	`ILayoutEngine`	The engine performing layout tree operations. Overridden by `ToggleDockingManager`.

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.
`LayoutItemTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Default template for rendering the content of documents and anchorables.
`LayoutItemTemplateSelector`	`DataTemplateSelector`	Select templates based on content type.
`DocumentHeaderTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Template for the tab header of a document.
`DocumentTitleTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Template for the title of a document.
`AnchorableHeaderTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Template for the header of an anchorable.
`AnchorableTitleTemplate`	`DataTemplate`	Template for the title of an anchorable.
`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.
`AllowFloatingWindows`	`bool`	Whether content can be torn off into floating windows at all. Default `true`. See Floating Windows.
`AllowDetachedWindows`	`bool`	Whether anchorables can be moved into standalone top level windows (“Window” view mode). Default `true`.
`ShowSystemMenu`	`bool`	Show system menu on floating windows.
`AllowDrop`	`bool`	Enable drag-and-drop docking (inherited from WPF).
`AutoHideDelay`	`int`	Delay in milliseconds before an auto-hidden tool window slides shut.
`SupportsAutoHideFlyout`	`bool`	Whether auto-hidden anchorables are shown in the classic slide-out flyout. `false` for `ToggleDockingManager`, which presents them through its sidebar buttons.

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.
`DockAllFloatingWindows()`	`void`	Dock the content of every floating window back into the layout and close the windows.
`DetachAnchorableToWindow(anchorable)`	`void`	Move the content of an anchorable into a standalone top level window. See Floating Windows.
`ReattachAnchorable(anchorable)`	`void`	Close that window and return the content to the layout.
`ReattachAllDetachedAnchorables()`	`void`	Return every detached anchorable to the layout.
`IsDetached(anchorable)`	`bool`	Whether the anchorable is currently hosted by a standalone window.
`DetachedAnchorables`	`IEnumerable<LayoutAnchorable>`	The anchorables currently hosted by standalone 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
`ContentFloating`	`ContentFloatingEventArgs`	Before docked content starts floating. Cancellable.
`ContentFloated`	`ContentFloatedEventArgs`	After content has been floated.
`ContentDocking`	`ContentDockingEventArgs`	Before floating content is docked back. Cancellable.
`ContentDocked`	`ContentDockedEventArgs`	After content has been docked.
`LayoutFloatingWindowControlCreated`	`LayoutFloatingWindowControlCreatedEventArgs`	When a floating window control is created.
`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())
};