In Visual Studio there seem to be two types of groups of panes:
1. one set that are inside a permanent panel set unchangeably to Group, and
2. one outer set that behave pretty much like netadvantage DockManager set to LayeredWindowWithIndicators.
How can I get that inner group behavior?
So what I tried next is create a user control with an UltraDockManager of it's own, set the group's tabs to the top.
This turns the "permanent area" into a dockable area, but the group does not fill the area (despite setting Maximized to True)
Also, the tabs are OUTSIDE of the window, which my client finds looks weird.
So what I did was set the form's IsMdiContainer to True.
Now the symbol DOES allow me to drop the pane, but the pane is trapped! It is inside a MDI area and I cannot dock it, I cannot float it and I cannot drag it out again!
Because dragging a pane into this area is disallowed. The central symbol of the docking star icon turns my mouse into a no-entry symbol and when I drop, nothing happens.
(unfortunately my screen shot program does not capture the mouse, so you cannot see the no-entry symbol.)
I am trying to achieve the same using the UltraTabbedMdiManager.
Here is a simple two-pane example with an empty area inbetween.
I can even drag my pane out again and put it back on the right hand side (06_visualstudio_dragpane_outagain.png)