Minimize child form

[Codius]

I'm writing an application which requires child forms, when I finally got the child forms working I found this new problem.. When I maximize the child form there is no way to resize it manually anymore.. there is no system buttons to turn it back to none-maximized.. ofcourse I could create a button to do this on my own, but then I don't know how to get the icon windows uses for undo-maximize..
So, easy put.. how can I create my own system buttons?

[Johnny_Bit]

hmm... you sure you did it right? normally, when one does it right there are buttons just below your app's system buttons, and I see no way of them not being there if you did it right.

[kokkoras]

If your main app is MDI and the child windows are ...well, MDI children, then everything should work fine.

[Codius]

I'm using a Coolbar or whatever it's called with align Top, could this block the buttons or something?

[kokkoras]

I'm using a Coolbar or whatever it's called with align Top, could this block the buttons or something?

Nop! The buttons you have mentioned are located in the window frame; not inside the client area. Try creating a demo MDI app using the New Project option fron the Delphi IDE and compare the code with yours.

[Kambiz]

Be sure BorderStyle property of the child form is set to bsSizeable.

[eashton]

I was also having this problem and believe that I have the answer and it will annoy you. Add a tmenu component to the form.

That's it! Unfortunately, if you have nothing to put on the menu a gray bar appears.

Cheers
Elliot

[Kambiz]

I'm very intrested on experiencing the case by myself. Is it possible to provide a sample and simple program and post it here?

[eashton]

Kambiz,

This is how to recreate (D6 Update 2):

1. Create new App and set formstyle to mdiform
2. Create new form and make formstyle mdichild
3. Run App and maximise child form. At this point you cannot minimise the child form only the entire App.

Now exit the App and add a tmainmenu (you do not need to add any menu items) component to the mdiform (main form) and rerun the App. Now maximise the child form and you will note that the child form now has its form controls buttons displayed.

Cheers
Elliot

[kokkoras]

It seems that the TMenu component alters some properties of the main form. Otherwose it looks like an "issue" (or "feature")

[Kambiz]

I just got what was the issue.

It's not a bug of Delphi for sure. I don't think that it's a Windows bug either. The MDI forms have been always with menus.

[Johnny_Bit]

Well, it's well known fact about drawing and putting buttons... In Linux there are widgets that can draw every required button on mdi child even if parent doesn't have menu at all, however on windows it's due to non-brilliant programmers, who think that only possible place is parent-window menu-bar.

I hope they are ashamed of themselves.