Multiple Document Interface
E828342
Multiple Document Interface is a graphical user interface design that allows a single application window to contain and manage multiple child document windows simultaneously.
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
graphical user interface design pattern
ⓘ
window management model ⓘ |
| abbreviation | MDI ⓘ |
| advantage |
easy comparison of multiple documents side by side
ⓘ
shared menus and toolbars reduce UI duplication ⓘ |
| allows | single parent window to contain multiple child document windows ⓘ |
| category |
software architecture pattern
ⓘ
user interface design ⓘ |
| contrastsWith |
Single Document Interface
ⓘ
tabbed document interface ⓘ |
| disadvantage |
can confuse users about which window has focus
ⓘ
can create cluttered parent window ⓘ less consistent with modern OS-level window management ⓘ |
| enables |
centralized window management
ⓘ
menu and toolbar sharing across child windows ⓘ |
| exampleApplication |
Adobe Photoshop (older versions)
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Borland Delphi IDE NERFINISHED ⓘ Visual Studio (older versions) NERFINISHED ⓘ older versions of Microsoft Excel ⓘ older versions of Microsoft Word ⓘ |
| featureOf | desktop applications ⓘ |
| hasComponent |
child windows
ⓘ
parent window ⓘ |
| hasDesignGoal | manage multiple related documents in a single application frame ⓘ |
| historicallyPopularIn | 1990s desktop software ⓘ |
| implementedIn |
.NET Windows Forms
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class Library) NERFINISHED ⓘ Win32 API NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| manages | lifecycle of child document windows ⓘ |
| relatedConcept |
Single Document Interface
ⓘ
document-centric application ⓘ tabbed document interface ⓘ workspace window ⓘ |
| requires | message routing between parent and child windows ⓘ |
| supports |
child window activation and deactivation events
ⓘ
child window minimization and maximization ⓘ child window resizing within parent ⓘ overlapping child windows ⓘ simultaneous display of multiple documents ⓘ window cascading within parent window ⓘ window tiling within parent window ⓘ |
| trend | largely replaced by tabbed interfaces in many applications ⓘ |
| typicalUseCase |
comparing or referencing multiple documents at once
ⓘ
editing several files in one application instance ⓘ |
| usedIn |
Microsoft Windows applications
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
graphics and CAD applications ⓘ integrated development environments ⓘ productivity software ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.