An MDI (Multiple Document Interface) parent frame is a window which can contain MDI child frames in its own 'desktop'. It is a convenient way to avoid window clutter, and is used in many popular Windows applications, such as Microsoft Word(TM).

There may be multiple MDI parent frames in a single application, but this probably only makes sense within programming development environments.

Child frames may be of class wxMDIChildFrame (contained within the parent frame) or wxFrame (shown as a top-level frame).

An MDI parent frame always has a wxMDIClientWindow associated with it, which is the parent for MDI client frames. This client window may be resized to accommodate non-MDI windows, as seen in Microsoft Visual C++ (TM) and Microsoft Publisher (TM), where a documentation window is placed to one side of the workspace.

MDI remains popular despite dire warnings from Microsoft itself that MDI is an obsolete user interface style.

The implementation is native in Windows, and simulated under Motif. Under Motif, the child window frames will often have a different appearance from other frames because the window decorations are simulated.

• atom parent
• atom id
• sequence title
• integer x [ = -1]
• integer y [ = -1]
• integer cx [ = -1]
• integer cy [ = -1]
• atom style [ = wxDEFAULT_FRAME_STYLE]
  • wxSTAY_ON_TOP
  • wxICONIZE
  • wxMINIMIZE
  • wxMAXIMIZE
  • wxSYSTEM_MENU
  • wxMINIMIZE_BOX
  • wxMAXIMIZE_BOX
  • wxTINY_CAPTION_HORIZ
  • wxTINY_CAPTION_VERT
  • wxRESIZE_BORDER
  • wxDIALOG_NO_PARENT Don't make owned by apps top window
  • wxFRAME_NO_TASKBAR No taskbar button (MSW only)
  • wxFRAME_TOOL_WINDOW No taskbar button, no system menu
  • wxFRAME_FLOAT_ON_PARENT Always above its parent
  • wxFRAME_SHAPED Create a window that is able to be shaped