Delphi, MDI vs Tabs for multi-document interface

Question

I\'m developing a multi-document application. Currently it uses MDI which is quite convenient for me (as a developer) as well as for users I believe. However there is one \"

Answer 1

There are certainly more negative points to MDI than the one you cite. You can find discussions on this in the Wikipedia, and even in the Windows Interface Guidelines as well. MDI has been deprecated now for years. Microsoft itself isn't using MDI in its "standard" form for any of its big applications any more, they often provide just a MDI emulation together with other UI styles.

If your program is for users with multiple screens both MDI and a tab-based UI have the problem of limiting the document windows to the insides of the parent window.

With a proper application design you don't really have to decide between MDI and tab-based UI. Let your users decide which UI they are most comfortable with, and which fits their working style best. Allow for multiple independent top-level document windows (either in one application instance or in multiple) as well. It can be as easy as creating frame classes for your documents, and deciding at runtime whether to embed them into a tab control, into a MDI child window, or into a top-level window.