Window Management

The integrated development environment (IDE) provides various tools and options to help you position and move among document and tool windows. Once you have a window layout that you like, the IDE remembers this layout between sessions so you do not have to reposition windows each time. For example, if you change the docking location of Solution Explorer and then close the application, the next time your start Visual Studio, Solution Explorer will be docked in its new location.

Two different interface modes are provided for working with document windows: Multiple documents mode and Tabbed documents mode.

Interface mode	Description
Multiple documents	The IDE provides a parent frame that serves as a visual and logical container for all document windows.
Tabbed documents	Document windows are placed side-by-side on tabbed panes. The IDE uses this mode by default.

You can change IDE interface modes using the General, Environment, Options Dialog Box.

In This Section

• Window Types
  Discusses the differences between tool windows and document windows in the IDE.

• How to: Arrange and Dock Windows
  Describes how to dock, auto hide, and tile windows as well as how to reset your window layout.

• How to: Navigate Within the Integrated Development Environment
  Describes the ways you can cycle through open document and tools windows in order of use as well as jump to specific documents.

Related Sections

• Customizing the Development Environment
  Discover more ways in which you can customize Visual Studio to better meet your development needs.

• Working with Settings
  Information about settings combinations and how these settings affect window layouts, keyboard shortcuts, and other elements in the IDE.