For my latest project we needed splitter panes that had proper minimum sizes, in that the user couldn't physically resize the splitter pane smaller than a specified amount. The standard MFC splitter class allows you to set minimum sizes, but these only affect what is displayed, not how small the panes can be. CMinSplitterWnd is a drop-in replacement for (and is derived from) CSplitterWnd.

Instructions:

1. Add MinSplitterWnd.cpp and MinSplitterWnd.h to your current project (e.g. Menu Project->Add to project->Add files).
2. Where you currently use CSplitterWnd, replace with CMinSplitterWnd (Note: remember to include MinSplitterWnd.h):

#include "MinSplitterWnd.h" // Minimum size splitter.
....
class CMyWnd : public CMDIChildWnd
{
    ....
    CMinSplitterWnd m_wndSplitter;
    ....
};

3. Call SetRowInfo and SetColumnInfo as necessary, specifying the required minimum row and column sizes: (this is normally done in the parent window's OnCreateClient function)

....
m_wndSplitter.CreateStatic( this, 2, 2 );      // Create with 2 rows and 2 columns.
m_wndSplitter.SetRowInfo( 0, 100, 100 );       // Set ideal and minimum size to 100.
m_wndSplitter.SetRowInfo( 1, 100, 100 );       // Set ideal and minimum size to 100.
m_wndSplitter.SetColumnInfo( 0, 100, 100 );    // Set ideal and minimum size to 100.
m_wndSplitter.SetColumnInfo( 1, 100, 100 );    // Set ideal and minimum size to 100.
....

4. In the splitter's parent window, add a message handler for OnWindowPosChanging (this prevents the user from sizing the window too small) and add the following code to it:

void CMyWnd::OnWindowPosChanging(WINDOWPOS FAR* lpwndpos) 
{
	//	Don't do anything if minimized.
	if ( IsIconic() )
	{
		CMDIChildWnd::OnWindowPosChanging( lpwndpos );
		return;
	} // if

	//	Calculate the window rect if we have no client area.
	CRect rc( 0, 0, 0, 0 );
	CalcWindowRect( rc );

	//	Add on the minimum client width and height from the splitter.
	int nMinWidth	= rc.Width() + m_wndSplitter.GetMinClientWidth();
	int nMinHeight	= rc.Height() + m_wndSplitter.GetMinClientHeight();

	//	Get the current window size.
	CRect rcWindow;
	GetWindowRect( rcWindow );
	GetParent()->ScreenToClient( rcWindow );

	//	If trying to size too small...
	if ( lpwndpos->cx < nMinWidth )
	{
		//	If dragging left border right...
		if ( rcWindow.left < lpwndpos->x )
		{
			//	How much over are we?
			int nOver = nMinWidth - lpwndpos->cx;
			
			//	Adjust left coord.
			lpwndpos->x -= nOver;

		} // if

		//	Fix width.
		lpwndpos->cx = nMinWidth;
	} // if

	//	If trying to size too small...
	if ( lpwndpos->cy < nMinHeight )
	{
		//	If dragging top border down...
		if ( rcWindow.top < lpwndpos->y )
		{
			//	How much over are we?
			int nOver = nMinHeight - lpwndpos->cy;
			
			//	Adjust left coord.
			lpwndpos->y -= nOver;
		} // if
		
		//	Fix height.
		lpwndpos->cy = nMinHeight;
	} // if
}

5. That's it!

Limitation:

If the minimum sizes exceed the initial frame window size, the window will snap when the window is first resized.

Download demo project and executable - 36 KB

Date Posted: August 20, 1998 - updated August 25, 1998

Comments:

• An even simple solution ..... - Vinayak Tadas (1999/10/08)
• Thank U mail - wowow (1999/09/20)

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