Microsoft KB Archive/820997

= The Toolbox window does not close or hide when the Dialog Editor is not visible in Visual Studio .NET or in Visual Studio 2005 =

Article ID: 820997

Article Last Modified on 1/7/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visual C++ .NET 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ .NET 2003 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition

-





SYMPTOMS
After you make the Toolbox toolbar a dockable window in Visual Studio .NET or in Visual Studio 2005, the Toolbox window does not close automatically when the dialog editor is not visible. The Toolbox window occupies valuable screen space and does not hide automatically when the window is not required.



RESOLUTION
You can use the new feature named Auto Hide in Visual Studio .NET or in Visual Studio 2005 to hide the Toolbox window automatically when the window is not required.

To use the Auto Hide feature, right-click the Toolbox window, and then click Auto Hide.

To restore the Toolbox window, click the Toolbox button.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, the Toolbox window appears only when the dialog editor is open. When you open a source code file, the controls window (the Toolbox window) automatically hides.

In Visual Studio .NET or in Visual Studio 2005, when you select the Toolbox window as a Dockable window, manually close the Toolbox window each time that you use the editor window to display a file.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

 * 1) Start Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2005.
 * 2) On the File menu, point to New, and then click Project.
 * 3) Under Project types, click Visual C++ Projects, and then click Win32 Project under Templates.

Note In Visual Studio 2005, click Visual C++ under Project Types, and then click Win32 Project under Templates.
 * 1) Name the project ToolboxTest, and then click Finish to accept the default settings.
 * 2) Click the Resource View tab.
 * 3) Expand ToolboxTest, ToolboxTest.rc, and Dialog.
 * 4) Double-click IDD_ABOUTBOX.

The Toolbox window appears.
 * 1) Close the dialog editor.

The Toolbox window is still visible.
 * 1) Close the Toolbox window manually.
 * 2) Double-click IDD_ABOUTBOX to display the dialog editor.

The Toolbox window appears.

Notice that the Toolbox window remains visible, although the dialog editing tools are disabled.

In Visual Studio .NET, a new Auto Hide feature is available. When you use the Auto Hide feature, the Toolbox window appears only when it is required.

