Dual monitors

[LGR]

I have no idea if this is easy, difficult, or almost impossible, but it would be nice if the IDE could be split to operate on two monitors; one with the code window, and one with everything else. This would be particularly helpful when using some of the tools.

[zristic]

It has nothing with the compiler's IDE, it is a question for OS. Linux has multiple desktops doesn't it? I heard there was a Windows software that does the same, but I have not seen any.

[Synologic]

It does have to do with the IDE, since the whole IDE is based on a single window with floating toolbars that cannot exist outside it.

There's a difference between multiple desktops and multiple monitors, an out of the box linux desktop manager for XWindow has multiple desktops, yes, but it is done in software, as on Windows, linux too has the possibility to run on dual head cards or 2 or more physical cards. If the IDE would be built based on multiple windows architecture (take Delphi up to version 7 for example) one could easly drag windows to the secondary monitor.

[zristic]

So are saying that it is not possible to drag the terminal window(for example) to another desktop?

[LGR]

The IDE itself is one big window. It sometimes spawns windows (such as PICFLASH), but the code editor, the message window, and the help window (the bar on the left), as far as I can tell, are monolithic. What a number of CAD and graphics applications can do is seperate the windows out, so the main editing is full-screen on one monitor, and the toolbars, menus, and support functions can be resized and placed on the other monitor. This makes it easy to use, for example, a couple of old 14" monitors. (try to use mP on a 14" monitor at 600x800!). The total area is the same as a 20" monitor.

BTW, for mP, I am using XP; I gave up on making it work with wine. It looks too much like work. I have a dedicated computer for development (an old Athlon 600; slow, but adequate).

[Charlie]

Hi LGR,

For something like you are talking about someone would have to invest in a video card that would support 2 monitors.The last time I checked on something like that they were around 500.00 dollars.Not so bad for a business,but to the average hobbiest I dont think they would spend the money.Just a thought.

[LGR]

The last time I checked on something like that they were around 500.00 dollars.

That must have been a while ago; they are on ebay for ~$25.

[gambrose]

I just had a play with mC and it has dockable windows which I can drag out of the main window as does mB.

LGR's write about them being cheep I bought a computer about year or so ago and it had dual head graphics built in to motherboard was really useful for having debug on one screen and code on the other although does your neck in so I just bought a big monitor.

[LGR]

Maybe you're right. I've never tried it, I just assumed that it has to be explicitly set up. I assumed that multiple docking applications always came up with multiple windows (like, for example Winamp). I'll try it. Maybe you can add a completed item to the list.

As for your neck, that depends on your workstation. I just got a 20" monitor for almost free, which is superb for development (at 1280x1024), but it won't fit in a hutch. Two monitors are great when and only when they are side-by-side. A lot of graphics and CAD stations are set up that way.

[gambrose]

If you click and drag on the two raised lines of the message area window thing, it pops out and you can drag that onto you other display. what it does not do is save where you had it when you close and restart

Nor can you dock floating windows with each other (I use to do that in visual studio) and then maximise them to full screen (in second monitor)

[LGR]

Here we are three and a half years later, and I finally installed a two-head card. I tried to undock some of the pieces of the program, and I'm not seeing how it's done, at least in MP. Anybody done that?

[jpc]

what is the problem ? just drag the window you want to wherever you like to have it, position will be memorized and at next run mP opens with the same configuration. I suppose you expanded your desktop to both screens.

[piort]

hi,
with MP 8.3... expand IDE on the both screen, clic on the Dock you want to move. When they are selected, just drag it where you want. If that on side, you will see a blue square represent the next place. If not, that will be a floating windows.

HTH a bit

[sadavis80]

mC has a 'PIN' at the top of the window that, when set, will LOCK the window in place and prohibit dragging it to a new location. Not sure if mP has that ... (click on the PIN to UNset it)
Steve