Multiple Rows

The tabs of a SftTabs/NET control can be displayed in one row or in multiple rows. The SftTabs.Rows property defines the number of rows and the SftTabs.LayoutMode property defines how the tabs are distributed over the rows (see TabLayoutModeEnum).

Distribute Layout

With TabLayoutModeEnum.Distribute (the default), the tabs are distributed evenly over the rows defined by the SftTabs.Rows property. Each row has the same number of tabs, or rows of about the same width when a row would not fit otherwise.

Flow Layout

With TabLayoutModeEnum.Flow, each row is filled with as many tabs as fit before the next row is used. The SftTabs.Rows property defines the number of rows.

AutoFlow Layout

With TabLayoutModeEnum.AutoFlow, the control determines the number of rows: rows are added as needed so that the text of all tabs fits. The SftTabs.AutoFlowMinRows and SftTabs.AutoFlowMaxRows properties limit the number of rows.

Row of the Selected Tab

With most looks, the row holding the selected tab is displayed next to the tab pages, so the rows change places when a tab in another row is selected. In the Buttons, Underline and Pills looks, the rows stay in place (see Tab Looks).

The SftTabs.RowCount property returns the number of rows displayed and the TabClass.Row property returns the row of a tab. The SftTabs.RowIndent property defines the offset of each row from the row before it.

Tab Width

By default, each tab is as wide as its contents require. If the tabs of a row do not fit, they are made narrower and text that no longer fits ends with an ellipsis. Tabs in one row can scroll instead.

Same Width Tabs

With the SftTabs.Fixed property set to True, all tabs have the same width and the tabs of a row share the row evenly. The SftTabs.TabsPerRow property defines the number of same-width tabs per row.

When the tabs scroll, each tab has the width of the widest tab, unless the SftTabs.TabsPerRow property defines the number of tabs shown at a time.

Filling the Rows

With the SftTabs.FillComplete property set to True, the tabs of each row are widened to fill the row.

Hiding the Tab Text

With the SftTabs.DropText property set to True, the text of the tabs is hidden when the tabs do not fit.

Rows and Scrolling

The LayoutMode property has no effect while the tabs scroll. Tabs scroll in one row only, and not while the SftTabs.FillComplete property is True.

See Also Tab Control Components