Window.Owner Property

Definition

Gets or sets the Window that owns this Window.

public:
 property System::Windows::Window ^ Owner { System::Windows::Window ^ get(); void set(System::Windows::Window ^ value); };
public System.Windows.Window Owner { [System.Security.SecurityCritical] get; [System.Security.SecurityCritical] set; }
public System.Windows.Window Owner { get; set; }
[<get: System.Security.SecurityCritical>]
[<set: System.Security.SecurityCritical>]
member this.Owner : System.Windows.Window with get, set
member this.Owner : System.Windows.Window with get, set
Public Property Owner As Window

Property Value

A Window object that represents the owner of this Window.

Attributes

Exceptions

A window tries to own itself

-or-

Two windows try to own each other.

The Owner property is set on a visible window shown using ShowDialog()

-or-

The Owner property is set with a window that has not been previously shown.

Examples

The following example shows how to establish the owner/owned relationship.

// Create a window and make this window its owner
Window ownedWindow = new Window();
ownedWindow.Owner = this;
ownedWindow.Show();
' Create a window and make this window its owner
Dim ownedWindow As New Window()
ownedWindow.Owner = Me
ownedWindow.Show()

Remarks

When a child window is opened by a parent window by calling ShowDialog, an implicit relationship is established between both parent and child window. This relationship enforces certain behaviors, including with respect to minimizing, maximizing, and restoring.

When a child window is created by a parent window by calling Show, however, the child window does not have a relationship with the parent window. This means that:

  • The child window does not have a reference to the parent window.

  • The behavior of the child window is not dependent on the behavior of the parent window; either window can cover the other, or be minimized, maximized, and restored independently of the other.

To allow you to create a relationship between a child window and a parent window, Window supports the notion of ownership. Ownership is established when the Owner property of a window (the owned window) is set with a reference to another window (the owner window).

Once this relationship is established, the following behaviors are exhibited:

  • If an owner window is minimized, all its owned windows are minimized as well.

  • If an owned window is minimized, its owner is not minimized.

  • If an owner window is maximized, both the owner window and its owned windows are restored.

  • An owner window can never cover an owned window.

  • Owned windows that were not opened using ShowDialog are not modal. The user can still interact with the owner window.

  • If you close an owner window, its owned windows are also closed.

  • If an owned window was opened by its owner window using Show, and the owner window is closed, the owned window's Closing event is not raised.

When you open a child window by calling ShowDialog, you should also set the Owner property of the child window. If you don't, then your users won't be able to restore both child window and parent window by pressing the task bar button. Instead, pressing the task bar button will yield a list of windows, including both child and parent window, for them to select; only the selected window is restored.

Important

You should also set the Owner property on a window that is opened by calling ShowDialog to ensure correct behavior with .

Note

You cannot set or get this property when a window is hosted in a browser.

Applies to

See also