# Layout Styles

You can display the GUI in any of the following layout styles:

- Tabbed - A single top-level desktop that displays the tool windows as tabbed panes (default style).
- Multiple Document Interface (MDI) - A single top-level desktop that contains separate tool windows.
- Single Document Interface (SDI) - A separate top-level console with separate top-level tool windows.

See Setting Preferences for detailed information about setting display styles and functional options.

## Tabbed

When you choose the Tabbed style, the harness displays the opened tool windows as a set of tabbed panes within a single frame or desktop. This is the default style.

Tabs at the bottom of each pane enable you to choose the active pane and to display it on the top of the stack.

The desktop contains both the desktop menus and the tool menus from the active pane. See Menus for a description of the two types of menus that the harness provides.

The following are some advantages of using the Tabbed style:

- Multiple tool windows are managed from a single location.
- The small footprint of the desktop minimizes obstruction of tool windows from other applications.
- If multiple tool windows or multiple applications are open, tabs provide visual organization.

The following are some disadvantages of using the tabbed style:

- Only one tool window can be viewed at a time.
- Performing tasks on multiple open test suites might be confusing.

## MDI

When you choose the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) style, all of the open tool windows are contained within a single desktop.

The desktop contains the desktop menus and each tool window only contains the appropriate tool menus. See Menus for a description of the two types of menus that the harness provides.

Following are some advantages of using the MDI style:

- Open tool windows are contained in a desktop (top-level window) enablinging simple window management.
- Multiple tool windows can be viewed at the same time.
- Multiple test suites can be open at the same time and easily monitored.

Following are some disadvantages of using the MDI style:

- The single top-level desktop has a large footprint that might obstruct open windows of other applications and slightly decrease usable space.
- Open tool windows cannot be positioned outside the boundary of the desktop.

## SDI

When you choose the Single Document Interface (SDI) style, the harness opens a console window and individual tool windows as separate top-level windows.

Each window contains the complete set of menus including the tool menus used to perform tasks from that window. See Menus for a description of the types of menus that the harness provides.

The following are some advantages of using the SDI style:

- Individual tool windows can be positioned anywhere on the screen.
- Obstruction of windows from other applications is minimized.
- Multiple test suites can be opened and easily monitored at the same time.

The following are some disadvantages of using the SDI style:

- Tool windows must be managed individually.
- When multiple windows of multiple applications are open, the display might be visually confusing.

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