Refine PanelBinder implementation and add documentation

Co-authored-by: Kvarkas <3611964+Kvarkas@users.noreply.github.com>

PANEL_BINDING_FEATURE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Panel Binding Feature
+
+## Overview
+This feature allows users to bind the Connections and Config panels together when they are in auto-hide state (collapsed). When one panel is clicked to expand, the other panel will automatically expand as well.
+
+## How It Works
+
+### User Workflow
+1. The user collapses both the Connections and Config panels by clicking the auto-hide pin icon (they become auto-hidden tabs on the left side)
+2. The user enables the "Bind Connections and Config panels together when auto-hidden" option in Tools > Options > Tabs & Panels
+3. When the user clicks on the Connections tab to expand it, the Config panel will automatically expand as well
+4. Similarly, when clicking on the Config tab, the Connections panel will expand
+5. Both panels stay expanded together, allowing the user to view connection settings easily
+6. When the user clicks away from the panels, both collapse back to auto-hide
+
+### Benefits
+- Reduces the number of clicks needed to view and edit connection settings
+- Panels work together seamlessly when in auto-hide mode
+- User can still use panels independently when they are pinned (docked)
+- Configurable option allows users to enable/disable as needed
+
+## Implementation Details
+
+### Files Modified
+1. **Properties/OptionsTabsPanelsPage.settings** - Added `BindConnectionsAndConfigPanels` setting (default: false)
+2. **Properties/OptionsTabsPanelsPage.Designer.cs** - Added property accessor for the new setting
+3. **UI/Panels/PanelBinder.cs** - NEW - Core logic for binding panel visibility
+4. **UI/Forms/OptionsPages/TabsPanelsPage.cs** - Added checkbox and load/save logic
+5. **UI/Forms/OptionsPages/TabsPanelsPage.Designer.cs** - Added UI checkbox control
+6. **UI/Forms/frmMain.cs** - Initialize PanelBinder after panels are loaded
+7. **Config/Settings/Registry/OptRegistryTabsPanelsPage.cs** - Added registry support for enterprise deployment
+
+### Key Classes
+
+#### PanelBinder
+- Singleton class that manages the binding between panels
+- Subscribes to VisibleChanged events on both TreeForm (Connections) and ConfigForm (Config)
+- Only acts when:
+  - The binding setting is enabled
+  - Both panels are in auto-hide state
+  - One panel becomes visible (user clicked its tab)
+- Uses a `_isProcessing` flag to prevent recursive event triggers
+- Calls `Activate()` on the other panel to show it
+
+### How to Test
+
+1. Build and run mRemoteNG
+2. Go to Tools > Options > Tabs & Panels
+3. Verify the new checkbox "Bind Connections and Config panels together when auto-hidden" is present
+4. Create a test connection in the Connections panel
+5. Auto-hide both the Connections and Config panels (click the pin icon on each)
+6. Both panels should now appear as collapsed tabs on the left side
+7. Enable the binding option in Options
+8. Click on the Connections tab - both Connections and Config should expand
+9. Click away from the panels - both should collapse
+10. Click on the Config tab - both panels should expand again
+11. Disable the binding option
+12. Verify panels now work independently when clicking their tabs
+13. Pin one or both panels (dock them)
+14. Verify the binding only works when BOTH panels are in auto-hide state
+
+## Registry Support
+
+Administrators can configure this setting via registry for enterprise deployment:
+- Key: `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mRemoteNG\TabsAndPanels` or `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\mRemoteNG\TabsAndPanels`
+- Value: `BindConnectionsAndConfigPanels` (DWORD)
+- 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled

mRemoteNG/UI/Panels/PanelBinder.cs

@@ -29,22 +29,21 @@ namespace mRemoteNG.UI.Panels
             if (Windows.TreeForm != null)
             {
                 Windows.TreeForm.VisibleChanged += OnTreeFormVisibleChanged;
-                Windows.TreeForm.DockStateChanged += OnTreeFormDockStateChanged;
             }
 
             if (Windows.ConfigForm != null)
             {
                 Windows.ConfigForm.VisibleChanged += OnConfigFormVisibleChanged;
-                Windows.ConfigForm.DockStateChanged += OnConfigFormDockStateChanged;
             }
         }
 
         private void OnTreeFormVisibleChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
+            // Only act when binding is enabled and not already processing
             if (!OptionsTabsPanelsPage.Default.BindConnectionsAndConfigPanels || _isProcessing)
                 return;
 
-            // Only act when the panel becomes visible
+            // Only act when the panel becomes visible (expanded from auto-hide)
             if (!Windows.TreeForm.Visible)
                 return;
 
@@ -55,6 +54,7 @@ namespace mRemoteNG.UI.Panels
             _isProcessing = true;
             try
             {
+                // Show the Config panel by activating it
                 ShowPanel(Windows.ConfigForm);
             }
             finally
@@ -65,10 +65,11 @@ namespace mRemoteNG.UI.Panels
 
         private void OnConfigFormVisibleChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
+            // Only act when binding is enabled and not already processing
             if (!OptionsTabsPanelsPage.Default.BindConnectionsAndConfigPanels || _isProcessing)
                 return;
 
-            // Only act when the panel becomes visible
+            // Only act when the panel becomes visible (expanded from auto-hide)
             if (!Windows.ConfigForm.Visible)
                 return;
 
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ namespace mRemoteNG.UI.Panels
             _isProcessing = true;
             try
             {
+                // Show the Connections panel by activating it
                 ShowPanel(Windows.TreeForm);
             }
             finally
@@ -87,18 +89,6 @@ namespace mRemoteNG.UI.Panels
             }
         }
 
-        private void OnTreeFormDockStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
-        {
-            // This event helps us track when panels transition to/from auto-hide
-            // We don't need to take action here, just be aware of state changes
-        }
-
-        private void OnConfigFormDockStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
-        {
-            // This event helps us track when panels transition to/from auto-hide
-            // We don't need to take action here, just be aware of state changes
-        }
-
         /// <summary>
         /// Checks if a panel is in auto-hide state
         /// </summary>
@@ -120,6 +110,7 @@ namespace mRemoteNG.UI.Panels
         {
             if (panel != null && IsPanelAutoHidden(panel))
             {
+                // Activate the panel to show it from auto-hide
                 panel.Activate();
             }
         }