How to keep only single form open in delphi

Question

I have VCL application in delphi. One main form and many child forms. How to ensure only one form opened at a time. In other words, If a form is opened, it will close previous form. Or, if user try to open form that same with previous, it will do nothing. Code to open form in my main form:

procedure TFMainForm.OpenForm(const classname: string);
var
  c: TPersistentClass;
  f: TForm;
begin
    c := GetClass(classname);
    if c <> nil then
    begin
      f := TForm(TControlClass(c).Create(nil));
      f.Parent := Self;
      f.Show;
    end;
end;

The child form is self-freed on close event.

rather dangerous hack with Form.Parent. Maybe be better to use MDI and ensure it is always maximized? docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/… — Arioch 'The
@Arioch, I can't see anything dangerous on assigning parenthood to forms created by yourself though, but you're right, it looks like OP tries to make an MDI application in wrong way. — TLama
Yes, you're right. I try to make MDI application. But I want child form to fill only a small portion of main form. So, I set the child form borderless, and set child form's parent to main form. — Niyoko
That is not MDI app. MDI in windows consists of visible main window + invisible main host window + child windows. I'd rather do MDI in the standard MDI way. — Arioch 'The

GolezTrol GolezTrol · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-21T09:10:25

If you make 'f' a variable in your mainform, instead of a local variable, you will have a reference to the currently open form. You can use that reference to close that form or to check its class.

Two notes:

You'll have to reset the variable if you close the form without opening another.
I wonder why you would want to do this. Isn't it more friendly to let your users decide whether they want to open multiple forms?

As an alternative, you could make the child forms modal (use ShowModal instead of Show), but that would block access to the main form when the child form is open.

How to keep only single form open in delphi

3 Answers