Document View Architecture in VC++ MFC

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/4x1xy43a%28v=vs.110%29.aspx[^]

Creating your first MFC Doc/View application[^]

http://www.ucancode.net/Visual_C_MFC_Samples/Multiple-document-views-VC-MFC-Example.htm[^]

When I am starting a new project I always choose between SDI or Dialog based depending on the interface layout I will need. Do not get sidetracked by "Document/View", I have created hundreds of projects but never once used the "Document" capabilities. One of the first things I do after generating a SDI project is remove the generated CDocument code. Think of it more as "Frame Window / View" vs "Dialog" based.

If your interface needs to be a complex, with frame windows you have built in control bars and you still have the CFormView class (which I use allot). If your project is a simple utility you would probably choose the Dialog based project.

The AppWizard generates a skeleton project for you but as a minimalist I try and remove all unnecessary code. I will post an example of the way I do things with SDI projects, I hope it helps a little.

Here is an example of an alternative way to create your main window:

//=================================================
// Global variables
//=================================================
CMainFrame*		g_pMainFrame = NULL;
CString			g_cstrWinClass("YourWindowClassName");


BOOL CApp::InitInstance()
{
	// InitCommonControls() is required on Windows XP if an application
	// manifest specifies use of ComCtl32.dll version 6 or later to enable
	// visual styles.  Otherwise, any window creation will fail.
	INITCOMMONCONTROLSEX iccx = {0};
	iccx.dwSize = sizeof(iccx);
	iccx.dwICC = ICC_STANDARD_CLASSES;
	InitCommonControlsEx(&iccx);

	CWinApp::InitInstance();

	// Create a window class
	WNDCLASS wc = {0};
	wc.style = CS_DBLCLKS|CS_GLOBALCLASS;
	wc.lpfnWndProc = ::DefWindowProc;
	wc.hInstance = AfxGetInstanceHandle();
	wc.hIcon = AfxGetApp()->LoadIcon(IDR_MAINFRAME);
	wc.hCursor = AfxGetApp()->LoadStandardCursor(IDC_ARROW);
	wc.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH)GetStockObject(WHITE_BRUSH);
	wc.lpszClassName = g_cstrWinClass;

	// Register the window class
	if(!::GetClassInfo(wc.hInstance, wc.lpszClassName, &wc))
	{
		if(!::RegisterClass(&wc))
		{
			TRACE(_T("Window class could not be registered\n"));
			return FALSE;
		}
	}


	// Create main window
	g_pMainFrame = new CMainFrame;
	m_pMainWnd = g_pMainFrame;
	// Call CreateWindow()
	DWORD dwStyle = WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW;
	if(!g_pMainFrame->Create(
		g_cstrWinClass, g_cstrWinName,
		dwStyle, CRect(0,0,1024,768), NULL,
		MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDR_MAINFRAME), NULL))
		return FALSE;
	g_pMainFrame->CenterWindow();
	g_pMainFrame->ShowWindow(SW_SHOW);
	g_pMainFrame->UpdateWindow();

	return TRUE;
}

Here is an alternative way to create your view(s) inside your frame window init function:

int CMainFrame::OnCreate(LPCREATESTRUCT lpCreateStruct)
{
	if(CFrameWnd::OnCreate(lpCreateStruct) == -1)
		return -1;

	... 

	// Create the main view
	CCreateContext context;
	memset(&context, 0, sizeof(CCreateContext));
	context.m_pNewViewClass = RUNTIME_CLASS(CMainView);
	VERIFY(g_pMainView = STATIC_DOWNCAST(CMainView,
		CreateView(&context, AFX_IDW_PANE_FIRST)));
	g_pMainView->OnInitialUpdate();
	SetActiveView(g_pMainView);

	return 0;
}

Here is how to switch out your active view:

void CCSMainFrame::SwitchView(CView* pNewView)
{
	ASSERT(pNewView);
	CView* pOldView = GetActiveView();
	if(pOldView == pNewView)
		return;

	if(pOldView)
	{
		// Hide the old view
		pOldView->ShowWindow(SW_HIDE);
		::SetWindowLong(pOldView->m_hWnd, GWL_ID, AFX_IDW_PANE_FIRST+1); 
	}
	if(pNewView)
	{
		// Show the new view
		pNewView->BringWindowToTop();
		pNewView->ShowWindow(SW_SHOWNORMAL);  
		pNewView->UpdateWindow();
		::SetWindowLong(pNewView->m_hWnd, GWL_ID, AFX_IDW_PANE_FIRST);  
		SetActiveView(pNewView);	
		RecalcLayout();	
	}
}