---
title: "How to: Partition Space by Using the DockPanel Element"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
dev_langs: 
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
  - "cpp"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "controls [WPF], DockPanel"
  - "DockPanel control [WPF], partitioning space"
  - "partitioning space [WPF]"
ms.assetid: a219b9e5-b205-4438-89b5-0a137ac463ab
---
# How to: Partition Space by Using the DockPanel Element
The following example creates a simple [!INCLUDE[TLA#tla_ui](../../../includes/tlasharptla-ui-md.md)] framework using a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.DockPanel> element. The <xref:System.Windows.Controls.DockPanel> partitions available space to its child elements.  
  
## Example  
 This example uses the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.DockPanel.Dock%2A> property, which is an attached property, to dock two identical <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Border> elements at the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Dock.Top> of the partitioned space. A third <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Border> element is docked to the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Dock.Left>, with its width set to 200 pixels. A fourth <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Border> is docked to the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Dock.Bottom> of the screen. The last <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Border> element automatically fills the remaining space.  
  
 [!code-cpp[DockPanelOvwSample#1](~/samples/snippets/cpp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/DockPanelOvwSample/CPP/DockPanel_Ovw_Sample.cpp#1)]
 [!code-csharp[DockPanelOvwSample#1](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/DockPanelOvwSample/CSharp/DockPanel_Ovw_Sample.cs#1)]
 [!code-vb[DockPanelOvwSample#1](~/samples/snippets/visualbasic/VS_Snippets_Wpf/DockPanelOvwSample/VisualBasic/dockpanel_vb.vb#1)]
 [!code-xaml[DockPanelOvwSample#1](~/samples/snippets/xaml/VS_Snippets_Wpf/DockPanelOvwSample/XAML/default.xaml#1)]  
  
> [!NOTE]
> By default, the last child of a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.DockPanel> element fills the remaining unallocated space. If you do not want this behavior, set `LastChildFill="False"`.  
  
 The compiled application yields a new UI that looks like this.  
  
 ![A typical DockPanel scenario.](./media/panel-intro-dockpanel.PNG "panel_intro_dockpanel")  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Controls.DockPanel>
- [Panels Overview](panels-overview.md)