Open C# Express 2008 and create Create a new Windows Application. At the properties pane on the right side of the IDE, locate the IsMdiContainer property of the form and set it to true. Add a MenuStrip to the form and add an item (e.g. "New Window"). Add another form (this will serve as a child form) Add a textbox to the form with the following attributes: Multiline = true, Dock=fill; Go back to the main form and double click the first item on the MenuStrip to view the code. Type in the following code (use Form2 if that's the name of your second form): Form2 newForm2 = new Form2(); newForm2.MdiParent = this; newForm2.Show(); The code should look like this: public partial class Form1 : Form { public Form1() { InitializeComponent(); } private void newWindowToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { Form2 newForm2 = new Form2(); newForm2.MdiParent = this; newForm2.Show();