Form Controls

Common properties of control

Property
BackColor
BackgroundImage
CanFocus
CanSelect
Capture
CausesValidation
ContainsFocus
ContexMenu
Cursor
DataBindings
Dock
Enables
Focused
Font
ForeColor
HasChildren
Height
Left
Location
Name
Parent
Right
Size
TabIndex
TabStop
Tag
Text
Top
Visible
Width

Means
Sets/gets the background color of this control.
Sets/gets the background image in the control.
Returns a value specifying if the control can receive the focus.
Returns a value specifying if the control can be selected.
Sets/gets a value specifying if the control has captured the mouse.
Sets/gets a value specifying if the control causes validation for all
Controls that require validation.
Returns a value specifying if the control has the input focus.
Sets/gets the shortcut menu associated with the control.
Sets/gets the cursor displayed when the user moves the mouse pointer
over this control.
Gets the data bindings for the control.
Sets/gets which edge of the parent a control is docked to.
Sets/gets a value specifying if the control is enabled.
Returns a value specifying if the control has input focus.
Sets/gets the current font for the control.
Sets/gets the foreground color of the control.
Returns a value specifying if the control contains child controls.
Sets/gets the height of the control.
Sets/gets the x-coordinate of a controls left edge in pixels.
Sets/gets the coordinates of the upper-left corner of the control with
respect to the upper-left corner of its container.
Sets/gets the controls name.
Sets/gets the controls parent container.
Returns the distance between the right edge of the control and the left
edge of its container.
Sets/gets the height and width of the control.
Sets/gets the tab order of this control in its container.
Sets/gets a value specifying if the user can tab to this control with the
tab key.
Sets/gets an object that contains data about the control.
Sets/gets the text connected to this control.
Sets/gets the top coordinate of the control.
Sets/gets a value specifying if the control is visible.
Sets/gets the width of the control.

Common Method For Controls

Method
Means
BringTOFront Brings the control to the front of the stacking order.
Contains
Retrieves a value specifying if the control is a child of this control.
Dispose
Releases the resources used by the control.
Equals
Indicates if two controls are equal.
FindForm
Retrieves the form that this control is on.
Focus
Gives the focus to the control.
GetType
Gets the type of the control.
Hide
Hides the controls.
Invalidate
Invalidates a part of the control and sends a paint message to the
control.
Refresh
Forces the control to invalidate its client area and repaint itself(and any
child controls).
Select
Activates this control.
SendToBack
Sends the control to the back of the stacking order.
SetBounds
Sets the bounds of the control.
Show
Displays the control(sets its visible property to true).
ToString
Returns a string that represents the current control.

Common Events for Controls

Event
Means
Click
Occurs when the control is clicked.
ContextMenuChanged Occurs when the ContextMenu property value is changed.
ControlAdded
Occurs when a new control is added.
ControlRemoved
Occurs when a control is removed.
CursorChanged
Occurs when the cursor property value is changed.
Disposed
Represents the method which will handle the Disposed event of
a Component.
DoubleClick
Occurs when the control is double-clicked.
DragDrop
Occurs when a drag-and-drop operation is completed.
DragEnter
Occurs when an object is dragged into the controls bounds.
DragLeave
Occurs when an object has been dragged into and out of the
controls bounds.
DragOver
Occurs when an object has been dragged over the controls
bounds.
Enter
Occurs when the control is entered.
GotFocus
Occurs when the control receives focus.

Invalidated
KeyDown
KeyPress
KeyUp
Leave
LostFocus
MouseDown
MouseEnter
MouseHover
MouseLeave
MouseMove
MouseUp
RightToLeftChanged
Validated
Validating

Occurs when a controls display is updated.

Occurs when a key is pressed down while the control has focus.
Occurs when a key is pressed while the control has focus.
Occurs when a key is released while the control has focus.
Occurs when the control is left.
Occurs when the control loses focus.
Occurs when the mouse pointer is over the control and a mouse
button is pressed.
Occurs when the mouse pointer enters the control.
Occurs when the mouse pointer hovers over the control.
Occurs when the mouse pointer leaves the control.
Occurs when the mouse pointer is moved over the control.
Occurs when the mouse pointer is over the control and a mouse
button is released.
Occurs when the right-to-left property value is changed.
Occurs when the control is done validating.
Occurs when the control is validating.

Label

Labels usually are used to display text that cannot be edited by the user.
Your code can change the text displayed by a label.
Labels are based directly on the Control class.

Properties of Label objects

Property
AutoSize
BorderStyle
FlatStyle
Image
ImageAlign
PreferredHeigh
t
PreferredWidth
TextAlign

Means
Sets/gets a value specifying if the control should be automatically
resized to display all its contents.
Sets/gets the border style for the control.
Sets/gets the flat style appearance of the label control.
Sets/gets the image that is displayed on a Label.
Sets/gets the alignment of an image that is displayed in the control.
Gets the preferred height of the control.
Gets the preferred width of the control.
Sets/gets the alignment of text in the control. This property takes values
BottomCenterVertically aligned at the bottom and horizontally
aligned at the center.
BottomLeftVertically aligned at the bottom, and horizontally
aligned on the left.
BottomRight--Vertically aligned at the bottom, and horizontally
aligned on the right.
MiddleCenter-- Vertically aligned at the middle, and horizontally

UseMnemonic

aligned at the center.

MiddleLeft-- Vertically aligned in the middle, and horizontally aligned
on the left.
MiddleRight-- Vertically aligned in the middle, and horizontally
aligned on the right.
TopCenter-- Vertically aligned at the top, and horizontally aligned at
the center.
TopLeft-- Vertically aligned at the top, and horizontally aligned on the
left.
TopRight-- Vertically aligned at the top, and horizontally aligned on
the right.
Sets/gets a value specifying if the control treats an ampersand character
(&) in the controls text property to be an access key character.

Example:
Private sub Label1_DoubleClick()
Label1.text=Example of Label1
End Sub

TextBox Control

Every Windows user is familiar with text boxes: theyre exactly what their name
implies: box-like controls in which you can enter text.
Text boxes can be multiline , have scroll bars , be read-only, and have many other
attributes.
The TextBox class is derived from the TextBoxBase class , which is based on
control.

Properties of TextBox objects

Property
AutoSize
BackColor
BorderStyle
CanUndo
ForeColor
MaxLength
Multiline

Means
Sets/gets a value specifying if the height of the control automatically
adjusts when the font in the control is changed.
Sets/gets the background color of the control.
Sets/gets the border type of the text box control.
Returns a value specifying if the user can undo the previous operation.
Sets/gets the foreground color.
Sets/gets the maximum number of characters the user can type into the
text box.
Sets/gets a value specifying if this is multiline text box control.

PasswordChar

Sets/gets the character use to mask characters of a password in a

single-line text box.
ReadOnly
Sets/gets a value specifying if the text in the text box is read-only.
ScrollBars
Sets/gets what scroll bars should appear in a multiline text box.
The type of scroll bars each settings displays:
0 : None
1 : Horizontal
2 : Vertical
3 : Both
SelectedText
Sets/gets a value specifying the currently selected text in the control.
SelectionLength Sets/gets the number of characters selected in the text box.
SelectionStart
Sets/gets the starting point of text selected in the text box.
Text
Sets/gets the current text in the text box.
TextAlign
Sets/gets how text is aligned in a text box control.
There are three possibilities : 0 : left-justified,1 : right-justified, and 2:
centered
TextLength
Gets the length of text in a control.
WordWrap
Indicates if a multiline text box automatically wraps words.
Methods of TextBox Objects
Methods
AppendText
Clear
Copy
Cut
Paste
Select
SelectAll
Undo

Means
Appends text to the current text in the text box.
Clears all text from the text box.
Copies the selected text in the text box to the clipboard.
Moves the selected text in the text box to the clipboard.
Replaces the selected text in the text box with the contents of the
clipboard.
Selects text in the text box.
Selects all text in the text box.
Undoes the last edit operation in the text box.

Events of TextBox Objects

Event
Click

Means
Occurs when the text box is clicked.

Example :
Accessing Text in the Text Box
Private Sub Button1_Click_1()
TextBox1.Text=Hello from Visual Basic
End Sub

KeyPress Event
Private Sub TextBox1_KeyPress()
If (e.KeyChar < 0 or e.KeyChar > 9 ) then
Msgbox(please enter single digits)
e.Handled=true
End if
End Sub
TextChanged Event
Private Sub TextBox1_TextChanged()
TextBox2.Text=sender.Text
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click()
Dim TextBox1 as New TextBox()
TextBox1.Size=New Size(150, 20)
TextBox1.Location=New Point(80, 20)
TextBox1.Text=New TextBox
Me.Controls.Add(TextBox1)
End Sub

Rich Text Boxes

The windows forms Rich TextBox control is used for displaying, Entering , and
manipulating rich text with formatting.
The Rich TextBox control does everything the TextBox control does , but in
addition , it can display fonts , colors , and links; load text and embedded images
from a file; undo and redo editing operations ; and find specified characters.

Properties of Rich TextBox Objects

Property
AutoSize
AutoWordSelection
BorderStyle
BulletIndent
MaxLength
Multiline
ReadOnly

Means
Sets/gets a value specifying if the size of the rich text box
automatically adjusts when the font changes.
Sets/gets a value specifying if automatic word selection is enabled.
Sets/gets the border type of the rich text box.
Sets/gets the indentation used in the rich text box when the bullet
style is applied to the text.
Sets/gets the maximum number of characters the user can type into
the rich text box.
Sets/gets a value specifying if this is a multiline RichTextBox
control.
Sets/gets a value specifying if text in the rich text box is read-only.

RightMargin

Sets/gets the size of a single line of text within the RichTextBox

control.
Rtf
Sets/gets the text of the RichTextBox control, including all rich
text format(RTF) codes.
ScrollBars
Sets/gets the kind of scroll bars to display in the RichTextBox
control.
SelectedRtf
Sets/gets the currently selected rich text format (RTF) formatted
text in the control.
SelectedText
Sets/gets the selected text within the Rich Text Box.
SelectionAlignment Sets/gets the alignment to apply to the current selection or insertion
point.
SelectionBullet
Sets/gets a value specifying if the bullet style is applied to the
current selection or insertion point.
SelectionColor
Sets/gets the text color of the current text selection or insertion
point.
SelectionFont
Sets/gets the font of the current text selection or insertion point.
SelectionLength
Sets/gets the number of characters selected in control.
SelectionStart
Sets/gets the starting point of text selected in the text box.
SelectionTabs
Sets/gets the absolute tab stop positions the a RichTextBox control.
Text
Sets/gets the current text in the rich text box.
TextLength
Gets the length of the text in the RichTextBox control.
WordWrap
Indicates if a multiline RichTextBox control automatically wraps
words.
Methods of RichTextBox objects
Method
AppendText
Clear
Copy
Cut
Find
LoadFile
Paste
SaveFile
Select
SelectAll
Undo

Means
Appends text to the current text of the rich text box.
Clears all the text from the RichTextBox controls.
Copies the current selection in the rich text box to the clipboard.
Moves the current selection in the rich text box to the clipboard.
Searches for the text within the contents of the rich text box.
Loads the contents of a file into the RichTextBox control.
Pastes the contents of the clipboard into the RichTextBox control.
Saves the contents of the rich text box to a file.
Selects text within the RichTextBox control.
Selects all text in the rich text box.
Undoes the last edit operation in the rich text box.

Events of RichTextBox Objects

Event
Click
LinkClicked

Means
Occurs when the rich text box is clicked.
Occurs when the user clicks on a link within the text of the
RichTextBox control.
SelectionChanged Occurs when the selection of text within the RichTextBox control is
changed.
Example:
Accessing text in a Rich Text Box
Private Sub Button1_Click()
RichTextBox2.Text=RichTextBox1.Text
End Sub
Saving and Loading RTF Files from and to rich Text Boxes
Private Sub Button6_Click()
RichTextBox3.SaveFile(text.rtf)
RichTextBox1.LoadFile(text.rtf)
End Sub

Link Labels

Link labels are based on the label class , but also let you support Web-style
hyperlinks to the internet and other Windows forms.

Properties of LinkLabel objects

Property
ActiveLinkColor
DisabledLinkColor
LinkArea
LinkBehavior
LinkColor
Links
LinkVisited
VisitedLinkColor

Means
Sets/gets the color for an active link.
Sets/gets the color for a disabled link.
Sets/gets the range in the text to treat as a link.
Sets/gets a value that represents the behavior of a link.
Sets/gets the color for a normal link.
Gets the collection of list in the LinkLabel control.
Sets/gets a value specifying if a link should be displayed as though
it had been visited.
Sets/gets the color used for links that have been visited.

Events of LinkLabel objects

Event
Means
LinkClicked Occurs when a link is clicked inside the link label.

Example :
Private Sub LinkLabel1_LinkClicked ()
LinkLabel1.LinkVisited=true
Dim InfoWindow as New Form2 ()
InfoWindow.Show ()
End Sub

Buttons

There is no more popular control in visual basic then buttons , with the possible
exception of text boxes.
Buttons are the plain controls that you simply click and release, the buttons you
see everywhere in visual basic applications-usually just rounded rectangular, gray
buttons with a caption.
Like other window controls, the button class is based on control class.
In fact, the button class is based directly on the ButtonBase class , which is also
the base class for other types of buttons.

Properties of Button objects

Property

Means

DailogResult Gets/sets the value return to the parent form when the button is clicked.
Often used when youre creating dialog boxes.
FlatStyle
Gets/sets a flat style appearance.
Image
Gets/sets an image displayed in a button.
ImageAlign Gets/sets the alignment of the image in a button.
ImageIndex Gets/sets the image list index value of the index displayed in the button.
ImageList
Gets/sets the ImageList that contains the images displayed in a button.
TextAlign
Gets/sets the alignment of the text in the button.

Methods of Button objects

Method
Means
PerformClick Causes a click event for a button.
Example :
Private Sub Button1_Click()
Button1.Text=You clicked me!
End Sub

Checkboxes

Checkboxes are also familiar controls-you click a checkbox to select it , and click
it again to deselect it.
When you select a checkbox a check appears in it, indicating that the box is
indeed selected.
You use a checkbox to give the user an option , such as true/false or yes/no.

The checkbox control can display an image or text or both.

Properties of Checkbox objects

Property
Means
Appearance Gets/sets the appearance of a checkbox.
AutoCheck Specifies if the checked or CheckState values and the checkboxs
appearance are automatically changed when the checkbox is clicked.
CheckAlign Gets/gets the horizontal and vertical alignment of a checkbox in a
checkbox control.
Checked
Gets/sets a value indicating if the checkbox is in the checked state.
CheckState Gets/sets the state of a three-state checkbox.
Checked-A check appears in the checkbox.
Unchecked- No check appears in the checkbox.
Indeterminate- A check appears in the checkbox on a gray background.
FlatStyle
Gets/sets the flat style appearance of the checkbox.
Image
Gets/sets the image that is displayed in a checkbox.
imageAlign Gets/sets the alignment of the image on the checkbox.
imageIndex Gets/sets the image list index value of the image displayed in the checkbox.
ImageList
Gets/sets the ImageList that contains the image displayed in a checkbox.
ThreeState Specifies if the checkbox will allow three check states rather than two.
Events of CheckBox objects
Event
AppearanceChanged
CheckedChanged
CheckStateChanged

Means
Occurs when the appearance property changes.
Occurs when the checked property changes.
Occurs when the CheckState property changes.

Example:
Private Sub CheckBox1_CheckedChanged()
TextBox1.Text=You clicked checkbox1
End Sub

Getting a Checkboxs State

Private Sub Button1_Click ()
If CheckBox1.Checked then
Button1.text=the checkmark is checked
End if
End Sub
Setting a CheckBoxs State
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
CheckBox1.Checked=true
End sub

Radio Buttons

Radio buttons, also called option buttons, are similar to checkboxes-the can select
and deselect them-except for two things: they are round where checkboxes are
square, and you usually use radio buttons together in groups.
The functional difference between checkboxes and radio buttons-checkboxes can
work independently, but radio button re intended to work in group.when you select
one radio button in a group, the others are automatically deselected.

Properties of RadioButton objects

Property
Appearance
AutoCheck
Checked
FlatStyle
Image
ImageAlign
ImageIndex
ImageList
TextAlign

Means
Gets/sets the value that determines the appearance of the radio button.
Gets/sets a value indicating whether the checked value and the
appearance of the control automatically change when the radio button is
clicked.
Gets/sets a value indicating whether the radio button is checked.
Gets/sets the flat style appearance of the radio button.
Gets/sets the image that is displayed in a radio button.
Gets/sets the alignment of the image in a radio button.
Gets/sets the image list index value of the image displayed in a radio
button.
Gets/sets the ImageList that contains the image displayed in a radio
button.
Gets/sets the alignment of the text in a radio button.

Methods of RadioButton objects

Method

Means

PerformClick

Generates a click event for the radio button, simulating a click by a user.

Events of RadioButton objects

Event
Means
AppearanceChanged Occurs when the appearance property changes.
CheckedChanged
Occurs when the value of the checked property changes.
Examples:
Private Sub RadioButton1_CheckedChanged()
TextBox1.Text=you clicked radio button 1
End Sub
Getting a Radio Buttons state
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
If RadioButton1.Checked then
MsgBox (radio button is selected)
Else
MsgBox (radio button is not selected)
End if
End Sub
Setting a Radio Buttons State
Private sub Button1_Click ()
RadioButton1.Checked=true
End Sub

List Boxes

As you know, list boxes display a list of items from which the user can select one
or more.
If there are too many items to display at once, a scroll bar automatically appears
to let the user scroll through the list.
In visual basic.NET, each item in a list box is itself an object.

Properties of Listbox objects

Property
ColumnWidth
DisplayMember
DrawMode
HorizontalExtent
HorizontalScrollbar

Means
Gets/sets column width; use with multicolumn list boxes.
Indicates which property of objects in a list box to show. If this
property if empty, the objects ToString method is used.
Gets/sets the drawing mode for the list box.
Gets/sets the width a list box can scroll horizontally.
Gets/sets if a horizontal scroll bar is displayed in the list box.

ItemHeight
Items
MultiColumn
ScrollAlwaysVisible
SelectedIndex
SelectedIndices
SelectedItem
SelectedItems
SelectionMode

Sorted
Text
TopIndex

Gets/sets an items height in the list box.

Returns a collection of the items of the list box.
Gets/sets if the list box supports multiple columns.
Gets/sets if a vertical scroll bar is always shown.
Gets/sets the index of the list boxs currently selected item.
Gets a collection that contains the indices of all selected items in
the list box.
Gets/sets the selected item in the list box.
Gets a collection containing the list boxs selected items.
Gets/sets the mode with which items are selected items.
Here are the possible values :
MultiExtends multiple items can be selected , and the user can
use the shift, ctrl , and arrow keys to make selections.
MultiSimple multiple items can be selected.
None No items may be selected.
One only one item can be selected.
Gets/sets if the items in the list box are sorted. The sort is
alphabetical.
Gets the text of the selected item in the list box.
Gets/sets the index of the first item that is visible in the list box.

Methods of listbox objects

Methods
BeginUpdate

Means
Turns off visual updating of the list box until the EndUpdate method is
called.
ClearSelected
Unselects all the items in a list box.
EndUpdate
Resumes visual updating of the list box.
FindString
Finds the first item in the list box that begins with the indicated string.
FindStringExact Finds the first item in the list box that matches the indicated string
exactly.
GetItemHeight Returns the height of a list box item.
GetSelected
Returns true if the indicated item is selected.
SetSelected
Selects or deselects the indicated item in a list box.
Event of ListBox objects
Event
Means
SelectedIndexChanged Occurs when the selectedIndex property has changed.
Example:
Adding Items to a ListBox
Private Sub Button1_Click()
Dim I As Integer
For i=1 to 20

Listbox1.Items.Add (Item & i.ToString ())

Next i
End Sub
Private Sub ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged ()
TextBox1.Text=You Selected item & Listbox1.SelectedIndex + 1
End Sub
Click and DoubleClick
Private Sub ListBox1_Click ()
TextBox1.Text=ListBox1.SelectedIndex
End Sub
Private Sub ListBox1_DoubleClick ()
TextBox1.Text=ListBox1.SelectedItem.ToString ()
End Sub
Removing Items from a List Box
ListBox1.Items.RemoveAt (5)

Checked List Boxes

Windows forms checked list boxes are derived from standard list boxes , except
that they also support a checkbox for each item,

Properties of checkListBox Objects

Property
CheckedIndices
CheckedItems
CheckOnClick

Means
Holds the collection of checked indices in this checked list box.
Holds the collection of checked items in this checked list box.
Gets/sets if the checkbox should be toggled when the
corresponding item is selected.
ColumnWidth
Gets/sets the width of columns; use this only in multicolumn
checked list boxes.
DisplayMember
Indicates which property of objects in the list box to show. If
empty , the checked list box uses the objects ToString method
instead.
HorizontalScrollbar Gets/sets if the checked list box should display a horizontal scroll
bar.
IntegralHeight
Gets/sets a value specifying if the checked list box should
automatically resize so it doesnt partial items,
ItemHeight
Returns the height of an item.
Items
Returns a collection of items in this checked list box.
MultiColumn
Gets/sets if the checked list box allows multiple columns.
ScrollAlwaysVisible Gets/sets if the checked list box always shows a vertical scroll bar.

SelectedIndex
SelectedIndices
SelectedItem
SelectedItems
SelectionMode
Sorted
Text
ThreeDCheckBoxes
TopIndex

Gets/sets the index of the selected item in a checked list box.

Gets a collection that contains the zero-based indices of all
currently selected items in the checked list box.
Gets/sets the selected item in the checked list box.
Gets a collection containing the selected items in the checked list
box.
Gets/sets the current selection mode.
Gets/sets if the items in the checked list box should be sorted. the
sort is alphabetical.
Gets the text of the selected item in a checked list box.
Gets/sets if the checkboxes are displayed Flat or Normal.
Gets/sets the index of the first item that is visible in the checked
list box.

Methods of CheckListBox Objects

Method
BeginUpdate

Means
Turns off visual updating of the list box EndUpdate method is
called.
ClearSelected
Unselects call items in a checked list box.
EndUpdate
Resumes visual updating of the checked list box.
FindString
Finds the first item that begins with the indicated string in the
checked list box.
FindStringExact
Finds the first item in the checked list box that matches the
indicated string exactly.
GetItemChecked
Gets if the indicated item is checked or not.
GetItemCheckState Gets the check state of the current item.
GetItemHeight
Gets the height of an item in the checked list box.
GetItemText
Gets an items text.
GetSelected
Gets if the indicated item is selected.
IndexFromPoint
Returns the index of the item at indicated coordinates.
SetItemChecked
Checks the item at the indicated index.
SetItemCheckState Sets the indicated items check state.
SetSelected
Selects or clears the selection for the indicated item in a checked
list box.
Event of CheckListBox objects
Event
Means
ItemCheck
Occurs when an items checked state changes.
SelectedIndexChanged Occurs when the Selectedindex property has changed.
Examples:

Adding items to Checked List Boxes

Private Sub Button1_Click()
Dim i As Integer
For i=1 to 20
CheckedListBox1.Items.Add (item & i.ToString (),True)
Next i
End Sub
Determining what items are checked in checked list Boxes
Private Sub Button2_Click ()
Dim I as Integer
Dim strText, strData As String
strText=checked items:
For i=0 to (CheckedListBox1.Items.count-1)
If CheckedListBox1.GetItemChecked (i) =True then
strText &= CheckedListBox1.Items (i).ToString & ,
End if
Next
TextBox1.Text=strText
End Sub
Handling Item Check Events in Checked List Boxes
Private Sub CheckedListBox1_ItemCheck ()
Select Case e.NewValue
Case CheckState.Checked
TextBox1.Text=Item & e.Index + 1 & is checked
CaseCheckState.unchecked
TextBox1.text=Item & e.Index + 1 & is not checked
End Select
End Sub

Combo Boxes

The window forms combo box control is used to display data in a drop-down
combo box.
The combo box is made up of two parts: The top part is a text box that allows the
user to type in all or part of a list item.
The part is a list box that displays a list of items from which the user can select
one or more.
You can allow the user to select an item from the list, or enter their own data.

Properties of Combobox objects

Property
DisplayMember

Means
Indicates which property of the objects in the combo box to show.
If empty, the combo box uses the toString method.
DropDownStyle
Gets/sets the style of the combo box.
DropDown (the default)-Includes a drop-down list and a text box.
The user can select from the list or type in the text box.
Simple-includes a text box and a list, which doesnt dropdown.
The user can select from the list or type in the text box.
DropDownList-this style allows selection only from the dropdown list.
DropDownWidth
Gets/Sets a comboboxs drop-down parts width.
DropDownList
Gets/Sets a combo box drop-down parts width.
DroppedDown
Gets/Sets if the combo box is displaying its drop-down part.
Focused
Gets a value specifying if the combo box has focus.
ItemHeight
Gets the height of an item in a combo box.
Items
Gets a collection of an item in this combo box.
MaxDropDownItems Gets/Sets the maximum number of items visible in the drop-down
part of a combo box.
MaxLength
Gets/Sets the maximum number of characters in the combo boxs
text box.
SelectedIndex
Gets/Sets the index of the currently selected item.
SelectedText
Gets/Sets the selected text in the text box part of a combo box.
SelectionLength
Gets/Sets the number of characters selected in the text box part of
the combo box.
SelectionStart
Gets/Sets the beginning index of selected text in the combo box.
Sorted
Gets/Sets if the items in the combo box are sorted.
Methods of comboBox objects
Method
BeginUpdate

Means
Turns off visual updating of the combo box until the EndUpdate
method is called.
EndUpdate
Resumes visual updating of the combo box.
FindString
Finds the first item in the combo box that begins with the indicated
string.
FindStringExact Finds the items that matches the indicated string exactly.
GetItemText
Gets an items text.
Select
Selects a range of text.
SelectAll
Selects all the text in the text box of the combo box.

Events of ComboBox objects

Event
DropDown
DropDownStyleChanged
SelectedIndexChanged

Means
Occurs when the drop-down portion of a combo box is shown.
Occurs when the DropDownStyle property has changed.
Occurs when the SelectedIndex property has changed.

Examples:
Adding Items to a Combo Box
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
ComboBox1.Items.Add (Zebra)
ComboBox1.Items.Add (tiger)
ComboBox1.Items.Add (hamster)
ComboBox1.Items.Add (aardvark)
End Sub
TextChanged Events
Private Sub ComboBox1_TextChanged ()
TextBox1.Text=ComboBox1.Text
End Sub
SelectedIndexChanged Events
Private Sub ComboBox1_SelectedIndexChanged ()
TextBox1.Text=Selected item text: & ComboBox1.SelectedItems.ToString () &
Selected Index: & ComboBox1.SelectedItems.ToString ()
End Sub
Removing Items from a Combo Box
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
ComboBox1.Items.RemoveAt (1)
End Sub
Clearing a Combo Box
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
ComboBox1.Items.Clear ()
End Sub

Picture Boxes

Picture boxes are used to display graphics from a bitmap, icon, JPEG, GIF or
other image file type.
The PictureBox class is derived directly from the Control class.

Properties of PictureBox objects

Property
BorderStyle
Image
SizeMode

Means
Gets/sets the border style for the picture box.
Gets/sets the image that is in a picture box.
Picture boxes will resize themselves to fit their contents if you set their
SizeMode property
Normal standard picture box behavior (the upper-left corner of the image
is placed at upper left in the picture box).
StretchImage allows you to stretch the image in code.
AutoSize Fits the picture box to the image.
CenterImage Centers the image in the picture box.

Events of PictureBox objects

Event
Means
Resize
Occurs when the picture box is resized.
SizeModeChanged Occurs when SizeMode changes.
Example:
Setting or getting the Image in a Picture Box
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
PictureBox1.Image=Image.FromFile (c:\vbnet\ch07\pictureboxes\image.jpg)
End Sub
Handling picture Box Events
Private Sub PictureBox1_MouseDown ()
TextBox1.Text=you Clicked at & e.x & , &e.y
End Sub

DateTime Picker

You can set a date and time in a date-time picker just by editing the displayed
values in the control; if you click the arrow in the date-time picker, it displays a
month calendar, just as a combo box would display a drop-down list; you can
make selections just by clicking the calendar.

Properties of DateTime Picker class

Property
Means
MaxDateTime Specifies the maximum date value of the date-time picker control. note
that this field is read-only.
MinDateTime Specifies the minimum date value of the date-time picker control. note
that this field is read-only.

Properties of DateTime picker objects

Property
CalendarFont
CalendarForeColor
CalendarMonthBackground
CalendarTitleBackColor
CalendarTitleForeColor
CalendarTrailingForeColor
Checked
CustomFormat
DropDownAlign
Format

Means
Gets/sets the font style for the calendar.
Gets/sets the foreground color of the calendar.
Gets/sets the background color of the calendar month.
Gets/sets the background color of the calendar title.
Gets/sets the foreground color of the calendar title.
Gets/sets the foreground color of the calendar trailing dates.
Gets/sets whether the value property holds a valid datetime value.
Gets/sets a custom date-time format string.
Gets/sets the alignment of the drop-down calendar on the
date-time control.
Gets/sets the format of dates and times.
You create a custom format string using these items:
d- The one or two digit day.
dd-the two digit day. note that single-digit day values are
preceded by a zero.
ddd-the three-character day-of-week abbreviation.
dddd-the full day-of-week name.
h-the one or two digit hour in 12-hour format.
hh-the two-digit hour in 12-hour format. note that singledigit values are preceded by a zero.
H-the one or two digit hour in 24-hour format.
HH-the two-digit hour in 24-hour format. note that singledigit values are preceded by a zero.
m-the one or two digit minute.
mm-the two-digit minute. note that single-digit values are
preceded by a zero.
M-the one or two digit month number.
MM-the two-digit month number. note that single-digit
values are preceded by a zero.
MMM-the three character month abbreviation.
MMMM-the full month name.
s-the one or two digit seconds.
ss-the two-digit seconds. Note that single-digit values are
preceded by a zero.
t-the one-letter AM/PM abbreviation (AM is displayed as
A).
tt-the two-letter AM/PM abbreviation (AM is displayed
as AM).
y-the one-digit year (2002 is displayed as 2).
yy-the last two digits of the year(2002 is displayed as

MaxDate
MinDate
PreferredHeight
ShowCheckBox
ShowUpDown
Text
Value

02).
yyyy-the full year (2002 is displayed as 2002).
Gets/sets the maximum selectable date and time.
Gets/sets the minimum selectable date and time.
Holds the preferred height of the date-time picker control.
Gets/sets if a check box should appear to the left of a
selected date.
Gets/sets if an up-down control should be used to adjust
date-time values.
Gets/sets the text in this control.
Gets/sets the date-time value.

Events of Date-Time Picker objects

Event
CloseUp
DropDown
FormatChanged
ValueChanged

Means
Occurs when the drop-down calendar disappears.
Occurs when the drop-down calendar appears.
Occurs when the Format property value has changed.
Occurs when the value property changes.

Example:
Handling Date-Time Picker Events
Private Sub DateTimePicker1_ValueChanged ()
TextBox1.Text=Date selected: & DateTimePicker1.Text
End Sub
Setting Date-Time Picker Custom Formats
Private Sub Form1_Load ()
DateTimePicker1.Format= DateTimePickerFormat.Custom
DateTimePicker1.CustomFormat-MMMM dd hh:mm:ss tt
End Sub

Notify Icons

Notify icons let you display an icon in the status notification area of the windows
taskbar (in the indented panel at extreme right in the taskbar) called the windows
system tray.

Properties of NotifyIcon objects

Property
Means

ContextMenu Gets/sets the context menu for the tray icon.

Icon
Gets/sets the current icon.
Text
Gets/sets the ToolTip text which is to be displayed when the mouse
hovers over a system tray icon.
Visible
Gets/sets if the icon is visible in the windows system tray.
Events of NotifyIcon objects
Means
Occurs when the user clicks the system tray icon.
Occurs when the user double-clicks the system tray icon.
MouseDown
Occurs when the user presses the mouse button on the icon
in the system tray.
MouseMove
Occurs when the user moves the mouse over the icon in the
system tray.
MOuseUp
Occurs when the user releases the mouse button over the
icon in the system tray.

Events
Click
DoubleClick

Example
Handling Notify Icon Events

Private sub notifyicon1_Doubleclick ()

Msgbox (you double-click the icon!)
End sub

Tool Tips

All windows users know what tool tips are- theyre those small windows that
appear with explanatory text when you let the mouse rest on a control or window.

Thats what tool tips are used for to give quick help when the mouse rests on an
item.

Properties of tooltip objects

Event
Active
AutomaticDelay
InitialDelay
ShowAlways

Means
Gets/Sets if the tool tip control is active.
Gets/Sets the time (in milliseconds) before the tool tip appears.
Gets/Sets the starting delay for the tool tip.
Gets/Sets whether the tool tip should appear when its parent control is
not active.

Events of Tooltip Objects

Event
Get tooltip

Means
Returns the tool tip text.

Set tooltip

Connects tool tip text with the tool tip.

Example
Creating Tool Tips
Private sub form1_load ()
Tooltip1.Settooltip (Me, This Is Form.)
Tooltip2.Settooltip (Button1,This Is A Button)
End sub

Tree views

You use a tree view to display a hierarchy of nodes.

Each node is not only displayed visually, but also can have child nodes.
An example of this is the window explorer, which uses a tree view in its left pane
to I
You can expand and collapse parent nodes by clicking them; when expanded,
their children are also visible.
Properties of Tree View Objects

Property
Border Style
Checkboxes

ImageIndex

Means
Gets/Sets the tree views border style
Gets/Sets whether checkboxes should be displayed next to tree
nodes.
Gets/Sets whether a selection should select the whole width of
the tree view.
Gets/Sets whether the selected tree node stays highlighted when
the tree view loses the focus.
Gets/Sets whether a tree node label should change its appearance
when the mouse pointer moves over it.
Gets/Sets the image list index of the current image.

Image List

Gets/Sets the image list used with this tree view.

Indent

Gets/Sets the distance that each level should be indent.

ItemHeight

Gets/Sets the height of tree nodes.

LabelEdit

Gets/Sets whether tree node text can be edited.

Nodes

Gets the collection of tree nodes.

PathSeprator

Gets/Sets the string the tree node uses as a path delimiter.

Scrollbar

Gets/Sets whether the tree view should display scrollbars as

needed.
Gets/Sets the image index for the image to display when node is
selected.

FullRowSelect
HideSelection
HotTracking

SelectedImageINdex

SelectedNodes

Gets/Sets the node that is selected.

ShowLines

Gets/Sets whether lines are drawn between tree nodes.

ShowPlusMinus

Sorted

Gets/Sets whether plus sign(+) and minus sign(-) buttons are

shown next to tree nodes with child tree nodes
Gets/Sets whether lines should be drawn between the tree nodes
and the root node.
Gets/Sets if the tree nodes should be sorted.

TopNode

Gets the first visible tree node.

VisibleCount

Gets the number of nodes that can be seen currently.

ShowRootLines

Methods of TreeView Objects

Method
Means
BeginUpdate
Disable redrawing of the tree view.
CollapseAll
Collapses all nodes.
EndUpdate
Enables redrawing of the tree view.
ExpandAll
Expands all the nodes.
GetNodeAt
Gets the node that is at the given location.
GetNodeCount Gets the number of nodes.
Events of TreeView Objects
Event
AfterCheck
AfterCollapse
AfterExpand
AfterLabelEdit
AfterSelect
BeforeCheck
BeforeCollapse
BeforeExpand
BeforeLabelEdit
BeforeSelect
ItemDrag

Means
Occurs when a node checkbox is checked.
Occurs when a tree node is collapsed.
Occurs when a tree node is expanded.
Occurs when a tree node label text is edited.
Occurs when a tree node is selected.
Occurs before a node checkbox is checked.
Occurs before a node is collapsed.
Occurs before a node is expanded.
Occurs before a node label text is edited.
Occurs before a node is selected.
Occurs when an item is dragged into the tree view.

Tree views display nodes in a hierarchical structure, and each node in a tree view
is a TreeNode object.

Properties of TreeNodes objects

Property
Bounds
Checked

Means
Gets the actual bounds of the tree node.
Gets/Sets whether the tree node is checked.

FirstNode
FullPath
ImageIndex
Index
IsEditing
IsExpanded
IsSelected
IsVisible
LastNode
NextNode
NextVisibleNode
NodeFront
Nodes
Parent
PrevNode
PrevVisibleNode
SelectedImageIndex
Text

Gets the first child tree node.

Gets the path from the root node to the current node.
Gets/Sets the image list index of the image displayed for a node.
Gets location of the node in the node collection.
Gets whether the node can be edited.
Gets whether the node is expanded.
Gets whether the node is selected.
Gets a value specifying if the node is visible.
Gets the last child node.
Gets the next sibling node.
Gets the next visible node.
Gets/Sets the front for the node.
Gets the collection of nodes in the current node.
Gets the parent node of the current node.
Gets the previous sibling node.
Gets the previous visible node.
Gets/Sets the image index for the image to display when a node is
selected.
Gets/Sets the text for a nodes label.

TreeView

Gets the nodes parent tree view.

Methods of TreeNode objects

Method
BeginEdit
Collapse
EndEdit
EnsureVisible
Expand
ExpandAll
GetNodeCount
Remove
Toggle

Means
Starts editing of the nodes label.
Collapses a node.
Ends editing of the nodes label.
Makes sure the node is visible, scrolling the tree view if needed.
Expands a node.
Expands all child nodes.
Gets the number of child nodes.
Removes the current node.
Toggles the tree node between the expanded and collapsed states.

Example
Handling Tree View Events
Private sub TreeView1_afterselect ()
TextBox1.text=you clicked:& e.Node.Text

End Sub
Using Checkboxes in Tree Views
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
TreeView1.Checkbox=True
End Sub
Private Sub TreeView1_AfterCheck ()
If e.Node.Checked Then
TextBox1.Text=you checked: & e.Node.Text
Else
TextBox1.Text=you Unchecked: & e.Node.Text
End if
End Sub

Progress Bars

Progress bars are those simple controls that show the progress of some operation
by displaying rectangles in a horizontal bar.

Properties of TreeNodes objects

Property
Font
ForeColor
Maximum
Minimum
Step
Value

Means
Gets/Sets the front of the progress bars text.
Gets/Sets the foreground color of the progress bar.
Gets/Sets the progress bars maximum value.
Gets/Sets the progress bars minimum value.
Gets/Sets the value by which the performstep method will increase a
progress bars value.
Gets/Sets the current value of the progress bar.

Methods of TreeNodes objects

Method
Means
Increment
Increments the position of the progress bar by a given amount.
Performstep Increments the value of the progress bar by the step property.
Examples
Creating Progress Bars
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
Timer1.Enabled=True
End Sub
Private Sub Timer1_Tick ()

ProgressBar1.value+=1
If ProgressBar1.Value=ProgressBar1.Maximum Then
Timer1.Enabled=False
End if
End Sub

Masked TextBox

Masked TextBox Control provides mask feature, which allows you to set the
format of the data of TextBox and validation mechanism for user input on form.
For example, if you want a TextBox to accept date in mm/dd/yyyy format, you
can set masking in the MaskedTextBox.
When a MaskedTextBox control is displayed at run time, it represents the mask
as a series of prompt characters and optional literal. Each editable mask position,
representing a required or optional input, is shown with a single prompt character.

Properties of MaskedTextBox objects

Properties
CutCopyMaskFormat
HidePromptOnLeave
InsertKeyMode
Mask
MaskCompleted
MaskedTextProvider
MaskFull
Text
TextAlign
TextMaskFormat

Means
Gets or sets a value that determines whether literals and prompt
characters are copied to the clipboard.
Gets or Sets a value indicating whether the prompt characters in
the input mask are hidden when the masked text box loses
focus.
Gets or sets the text insertion mode of the masked text box
control.
Gets or Sets the input mask to use at run time.
Gets a value indicating whether all required inputs have been
entered into the input mask.
Gets a clone of the mask provider associated with this instance
of the masked text box control.
Gets a value indicating whether all required and optional inputs
have been entered into the input mask.
Gets or Sets the text as it is currently displayed to the user.
(Overrides TextBoxBase.Text.)
Gets or Sets how text is aligned in a masked text box control.
Gets or Sets a value that determines whether literals and prompt
characters are included in the formatted string.

Events of MaskedTextBox objects

Events
Means
MaskChanged
Occurs after the input mask is changed.
MaskInputRejected Occurs when the users input or assigned character does not match
the corresponding format element of the input mask.
Examples
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Form1_Load ()
Here TextBox is masked as number show you can enter number only
MaskedTextBox1.Mask = 00000000000000000
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_click ()
Enter number will show in Label
Label1.text= Enter Number is +MaskedTextBox1.Text
End Sub
End Class

Component
Image Lists

You use image lists to store images.

Image lists are components and do not appear at rum time, store images for use by
various controls, including list views, tree views, toolbars, tab controls,
checkboxes, buttons, radio buttons, and labels.

Image list support two properties ImageList and ImageIndex.

When you associate an image list with a controls ImageList property, you can
specify which image appears in the control with the ImageIndex property.

The images in an image list are indexed- starting at zero- and you can switch the
image displayed in a control at run time by changing the value of the ImageIndex
property.

Properties of ImageList objects

Property
ColorDepth
Handle
Images

Means
Gets the color depth for this image list.
Gets the handle for this image list.
Gets an ImageCollection object for this image list.

ImageSize
Gets/Sets the image size for images in the list.
TransparentColor Gets/Sets the transparent color for this list.
Methods of ImageList objects
Method Means
Draw
Draws the given image.
Example
Using Image Lists With Picture Boxes and Other Controls with Image or
BackgroundImage Properties
Private Sub Form1_Load ()
PictureBox1.Image=ImageList1.Images (0)
End Sub
Dim ImageIndex as Integer= 0
Private Sub Button2_Click ()
If ImageIndex<ImageList1.Images.Count- 1 Then
ImageIndex +=1
Else
ImageIndex = 0
End If
PictureBox1.Image = ImageList1.Images (ImageIndex)
End Sub
Private Sub Pane1_Paint ()
ImageList1.Draw (e.Graphics, 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Timers
Timers are also very useful controls, because they let you create periodic events. Strictly
speaking, timers are no longer controls but components, and they do not appear in a
window at run time.
Properties of Timer objects
property

Means

Enabled
Interval

Gets/Sets whether the timer is running.

Gets/Sets the time (in milliseconds) between timer ticks.

Methods of Timer objects

Method Means
Start
Starts the timer.
Stop
Stops the timer.
Events of Timer objects
Event
Tick

Means
Occurs when the timer interval has elapsed (and the timer is enabled).

Example
Private Sub Button1_Click ()
Timer1.Enabled = True
End Sub
Private Sub Timer1_Tick ()
ProgressBar1.Value +=1
If ProgressBar1.Value= ProgressBar1.Maximum Then
Timer1.Enabled= False
End If
End Sub

Error provider

The windows Forms ErrorProvider component allows you to show user in a nonintrusive way that something is wrong.
It is typically used in conjunction with validating user input on a form, or
displaying errors within a dataset.
An error provider is a better alternative then displaying an error message in a
message box, because once a message box is dismissed, the error message is no
longer visible.
The ErrorProvider component displays an error icon() next to the relevant control,
such as a text box; when the user positions the mouse pointer over the error icon,
a ToolTip appears, showing the error message string.

Properties of ErrorProvider Class

Properties
Means
BlinkRate
Gets or sets the rate at which the error icon flashes.
BlinkStyle
Gets or sets a value indicating when the error icon flashes.
Container
Gets the IContainer that contains the Component. (Inherited from Component.)
DataMember
Gets or sets the list within a data source to monitor.
DataSource
Gets or sets the data source that the ErrorProvider monitors.
Icon
Gets or sets the Icon that is displayed next to a control when an error description
string has been set for the control.
RightToLeft
Gets or sets s value that indicates whether the component is used in a locale that
supports right-to-left fonts.
Methods of ErrorProvider Class
Methods
Means
BindToDataAndErrors
Provides a method to set both the DataSource and DataMember at run
time.
GetError
Returns the current error description string for the specified control.
GetIconAlignment
Gets a value indicating where the error icon should be placed in relation
to the control.
GetIconPadding
Returns the amount of extra space to leave next to the error icon.
OnRightToLeftChanged Raises the RightToLeftChanged event.
SetError
Sets the error description string for the specified control.
SetIconAlignment
Sets the location where the error icon should be placed in relation to the
control.
SetIconPadding
Sets the amount of extra space to leave between the specified control and
the error icon.
Example
Private Sub Button1_Click()
If TextBox1.Text= Then
ErrorProvider1.SetError(TextBox1,Cannot leave textbox blank)
Else
ErrorProvider1.SetError(TextBx1,)
End If
ErrorProvider1.SetIconAlignment(TextBox1,ErrorIconAlignment.BottomLeft)
End Sub

Help Provider

The Windows Forms HelpProvider component is used to associate an HTML

Help 1.x Help file (either a .chm file, produced with the HTML Help Workshop,
or an .htm file) with Windows application.
We can provide help in a variety of ways :

o Provide context-sensitive Help for controls on Windows Forms.

o Provide context-sensitive Help on a particular dialog box or specific
controls on a dialog box.
o Open a Help file to specific areas, such as the main page of a Table of
Contents, the Index, or a search function.
Adding a HelpProvider component to Windows Form allows the other controls on
the form to expose the Help properties of the HelpProvider component.
This enables us to provide help for the controls on your Windows form.

Help Class
The Help class allows us to display HTML help to users.
The Help class provides two methods : ShowHelp and ShowHelpIndex.
ShowHelp is used to display a help file for a particular control and requires that
control to be displayed along with the help file.
The URL you specify for the help file can be in the form of C:\myHelp(local
machine) or Web.Generally, the Help class is used in conjunction with Menus,
Context Menus.
The ShowHelpIndex method is used to display the index of a specified help file.
We call the ShowHelpIndex method just like we call the ShowHelp method.
Example
Private Sub Button1_Click()
Help.ShowHelp(Label1,F:\1.htm)
End Sub
HelpProvider Component

HelpProviderComponent allows us to provide help for controls on the form when

F1 key is pressed.
The HelpProviderComponent is an extender provider which means that it
coordinates and maintains properties for each control on the form.
Notable Property of HelpProvider component is the HelpNameSpace property
which specifies the URL for the help file associated with it.
The HelpProvider component provides three additional properties to each control
on the form.
These properties are :
o HelpString : Determines the help string associated with a control.
o HelpKeyWord : Determines the help keyword associated with a
control.

o HelpNavigator : Determines the kind of help associated with a

control. Provides six values : TableOfContents, Find, Index, Topic,
AssociatedIndex and KeywordIndex.
The above said three properties are visible in the properties window for each
control once the HelpProvider component is added to the form.
If the HelpNameSpace property is not set, the HelpString is automatically
displayed, and other two properties are ignored.

Properties of HelpProvider Class

Properties
Means
HelpNamespace Gets or sets a value specifying the name of the Help file
associated with this HelpProvider object.
Methods of HelpProvider Class
Methods
GetHelpKeyword
GetHelpNavigator
GetHelpString
GetShowHelp
ResetShowHelp
SetHelpKeyword
SetHelpNavigator
SetHelpString
SetShowHelp

Means
Returns the Help keyword for the specified control.
Returns the current HelpNavigator setting for the specified control.
Returns the contents of the pop-up Help window for the specified control.
Returns a value indicating whether the specified controls Help should be
displayed.
Infrastructure. Removes the Help associated with the specified control.
Specifies the keyword used to retrieve Help when the user invokes Help
for the specified control.
Specifies the Help command to use when retrieving Help from the Help
file for the specified control.
Specifies the Help string associated with the specified control.
Specifies whether Help is displayed for the specified control.

Example
Private Sub frmHelpProvider_Load()
HelpProvider1.SetHelpString(Button2,I am supported by HelpProvider1)
End Sub

Container Control
Panel

You use panels to group other controls, usually to divide a form into regions by
function.
We can use grouping controls such as panels and group controls to make it clear
which controls are associated and it makes it easier to handle groups of controls
at design time too, because when you move a panel, all the controls it contains are
moved as well.
When we add radio buttons to a form, they are automatically coordinated so that
only one radio button can be selected at a time. If the user selects a new radio
button, all the other options buttons are automatically deselected. But there are
times when thats not convenient; for example, we may have two sets of options
buttons: day of the week and day of the month. We want the user to be able to
select one radio button in each list.

Properties of Panel objects

Property
AutoScroll
AutoScrollMargin
AutoScrollMinSize
AutoScrollPosition
DockPadding

Means
Specifies if the panel will display scroll bars if needed.
Gets/sets the size of the auto-scroll margin.
Gets/sets the minimum size of the auto-scroll.
Gets/sets the location of the auto-scroll position.
Gets the dock padding settings for all edges of the panel.

Group Boxes

Like panels, group boxes are used to provide a grouping for other controls.
Group boxes are similar to panels, but, only group boxes display captions with the
Text property and only the panels can have scroll bars.
Group boxes display frames around their contained controls and can display text
in a caption.
After youve created the group boxes, you can drag other controls into them.

Splitters

We can use splitters to let the user resize controls.

Heres how it works: you add a control to a form, and then dock it. Next, you add
a splitter and dock it to the same side of the same container, which places the
control just before the splitter in the docking order. When you run the program,
the splitter is invisible until the mouse passes over it, when the splitter changes
the mouse cursor, indicating that the control can be resized.

Properties of Splitter objects

Property
BorderStyle
MinExtra
MinSize
SplitPosition

Means
Gets/sets the splitters border type.
Gets/sets the minimum size of the container that does not display
controls docked to the edge.
Gets/sets the minimum size of the splitters target.
Gets/sets the current position of the splitter.

Events of Splitter objects

Event
SplitterMoved
SplitterMoving

Means
Occurs when the splitter has moved.
Occurs as the splitter is moving.

Tab Controls

Tab control is one that (like menus, combo boxes, drop-down list boxes, etc.) is
designed to help you conserve space.
Tab controls work much like the tabs in a set of folders in a filing cabinet; you can
click a tab to display a whole new client area, and each such client area can
display other controls.
Using tabs like this allows you to present page after page of controls , all in the
same space.
Tabs like these are becoming increasingly popular in dialog boxes that let the user
select options.
We use tab pages in tab controls.
Tab pages are descended from Panel controls, so, as youd expect, they can
contain other controls.

Properties of TabControl objects

Property
Alignment
Appearance
DisplayRectangle
HotTrack
ImageList
Multiline
RowCount

Means
Gets/sets where the tabs appear (top, left, etc.).
Gets/sets the appearance of tabs in a tab control.
Gets the bounding rectangle of the tab pages.
Gets/sets whether the tabs should change appearance when the mouse
is over them.
Gets/sets the images to show in tabs.
Gets/sets whether the tab control can show more than one row of
tabs.
Gets the number of rows in the tab strip.

SelectedIndex
SelectedTab
ShowToolTips
TabCount
TabPages

Gets/sets selected tab pages index.

Gets/sets the selected tab page.
Gets/sets whether a tabs tooltip can be displayed.
Gets the number of tabs.
Gets the collection of tab pages.

Events of TabControl objects

Event
SelectedIndexChanged

Means
Occurs when the SelectedIndex property is changed.

Properties of TabPage objects

Property
Means
ImageIndex
Gets/sets the index of the image in this tab.
Text
Gets/sets the text to show in the tab.
ToolTipText
Gets/sets the tabs tool tip text.

Menu

There are two main classes involved in standard menu handling MainMenu,
which lets you assign objects of this type to a forms Menu class to install the
corresponding menu system, and MenuItem, which is the class that actually
supports the items in a menu system.
Menus are those controls that allow the user to make selections and also hide
away those selections when theyre not needed, saving space in Windows
applications.
Menus are made up of MenuItem objects that represent the individual parts of a
menu - menu items can be a parent menu or a menu item in a menu.
There are all kinds of options here you can add submenus to menus that will pop
up when the user clicks an arrow in a menu item, display check marks, create
menu separators (horizontal bars used in menus to group menu items), assign
shortcut keys(like Ctrl + H) to menu items, even draw the appearance of menu
items.
The simplest way to do so is at design time, because all you have to do is to add a
MainMenu control from the toolbox to a Windows form. When you do so, the
MainMenu control appears in the component tray under the form designer.

Menu Items

Menus like File or Edit and the actual items in such menus are supported with the
MenuItem class.
This class supports the actual controls in your menu system, and their Click event
that you add ccde to in order to make that menu system active.
This class provides properties that enable you to configure the appearance and
functionality of a menu item.

ContextMenu

Another popular type of menus is context menus.

You use ContextMenu controls to give users access to frequently used menu
commands, and bring them up by right clicking another control.

Properties of MainMenu objects

Property
Means
IsParent
Holds a value that is True if this menu contains any menu items.
MdiListItem
Holds a value that is True if the MenuItem is used to display a list of
MDI child windows.
MenuItems
Holds the collection of MenuItem objects for this menu.
Methods of MainMenu objects
Method
Means
GetContextMenu
Gets the ContextMenu that contains this menu.
GetForm
Gets the Form that contains this menu.
GetMainMenu
Gets the MainMenu that contains this menu.
MergeMenu
Merges the MenuItem objects of a menu with the current menu.

Properties of MenuItem objects

Property
Means
Break
Gets/sets whether the item is displayed on a new line (for menu items
added to a MainMenu object) or in a new column (for items or
submenu items displayed in a ContextMenu).
Checked
Gets/sets if a checkmark should appear next to a menu item.
DefaultItem
Gets/sets if the menu item is the default menu item.
Enabled
Gets/sets if the menu item is enabled.
Index
Gets/sets the position of the menu item in its parent menu.
IsParent
Gets if the menu item contains child menu items.

MdiList
MdiListItem
MenuItems
MergeOrder
MergeType
Mnemonic
OwnerDraw
Parent
RadioCheck
Shortcut
ShowShortcut
Text
Visible

Gets/sets if the menu item will be automatically filled with a list of

Multiple Document Interface(MDI) child windows that are displayed
in the associated form.
Gets the menu item used to display a list of Multiple Document
Interface(MDI) child forms.
Gets the collection of menu item objects for the menu.
Gets/sets the relative position of the menu item when it is merged with
another menu.
Gets/sets the behavior of this menu item when its menu is merged with
another menu.
Gets the mnemonic character for this menu item.
Gets/sets whether you will draw this item in code or not.
Returns the menu that contain this menu item.
Gets/sets whether the menu item, if checked, displays a radio-button
(instead of a checkmark).
Gets/sets the shortcut key for the menu item.
Gets/sets whether a shortcut key for the menu item is displayed next to
the menu item.
Gets/sets the caption of the menu item.
Gets/sets whether the menu item is visible.

Methods of MenuItem objects

Method
Means
CloneMenu
Creates a copy of a menu item.
GetContextMenu Gets the ContextMenu that contains this menu.
GetMainMenu
Gets the MainMenu that contains this menu.
MergeMenu
Merges this menu item with another menu item.
PerformClick
Creates a Click event for the menu item.
PerformSelect
Creates a Select event for this menu item.

Events of MenuItem objects

Event
Means
Click
Occurs when the menu item is clicked or selected using a shortcut key
or access key for the menu item.
DrawItem
Occurs when the OwnerDraw property of a menu item is set to True
and the menu item should be drawn.
MeasureItem
Occurs when Visual Basic wants to know the size of a menu item
before drawing it (usually happens before the DrawItem event).
Popup
Occurs before a menu items list of menu items is displayed.
Select
Occurs when the user moves the cursor over a menu item.
Properties of ContextMenu objects

Property
IsParent
MdiListItem
MenuItems
SourceControl

Means
True if this menu contains any menu items. This property is read
only.
Holds the MenuItem that is used to display a list of MDI child forms.
Holds the collection of MenuItem objects associated with the menu.
Holds the control that is displaying the shortcut menu.

Methods of ContextMenu objects

Method
Means
GetContextMenu Gets the context menu that contains this menu.
GetMainMenu
Gets the MainMenu object that contains this menu.
MergeMenu
Merges the MenuItem objects of one menu with the another menu.
Show
Displays the shortcut menu.
Events of ContextMenu objects
Event
Means
Popup
Occurs before the context menu is displayed.
Example
Private Sub MenuItem4_Click ()
End
End Sub
Adding Checkmarks to Menu Items
Private Sub MenuItem3_Click ()
MenuItem3.Checked = True
End Sub
Creating Menu Shortcuts
Private Sub frmMenu_Load ()
MenuItem3.Shortcut = Shortcut.CtrlX
End Sub
Changing a Menu Items Caption at Run Time
Private Sub MenuItem5_Click ()
MenuItem1.Text = Ive been clicked!
End Sub
Using the Popup Event
Private Sub MenuItem4_Popup ()
MsgBox(Im about to open my submenu!)
End Sub
Using ContextMenuStrip
Public Class frmContextMenu

Private Sub CopyToolStripMenuItem_Click ()

MsgBox(Copy)
TextBox1.Text = Copy
End Sub
Private Sub CutToolStripMenuItem_Click ()
MsgBox(Cut)
TextBox1.Text = Cut
End Sub
End Class

Dialogue Boxes

There are a number of built-in dialog boxes in Visual Basic, which is great,
because developing your own file open, file save, and other dialog boxes not only
takes a lot of work, but gives your program a different look from what Windows
users are already used to.
Open File dialogs
Save File dialogs
Font dialogs
Color dialogs
Print Preview dialogs
Page Setup dialogs
Print dialogs

Open File DialogBox

The Open File dialog lets the user select a file to open. In fact, its the same Open
File dialog used by Windows itself.
Open File dialogs are supported with the OpenFileDialog class.

Properties of OpenFileDialog objects

Property
AddExtension
CheckFileExists
CheckPathExists
DefaultExt
FileName
FileNames

Means
Gets/sets if the dialog box adds an extension to file names if the user
doesnt supply the extension.
Gets/sets if the dialog box displays a warning if the user specifies a
nonexistent file.
Gets/sets whether the dialog box displays a warning if the user gives
a path that does not exist.
Gets/sets the default file extension.
Gets/sets the file name selected in the file dialog box.
Gets the file names of all selected files.

Filter

Gets/sets the current file name filter string, which sets the choices
that appear in the Save as file type or Files of type box.
FilterIndex
Gets/sets the index of the filter selected in the file dialog box.
InitialDirectory
Gets/sets the initial directory used in the file dialog box.
Multiselect
Gets/sets whether the dialog box allows multiple file selections.
ReadOnlyChecked Gets/sets whether the read-only checkbox is checked.
RestoreDirectory
Gets/sets whether the dialog box should restore the original
directory before closing.
ShowHelp
Gets/sets whether the Help button should be displayed.
ShowReadOnly
Gets/sets whether the dialog displays a read-only check box.
Title
Gets/sets the file dialog box title.
ValidateNames
Gets/sets a value specifying if the dialog box accepts only valid (that
is, Win32) file names.
Methods of OpenFileDialog objects
Method
OpenFile
Reset
ShowDialog

Means
Opens the file selected by the user, with read-only permission. The file is
specified by the FileName property.
Resets all options to their default values.
Shows the dialog box.

Events of OpenFileDialog objects

Event
Means
FileOk
Occurs when the user clicks the open or save button.
HelpRequest Occurs when the user clicks the Help button.

Example
Creating Open File Dialogs
Private Sub Button1_Click()
If OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog()<>DialogREsult.Cancel Then
PictureBox1.Image=Image.FromFile(OpenFileDialog1.FileName)
End if
End Sub

Save File DialogBox

Save File dialogs are supported by the SaveFileDialog class.

These Dialog let the user specify the name of a file to save data to.
These dialog are the same as the standard save File dialog box used by Windows.

Properties of saveFileDialog objects

Property
Means

AddExtension
CheckFileExists
CheckPathExists
CreatePrompt
DefaultExt
FileName
FileNames
Filter
FilterIndex
InitialDirectory
OverWritePrompt
RestoreDirectory
ShowHelp
Title
ValidateNames

Gets/sets Whether the dialog will add an extension to a file name if

the user doesnt supply an extension.
Gets/sets whether the dialog box display a warning if the user
specifies a file that does not exist.
Gets/sets whether the dialog box display a warning if the user
specifies a path that does not exist.
Gets/Sets Whether the dialog box asks the user if it should create a
file if the user specifies a nonexistent file.
Gets/sets the default file extension.
Gets/sets the file name selected in the file dialog box.
Gets the file names of all selected files.
Gets/sets the current file name filter string, which sets the choice that
appear in the Save as file type or File of type box.
Gets/sets the index of the filter selected in the file dialog box.
Gets/sets the initial directory used in the file dialog box.
Gets/sets Whether the dialog display a warning if the user specifies a
anem that already exists.
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box should restore the original
directory before closing.
Gets/sets Whether the Help button should be displays.
Gets/set the file dialog box title.
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box accept only valid(that is,Win32)file
names.

Methods of SaveFileDialog objects

Method
Means
OpenFile
Opens the file with read/write permission selected by the user.
Reset
Resets all dialog option to their default values.
ShowDialog
Shows the dialog.
Events of SaveFileDialog objects
Event
Means
FileOk
Occurs when the user clicks the Open or Save button
HelpRequest Occurs when the user click the Help button.

Example
Creating Save File Dialogs
Private Sub Button_Click()
If SaveFileDialog1.ShowDialog<>DialogResult.Cancel Then
MsgBox(You chose & SaveFileDialog1.FileName)
End if
End Sub

Font DialogBox

The FontDialog class displays a dialog box that lets the user select a font
size,face,color and so on.
It returns Font object in the Font property, and a color object in the Color
property.
Font dialogs are supported by the FontDialog class.

Properties of FontDialog objects

Property
Means
AllowSimulations
Gets/Sets Whether the dialog box allows graphics device interface
font simulations.
AllowVectorFonts
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box Allow Vector font selections.
AllowVerticalFonts
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box display both vertical and
horizontal fonts or only horizontal fonts.
Color
Gets/sets the selected font color.
FixedPitchOnly
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box allows only the selection of
fixed-pitch fonts.
Font
Gets/sets the selected font.
FontMustExist
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box specifies an error condition if
the user attempts to select a font or style that does not select.
MaxSize
Gets/sets the maximum point size a user can select.
MinSize
Getsw/sets the minimum point size a user can select.
ShowApply
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box Contains an apply button.
ShowColor
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box display the color choice.
ShowEffects
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box contain controls that allow the
user to specify strikethough,underline and text color option.
ShowHelp
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box display a Help button.
Methods of FontDialog objects
Method
Means
Reset
Resets all dialog option to default values.
ShowDialog Shows the dialog.
Events of FontDialog objects
Event
Apply
HelpRequest

Means
Occurs when the user clicks the Apply
button.
Occurs when the user clicks the Help
button.

Example
Creating Font Dialogs
Private Sub Button1_click()
If FontDialog1.ShowDialog<>DialogResult.Cancel Then
RichTextBox1.Font=FontDialog1.Font
RichTextBox1.Forecolor=FontDialog1.Color

End if
End Sub

Color DialogBox

Color dialog let the user select a color in an easy way.

The principal property you use of these dialog is the Color property, which return
a Color object,ready for use.

Properties of ColorDialog objects

Property
Means
AllowFullOpen
Gets/sets Whether the user can use the dialog box to define custom
colors.
AnyColor
Gets/sets Whether the dialog box displays all available colors in the
set of basic colors.
Color
Gets/Sets the color selected by the user.
CustomColors
Gets/sets the color selected by the user.
FullOpen
Gets/Sets the set of Custom colors shown in the dialog box.
ShowHelp
Gets/Sets Whether a Help button appears on the color dialog box.
SolidColorOnly
Gets/Sets Whether the dialog box will restrict users to selecting solid
colors only.
Methods of ColorDialog objects
Method
Reset
ShowDialog
Events of ColorDialog objects
Event
HelpRequest

Means
Resets all dialog options to their default
values.
Shows the dual;og.
Means
Occurs when the user click the Help
button.

Example
Creating Color Dialog
Private Sub Button1_Click()
If ColorDialog1.ShowDialog<>DialogResult.Cancel Then
Label1.Text=Heres my nex color!
Label1.Backcolor=ColorDialog1.Color
End If
End Sub

Print DialogBox

Print dialogs let the user print documents, and these dialogs are suppored with the
PrintDialog class.

Properties of PrintDialog objects

Property
AllowPrintToFile
AllowSelection
AllowSomePages
Document
PrinterSettings
PrintToFile
ShowHelp
ShowNetwork
Methods of PrintDialog objects
Method
Reset
ShowDialog
Events of PrintDialog objcts.
Event
HelpRequest

Means
Gets/sets Whether the Print to file
checkbox is Enables.
Gets/sets Whether the selection radio
button is enabled.
Gets/sets Whether the FromToPage
radio button is enabled.
Gets/sets the PrintDocument used to obtain
Printersettings.
Gets/sets PrinterSettings dialog box to
modify.
Gets/sets Whether the Print to file
checkbox is enabled.
Gets/sets Whether the Help button is
displayed
Gets/sets Whether the Network button is
displayed.
Means
Resets all dialog options.
Shows the Dialog.
Means
Occurs when the user clicks the Help
button.

Example
Printing
Private Sub MenuItem5_Click()
PrintDialog1.Document=PrintDocument1
PrintDialog1.PrinterSettings=PrintDocument1.PrinterSettings
PrintDialog1.AllowSomePages=True
If PrintDialog1.ShowDialog=DialogResult.Ok Then
PrintDocument1.PrinterSettings=PrintDialog1.PrinterSettings
PrintDocument1.Print()
End if
End Sun

Print Preview DialogBox

You use Print Preview dialogs to let the user see what a document will look like
when its printed.
This dialog is supported with the PrintPreviewDialog class.

This dialog contains button for printing, zooming in, displaying one or multiple
pages, and closing the dialog box.

Properties of PrintPreviewDialog objects

Property
AcceptButton
ControlBox
Document
FormBorderStyle
HelpButton
MaximizeBox
MaxmumSize
MinimumSize
PrintPreviewControl
ShowInTaskbar
Size
StartPosition
TopMost
MinimizeBox

Means
Gets/sets the button that is automatically
clicked when the user presses the Enter
key.
Gets/sets Whether a control box is
displayed in the caption bar of the form.
Gets/sets the document to preview.
Gets/sets the border style of the form.
Gets/sets Whether a help button should be
displayed in the caption box of the form.
Gets/sets Whether the maximize button is
displayed in the capltion bar of the form.
Gets the maximum size the form can be
resized to.
Gets/sets whether the minimize button is
displayed in the capltion bar of the form.
Gets the PrintPreviewControl contained in
this form.
Gets/Sets the size of the form.
Gets/Sets the size of the form.
Gets/Sets the Starting position of the form
at run time.
Gets/Sets Whether the form should be
displayed as your applications the topmost
form.
Gets the minimum size the form can be
resized to.

Example
Creating Print Preview Dialogs
Private Sub MenuItem3_Click()
PrintPreviewsDialog1.Document=PrintDocumnt1
PrintPreviewDialog1.ShowDialog()
End Sub
Page Setup DialogBox
You also can use Page Setup dialog to specify page details for printing.
You can let users set border and margin adjustments, headers and footers, and
portrait or landscape orientation, and so on.
Page setup dialog are supported by the PageSetupDalog class.

Properties of PageSetupDialog objects

Property
AllowMargins
AllowOrientation
AllowPaper
AllowPrinter
Document
MinMargins
PageSettings
PrinterSettings
ShowHelp
ShowNetwork
Methos of PageSetupDialog objects
Method
Reset
ShowDialog
Events of PageSetupDialog objects.
Event
HelpRequest

Means
Gets/Sets Whether the margins section of
the dialog box is enabled.
Gets/Sets Whether the oriention section of
the dialog box (landscape or portrait) is
enables.
Gets/Sets Whether the paper ection of the
dialog box (paper size and paper source) is
enabled.
Gets/Sets Whether the Printer button is
enabled.
Gets/Sets the PrintDocument to get page
settings from.
Gets/Sets the minimum margins the user is
allowed to select. Measured in hundredths
of an inch.
Gets/Sets the page settings to modify.
Gets/Sets the printer settings to modify.
Gets/Sets Whether the Help button is
visible.
Gets/Sets Whether the Network button is
visible.
Means
Resets all dialog option.
Show the dialog.
Means
Occurs when the user clicks the Help
button.

Example
Creating Page Setup Dialog
Private Page Setup Dialogs
PageSetupDialog1.Document=PrintDocument1
PageSetupDialog1.PrinterSettings=PrintDocument1.PrinterSettings
PageSetupDialog1.PageSettings=PrintDocument1.defualtPageSettings
If PageSetupDialog1.ShowDialog=DialogResult.Ok Then
PrintDocument1.PrinterSettings=PageSetupDialog1.PrinterSettings
PrintDocument1.DefualtPageSettings=PageSetupDialog1.PageSettings
End If

End Sub