Arranging Controls on Windows Forms

By placing and manipulating controls on forms in different ways, you can create user interfaces that are both intuitive and functional for users.

In This Section

• How to: Align Multiple Controls on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for lining up the position of a number of controls on your Windows Form.

• How to: Anchor Controls on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for setting controls to resize dynamically at run time.

• How to: Copy Controls Between Windows Forms
  Gives directions for duplicating controls between forms.

• How to: Dock Controls on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for making controls "stick" to the side(s) of a form.

• How to: Layer Objects on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for establishing which controls are on top relative to the z-axis (z-order).

• How to: Lock Controls to Windows Forms
  Gives directions for fastening controls permanently to the form.

• How to: Position Controls on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for setting the coordinates of the controls on a form.

• How to: Resize Controls on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for setting the size of controls on a form.

• How to: Set Grid Options for All Windows Forms
  Gives directions for calibrating the size of the grid that covers a form.

• How to: Set the Tab Order on Windows Forms
  Gives directions for regulating the order in which controls will have focus when the user presses TAB.

• How to: Arrange Controls with Snaplines and the Grid in Windows Forms
  Gives directions for affixing controls to the grid on a form.

• How to: Reassign Existing Controls to a Different Parent
  Gives directions for assigning existing controls to a new parent container.

• Walkthrough: Laying Out Windows Forms Controls with Padding, Margins, and the AutoSize Property
  Describes how you can place controls on your forms by using the Margin, Padding, and AutoSize properties within the Forms Designer.

• Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using Snaplines
  Demonstrates the various layout roles fulfilled by snaplines.

Related Sections

• How to: Designate a Windows Forms Button as the Cancel Button Using the Designer
  Gives directions for establishing a button as the control to cancel the form.

• How to: Designate a Windows Forms Button as the Accept Button Using the Designer
  Gives directions for establishing a button (often an "OK" button) as the "accept input" button when ENTER is pressed regardless of where focus is at the time in the dialog box.

• How to: Group Windows Forms RadioButton Controls to Function as a Set
  Gives directions for establishing a set of RadioButton controls as being related to one another.

• Windows Forms Controls
  Provides general information about controls.