How to: Design a Windows Forms Layout that Responds Well to Localization
Creating forms that are ready to be localized greatly speeds development for international markets. You can use the TableLayoutPanel control to implement layouts that respond gracefully as controls resize due to changes in their Text property values.
Example
This form demonstrates how to create a layout that proportionally adjusts when you translate displayed string values into other languages. This process of translation is called localization. For more information, see Localization.
There is extensive support for this task in Visual Studio. See also Walkthrough: Creating a Layout That Adjusts Proportion for Localization.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace TableLayoutPanelSample
{
public class LocalizableForm : Form
{
private System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel tableLayoutPanel1;
private System.Windows.Forms.ListView listView1;
private System.Windows.Forms.Panel panel1;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button3;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button2;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button1;
private System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel tableLayoutPanel2;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button4;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button5;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button6;
private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;
public LocalizableForm()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void AddText(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
((Button)sender).Text += "x";
}
protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
if (disposing && (components != null))
{
components.Dispose();
}
base.Dispose(disposing);
}
private void InitializeComponent()
{
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup listViewGroup16 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup("First Group", System.Windows.Forms.HorizontalAlignment.Left);
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup listViewGroup17 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup("Second Group", System.Windows.Forms.HorizontalAlignment.Left);
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup listViewGroup18 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup("Third Group", System.Windows.Forms.HorizontalAlignment.Left);
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem listViewItem26 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 1");
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem listViewItem27 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 2");
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem listViewItem28 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 3");
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem listViewItem29 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 4");
System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem listViewItem30 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 5");
this.tableLayoutPanel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel();
this.listView1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListView();
this.panel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
this.button3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.button2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.button1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.tableLayoutPanel2 = new System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel();
this.button4 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.button5 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.button6 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
this.tableLayoutPanel1.SuspendLayout();
this.panel1.SuspendLayout();
this.tableLayoutPanel2.SuspendLayout();
this.SuspendLayout();
//
// tableLayoutPanel1
//
this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnCount = 2;
this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle());
this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 100F));
this.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(this.listView1, 1, 0);
this.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(this.panel1, 0, 0);
this.tableLayoutPanel1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(2, 52);
this.tableLayoutPanel1.Name = "tableLayoutPanel1";
this.tableLayoutPanel1.RowCount = 1;
this.tableLayoutPanel1.RowStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 50F));
this.tableLayoutPanel1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(524, 270);
this.tableLayoutPanel1.TabIndex = 1;
//
// listView1
//
this.listView1.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;
listViewGroup16.Header = "First Group";
listViewGroup16.Name = null;
listViewGroup17.Header = "Second Group";
listViewGroup17.Name = null;
listViewGroup18.Header = "Third Group";
listViewGroup18.Name = null;
this.listView1.Groups.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup[] {
listViewGroup16,
listViewGroup17,
listViewGroup18});
//this.listView1.IsBackgroundImageTiled = false;
listViewItem26.Group = listViewGroup16;
listViewItem27.Group = listViewGroup16;
listViewItem28.Group = listViewGroup17;
listViewItem29.Group = listViewGroup17;
listViewItem30.Group = listViewGroup18;
this.listView1.Items.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem[] {
listViewItem26,
listViewItem27,
listViewItem28,
listViewItem29,
listViewItem30});
this.listView1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(90, 3);
this.listView1.Name = "listView1";
this.listView1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(431, 264);
this.listView1.TabIndex = 1;
//
// panel1
//
this.panel1.Anchor = System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top;
this.panel1.AutoSize = true;
this.panel1.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoSizeMode.GrowAndShrink;
this.panel1.Controls.Add(this.button3);
this.panel1.Controls.Add(this.button2);
this.panel1.Controls.Add(this.button1);
this.panel1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 3);
this.panel1.Name = "panel1";
this.panel1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(81, 86);
this.panel1.TabIndex = 2;
//
// button3
//
this.button3.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button3.AutoSize = true;
this.button3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 60);
this.button3.Name = "button3";
this.button3.TabIndex = 2;
this.button3.Text = "Add Text";
this.button3.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.AddText);
//
// button2
//
this.button2.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button2.AutoSize = true;
this.button2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 31);
this.button2.Name = "button2";
this.button2.TabIndex = 1;
this.button2.Text = "Add Text";
this.button2.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.AddText);
//
// button1
//
this.button1.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button1.AutoSize = true;
this.button1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 2);
this.button1.Name = "button1";
this.button1.TabIndex = 0;
this.button1.Text = "Add Text";
this.button1.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.AddText);
//
// tableLayoutPanel2
//
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.tableLayoutPanel2.AutoSize = true;
this.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnCount = 3;
this.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33.33333F));
this.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33.33333F));
this.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33.33333F));
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(this.button4, 0, 0);
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(this.button5, 1, 0);
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(this.button6, 2, 0);
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(284, 328);
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Name = "tableLayoutPanel2";
this.tableLayoutPanel2.RowCount = 1;
this.tableLayoutPanel2.RowStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle());
this.tableLayoutPanel2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(243, 34);
this.tableLayoutPanel2.TabIndex = 2;
//
// button4
//
this.button4.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button4.AutoSize = true;
this.button4.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 5);
this.button4.Name = "button4";
this.button4.TabIndex = 0;
this.button4.Text = "Add Text";
this.button4.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.AddText);
//
// button5
//
this.button5.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button5.AutoSize = true;
this.button5.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(84, 5);
this.button5.Name = "button5";
this.button5.TabIndex = 1;
this.button5.Text = "Add Text";
this.button5.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.AddText);
//
// button6
//
this.button6.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button6.AutoSize = true;
this.button6.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(165, 5);
this.button6.Name = "button6";
this.button6.TabIndex = 2;
this.button6.Text = "Add Text";
this.button6.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.AddText);
//
// label1
//
this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(8, 7);
this.label1.Name = "label1";
this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(518, 40);
this.label1.TabIndex = 3;
this.label1.Text = "Click on any button to add text to the button. This simulates localizing strings," +
" and provides a good demonstration of how the dialog will automatically adjust w" +
"hen those longer strings are added to the UI.";
//
// LocalizableForm
//
this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(539, 374);
this.Controls.Add(this.label1);
this.Controls.Add(this.tableLayoutPanel2);
this.Controls.Add(this.tableLayoutPanel1);
this.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedSingle;
this.Name = "LocalizableForm";
this.Text = "Localizable Dialog";
this.tableLayoutPanel1.ResumeLayout(false);
this.tableLayoutPanel1.PerformLayout();
this.panel1.ResumeLayout(false);
this.panel1.PerformLayout();
this.tableLayoutPanel2.ResumeLayout(false);
this.tableLayoutPanel2.PerformLayout();
this.ResumeLayout(false);
this.PerformLayout();
}
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.Run(new LocalizableForm());
}
}
}
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Public Class LocalizableForm
Inherits Form
Private tableLayoutPanel1 As System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel
Private listView1 As System.Windows.Forms.ListView
Private panel1 As System.Windows.Forms.Panel
Private WithEvents button3 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
Private WithEvents button2 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
Private WithEvents button1 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
Private tableLayoutPanel2 As System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel
Private WithEvents button4 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
Private WithEvents button5 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
Private WithEvents button6 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
Private label1 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer = Nothing
Public Sub New()
InitializeComponent()
End Sub
Private Sub AddText(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles button3.Click, button2.Click, button1.Click, button4.Click, button5.Click, button6.Click
CType(sender, Button).Text += "x"
End Sub
Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(disposing As Boolean)
If disposing AndAlso (components IsNot Nothing) Then
components.Dispose()
End If
MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
End Sub
Private Sub InitializeComponent()
Dim listViewGroup16 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup("First Group", System.Windows.Forms.HorizontalAlignment.Left)
Dim listViewGroup17 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup("Second Group", System.Windows.Forms.HorizontalAlignment.Left)
Dim listViewGroup18 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup("Third Group", System.Windows.Forms.HorizontalAlignment.Left)
Dim listViewItem26 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 1")
Dim listViewItem27 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 2")
Dim listViewItem28 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 3")
Dim listViewItem29 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 4")
Dim listViewItem30 As New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem("Item 5")
Me.tableLayoutPanel1 = New System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel()
Me.listView1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ListView()
Me.panel1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Panel()
Me.button3 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
Me.button2 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
Me.button1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
Me.tableLayoutPanel2 = New System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel()
Me.button4 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
Me.button5 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
Me.button6 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
Me.label1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.SuspendLayout()
Me.panel1.SuspendLayout()
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.SuspendLayout()
Me.SuspendLayout()
'
' tableLayoutPanel1
'
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnCount = 2
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle())
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 100F))
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(Me.listView1, 1, 0)
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(Me.panel1, 0, 0)
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(2, 52)
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.Name = "tableLayoutPanel1"
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.RowCount = 1
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 50F))
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(524, 270)
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.TabIndex = 1
'
' listView1
'
Me.listView1.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill
listViewGroup16.Header = "First Group"
listViewGroup16.Name = Nothing
listViewGroup17.Header = "Second Group"
listViewGroup17.Name = Nothing
listViewGroup18.Header = "Third Group"
listViewGroup18.Name = Nothing
Me.listView1.Groups.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewGroup() {listViewGroup16, listViewGroup17, listViewGroup18})
'this.listView1.IsBackgroundImageTiled = false;
listViewItem26.Group = listViewGroup16
listViewItem27.Group = listViewGroup16
listViewItem28.Group = listViewGroup17
listViewItem29.Group = listViewGroup17
listViewItem30.Group = listViewGroup18
Me.listView1.Items.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem() {listViewItem26, listViewItem27, listViewItem28, listViewItem29, listViewItem30})
Me.listView1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(90, 3)
Me.listView1.Name = "listView1"
Me.listView1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(431, 264)
Me.listView1.TabIndex = 1
'
' panel1
'
Me.panel1.Anchor = System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top
Me.panel1.AutoSize = True
Me.panel1.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoSizeMode.GrowAndShrink
Me.panel1.Controls.Add(Me.button3)
Me.panel1.Controls.Add(Me.button2)
Me.panel1.Controls.Add(Me.button1)
Me.panel1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 3)
Me.panel1.Name = "panel1"
Me.panel1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(81, 86)
Me.panel1.TabIndex = 2
'
' button3
'
Me.button3.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.button3.AutoSize = True
Me.button3.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 60)
Me.button3.Name = "button3"
Me.button3.TabIndex = 2
Me.button3.Text = "Add Text"
'
' button2
'
Me.button2.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.button2.AutoSize = True
Me.button2.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 31)
Me.button2.Name = "button2"
Me.button2.TabIndex = 1
Me.button2.Text = "Add Text"
'
' button1
'
Me.button1.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.button1.AutoSize = True
Me.button1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 2)
Me.button1.Name = "button1"
Me.button1.TabIndex = 0
Me.button1.Text = "Add Text"
'
' tableLayoutPanel2
'
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.AutoSize = True
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnCount = 3
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33.33333F))
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33.33333F))
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.ColumnStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33.33333F))
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(Me.button4, 0, 0)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(Me.button5, 1, 0)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(Me.button6, 2, 0)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(284, 328)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Name = "tableLayoutPanel2"
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.RowCount = 1
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle())
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(243, 34)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.TabIndex = 2
'
' button4
'
Me.button4.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.button4.AutoSize = True
Me.button4.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 5)
Me.button4.Name = "button4"
Me.button4.TabIndex = 0
Me.button4.Text = "Add Text"
'
' button5
'
Me.button5.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.button5.AutoSize = True
Me.button5.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(84, 5)
Me.button5.Name = "button5"
Me.button5.TabIndex = 1
Me.button5.Text = "Add Text"
'
' button6
'
Me.button6.Anchor = CType(System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right, System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
Me.button6.AutoSize = True
Me.button6.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(165, 5)
Me.button6.Name = "button6"
Me.button6.TabIndex = 2
Me.button6.Text = "Add Text"
'
' label1
'
Me.label1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 7)
Me.label1.Name = "label1"
Me.label1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(518, 40)
Me.label1.TabIndex = 3
Me.label1.Text = "Click on any button to add text to the button. This simulates localizing strings," + " and provides a good demonstration of how the dialog will automatically adjust w" + "hen those longer strings are added to the UI."
'
' LocalizableForm
'
Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(539, 374)
Me.Controls.Add(label1)
Me.Controls.Add(tableLayoutPanel2)
Me.Controls.Add(tableLayoutPanel1)
Me.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedSingle
Me.Name = "LocalizableForm"
Me.Text = "Localizable Dialog"
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.ResumeLayout(False)
Me.tableLayoutPanel1.PerformLayout()
Me.panel1.ResumeLayout(False)
Me.panel1.PerformLayout()
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.ResumeLayout(False)
Me.tableLayoutPanel2.PerformLayout()
Me.ResumeLayout(False)
Me.PerformLayout()
End Sub
<STAThread()> _
Shared Sub Main()
Application.EnableVisualStyles()
Application.Run(New LocalizableForm())
End Sub
End Class
Additional resources
How to: Align and Stretch a Control in a TableLayoutPanel Control
Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using a FlowLayoutPanel
Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using a TableLayoutPanel
Walkthrough: Laying Out Windows Forms Controls with Padding, Margins, and the AutoSize Property
How to: Support Localization on Windows Forms Using AutoSize and the TableLayoutPanel Control
Walkthrough: Creating a Resizable Windows Form for Data Entry
Compiling the Code
This example requires:
- References to the System, System.Data, System.Drawing and System.Windows.Forms assemblies.
See also
Collaborate with us on GitHub
The source for this content can be found on GitHub, where you can also create and review issues and pull requests. For more information, see our contributor guide.
.NET Desktop feedback
Feedback
Coming soon: Throughout 2024 we will be phasing out GitHub Issues as the feedback mechanism for content and replacing it with a new feedback system. For more information see: https://aka.ms/ContentUserFeedback.
Submit and view feedback for