2005 why is this so slow? form resizing

[georgeburns]

I'm trying to make my form resize itself in a stretchable type way... the code is working (converted from vb6), however in VB 2005 it is really slow to move the objects. My form has about 100 objects and it is taking approx 4 seconds to move all the controls to where they need to be.

Any way to speed this up?

p.s. I've been using vb for about 5 days, so I'm pretty ignorant.

-george

Public Class Form1

 
    
    Private m_ControlPositions() As ControlPositionType
    Private m_FormWid As Single
    Private m_FormHgt As Single

    

Private Sub SaveSizes()
        Dim i As Integer
        Dim ctl As Control

        ' Save the controls' positions and sizes.
        ReDim m_ControlPositions(0 To Controls.Count)
        i = 0
        For Each ctl In Controls
            With m_ControlPositions(i)
                .Left = ctl.Left
                .Top = ctl.Top
                .Width = ctl.Width
                .Height = ctl.Height

                On Error Resume Next
                .FontSize = ctl.Font.Size
                .daFont = ctl.Font.Style

                On Error GoTo 0
            End With
            i = i + 1
        Next ctl
        ' Save the form's size.
        m_FormWid = Me.Width
        m_FormHgt = Me.Height
    End Sub




' Arrange the controls for the new size.
    Private Sub ResizeControls()
        Dim i As Integer
        Dim ctl As Control
        Dim x_scale As Single
        Dim y_scale As Single
        Dim font_scale As Single
        Dim oldfontsize As Single

        ' Get the form's current scale factors.
        x_scale = Me.Width / m_FormWid
        y_scale = Me.Height / m_FormHgt
        font_scale = (y_scale + x_scale / 2)


       



 ' Reposition the controls.

        i = 0
        For Each ctl In Controls
            With m_ControlPositions(i)
                If ctl.Name <> "MenuStrip1" Then
                    oldfontsize = .FontSize
                    ctl.Left = x_scale * .Left
                    ctl.Top = y_scale * .Top
                    ctl.Width = x_scale * .Width
                    ctl.Height = y_scale * .Height
                    On Error Resume Next
                    ctl.Font = New Font(ctl.Font.Name, oldfontsize * font_scale)
                Else
                End If
                On Error GoTo 0

            End With
            i = i + 1
        Next ctl

        ' Save the form's size.
        m_FormWid = Me.Width
        m_FormHgt = Me.Height

    End Sub

    
 Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        SaveSizes()

Private Sub Form1_Resize(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Resize
        ResizeControls()
    End Sub




SaveSizes()

[jmcilhinney]

If you want to create a complex layout that maintains various absolute and relative proportions when resized you should use one or more TableLayoutPanel objects. There is a tutorial included in the VB Express instructional video series.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/ex...b/default.aspx

[georgeburns]

If you want to create a complex layout that maintains various absolute and relative proportions when resized you should use one or more TableLayoutPanel objects. There is a tutorial included in the VB Express instructional video series.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/ex...b/default.aspx

I originally tried to go that route using various anchors/docking, but it is not capable of making everything scalable such as fonts. The form grows, but the text sizes stayed the same. I really need to make this form "stretchy." so far, the above code is the only thing that worked.

[jmcilhinney]

The TLP will handle all the controls Location and Size. If you want to change the font sizes then just handle the SizeChanged events of the controls and set the font size relative to the size of the control. Having said that, controls can resize both horizontally and vertically without maintaining aspect ratio while fonts can't.

[RobDog888]

Also, with your code you shouldnt be simulating a movement by setting all four properties (left, top, widht, height) when its better performance to use the .Move method (less screen updates).

[georgeburns]

Also, with your code you shouldnt be simulating a movement by setting all four properties (left, top, widht, height) when its better performance to use the .Move method (less screen updates).

Hmm.. I thought the .move method was for VB6 only. Could you possibly give an example how to make it work in 2005?

I did change the height, width, x, y, to a setbounds method and it doubled the speed... however, I'm still seeing the controls move individually, and it looks bad. How does this .move thing work?

[RobDog888]

Yes, you are correct. Its equilivalent its the .Location and .Size properties, still better then individule properties.

Bitten again by posting under VB 6 and .NET forums lol.

[georgeburns]

Yes, you are correct. Its equilivalent its the .Location and .Size properties, still better then individule properties.

Bitten again by posting under VB 6 and .NET forums lol.

Sorry if my post was confusing...

I changed the code to a .location .size format... but still didn't speed it up... i'm going to change it on the save size side as well... here is what I have changed so far....

    Private Sub ResizeControls()
        Dim i As Integer
        Dim ctl As Control
        Dim x_scale As Double
        Dim y_scale As Single
        Dim font_scale As Single
        Dim oldfontsize As Single

        ' Get the form's current scale factors.
        x_scale = Me.Width / m_FormWid
        y_scale = Me.Height / m_FormHgt
        font_scale = (y_scale + x_scale / 2)


        ' Reposition the controls.
        i = 0
        For Each ctl In Controls
            With m_ControlPositions(i)
                If ctl.Name <> "MenuStrip1" Then
                    ctl.Location = New Point(x_scale * .Left, y_scale * .Top)
                    ctl.Size = New Size(x_scale * .Width, y_scale * .Height)
                    oldfontsize = .FontSize
                    On Error Resume Next
                    ctl.Font = New Font(ctl.Font.Name, oldfontsize * font_scale)
                Else
                End If
                On Error GoTo 0

            End With
            i = i + 1
        Next ctl
    End Sub

[jmcilhinney]

This:

myControl.Bounds = New Rectangle(x, y, width, height)

is equivalent to this:

myControl.SuspendLayout()
myControl.Left = x
myControl.Top = y
myControl.Width = width
myControl.Height = height
myControl.ResumeLayout()

[RobDog888]

But you are not using SuspendLayout/ResumeLayout too.

[georgeburns]

But you are not using SuspendLayout/ResumeLayout too.

Sorry for being so annoying...

I added a suspendlayout and resumelayout to the form and to the individual controls and vice versa. Still lagging.

Is there some kind of a SuspendPaintTillDoneDoingCalculations? So it can just write all the controls at once without having to do the math for each position?

-george

[RobDog888]

What event are you calling the procedure?

[georgeburns]

What event are you calling the procedure?

From the form resize event.

[RobDog888]

About the only thing you can probably do is over ride the OnResize event of the form and place your code in there. Also, dependiong on how your needs are for resizing, couldnt you make do with most controls just being anchored so you will only need to size certain ones?

[georgeburns]

About the only thing you can probably do is over ride the OnResize event of the form and place your code in there. Also, dependiong on how your needs are for resizing, couldnt you make do with most controls just being anchored so you will only need to size certain ones?

I wish the anchoring thing would work. I guess I'm going to have to make do with knowing that the form is going to be displayed on a big screen for hours/days and that the resize event is only going to happen if the user decides to resize it for no reason. I think this is going to get filed in the "annoying for just me" folder.

I just hate that some VB6 coder made some beautiful form that looked exactly the same no matter what constrained proportions the user set it to and there was no lag in the redraw.

-thanks for your help guys... i guess I'm done beating my head on this wall.

this is what I finally came up with... just a tad bit faster...

                       'to save control positions for resizing
    Private m_ControlPositions() As ControlPositionType
    Private m_FormWid As Single
    Private m_FormHgt As Single

    ' Arrange the controls for the new size.
    Private Sub ResizeControls()
        Dim i As Integer
        Dim ctl As Control
        Dim x_scale As Single
        Dim y_scale As Single
        Dim font_scale As Single

        ' Get the form's current scale factors.
        x_scale = Me.Width / m_FormWid
        y_scale = Me.Height / m_FormHgt
        font_scale = (y_scale + x_scale / 2)


        ' Reposition the controls.
        i = 0
        For Each ctl In Controls
            With m_ControlPositions(i)

                If ctl.Name <> "MenuStrip1" Then
                    Dim x As Single
                    Dim y As Single
                    Dim h As Single
                    Dim w As Single
                    Dim fs As Single
                    fs = .FontSize * font_scale
                    x = x_scale * .Left
                    y = y_scale * .Top
                    w = x_scale * .Width
                    h = y_scale * .Height
                    ctl.Bounds = (New Rectangle(x, y, w, h))
                    ctl.Font = New Font(ctl.Font.Name, fs)
                    On Error Resume Next

                Else
                End If
                On Error GoTo 0

            End With
            i = i + 1
        Next ctl

[RobDog888]

I see your still not using suspendlayout/resumelayout so what about placing a DoEvents in there to allow the CPU to update the drawing during the loop.

[georgeburns]

I see your still not using suspendlayout/resumelayout so what about placing a DoEvents in there to allow the CPU to update the drawing during the loop.

I put the suspendlayout/resumelayout before and after the call to the procedure. Also tried it within the procedure and for each control. All three options seemed to have little/no effect.

How would I go about putting a doevents? I haven't heard of that one yet.

-george

[RobDog888]

Application.DoEvents

Basically place it in your loop anywhere.