Movable Dynamic Controls

Hey guys,
here is the deal, imagine that i've a fullscreen form, and when clicking on a button, it will create a new control, a control that could be selected and moved.

I know that they are dynamic controls, but anyone know how to make them with the specific things i've said? A kind of dynamic controls allowing drag & drop to another position...

Regards

1) Create an instance of the control
2) Add instance to the controls collection of the form.
3) Add handlers using....AddHandler to handle dragging and dropping.
4) Set properties.

That third one can get tricky, depending on where you want to be able to drop it. You stated that you just want it on the form, so one thing you could do is to add handlers for the MouseDown and MouseUp events. On MouseDown, record some information such as the control and the mouse position. On MouseMove, alter the Top and Left properties so that the control follows the mouse around (move the control by the same amount as the mouse has moved). There would be a variety of effects that could be created depending on how you tracked the mouse movement, but I was thinking along the lines of moving the control as long as the mouse button is down, and releasing the control on MouseUp.

It will be over a Windows Media Player Control.

Should I make a class to it?

Imagine that I want every time I press a button, it creates a PictureBox.

What then?

I haven't worked with Windows Media Player and don't even have a good idea as to what it is. Therefore, anything I say may be utterly irrelevant.

Oddly, just in the last week I had cause to write a function to create pictureboxes dynamically. The handlers are relatively few, and the properties are equally meager, but it suited my needs. Here's what the function looked like:

Code:

---

Private Function CreatePB(ByVal top As Integer, ByVal left As Integer, ByVal height As Integer, ByVal width As Integer, ByVal name As String) As PictureBox
        Dim pb = New PictureBox

        pb.Name = name
        pb.Top = top
        pb.Left = left
        pb.Width = width
        pb.Height = height
        pb.AllowDrop = True
        pb.BackColor = Color.LightGray
        pb.SizeMode = PictureBoxSizeMode.StretchImage

        AddHandler pb.MouseDown, AddressOf pbMouseDown
        AddHandler pb.DragDrop, AddressOf pbDragDrop
        AddHandler pb.DragEnter, AddressOf pbDragEnter

        Return pb
    End Function

---

All the pictureboxes created like this used the same event handlers for drag and drop functionality.

One thing to keep in mind is that you would want to cap the maximum number of picture box controls, or you will have them all over the place, which will become a nightmare.

There's (at least) two threads in the codebank that show you how to move and resize controls during run-time.

With my version, all you need to do is add the posted class to your project, and create new instances of it while passing the control you want to become movable + resizable:

Code:

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Dim moveButton As New MoveControl(Button1)

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Then you can set properties such as which directions it is resizable from (possibly none).

There's another thread about the same thing but I haven't really tried it. Not sure how that works.

vb.net Code:

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
     ' Creates a button (any control can be created like that)
     ' and sets its properties 
     Dim btn As New Button With { _
            .Width = 200, _
            .Height = 20, _
            .Left = 10, _
            .Top = 10, _
            .Text = "Click me"}
 
     ' Add the button to the form's control collection
     Me.Controls.Add(btn)
 
     ' Wire the Click event
     AddHandler btn.Click, AddressOf btn_click
 
End Sub
 
Private Sub btn_click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
    MsgBox ("Button clicked")
End Sub

:lol: Too late, I guess

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cicatrix

:lol: Too late, I guess

---

That, and how is your button movable? :p

Sorry guys, but I've tried to find the code that NickThissen was talking about, but I couldn't find it.

Can you give me a hand?

Thanks

have a look at the move / resize controls link in my signature

Got it :) And how can I refer to a control that doesn't exist?

My thread was also in my signature:
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?p=3509289

You can't refer to a control that doesn't exist. How does that even make sense?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NickThissen

You can't refer to a control that doesn't exist. How does that even make sense?

---

Well, to a dynamic control.

Anyone? I want to refer the drag'n'drop properties to the dynamic control. How can I do it?

can you show us your code?

You can access any dynamic controls after you've created them by either referring to the form's controls collection, or by creating your own collection for your dynamic picture boxes and adding each one to that collection as you create it (as well as to the form's controls collection).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cicatrix

vb.net Code:

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
     ' Creates a button (any control can be created like that)
     ' and sets its properties 
     Dim btn As New Button With { _
            .Width = 200, _
            .Height = 20, _
            .Left = 10, _
            .Top = 10, _
            .Text = "Click me"}
 
     ' Add the button to the form's control collection
     Me.Controls.Add(btn)
 
     ' Wire the Click event
     AddHandler btn.Click, AddressOf btn_click
 
End Sub
 
Private Sub btn_click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
    MsgBox ("Button clicked")
End Sub

:lol: Too late, I guess

---

Well, Imagine that I want it to create everytime I press the button it will create a new instance of dynamic control (and therefore, sizeable and moveable), how could I do that? Creating individual instances?

Quote:

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Well, Imagine that I want it to create everytime I press the button it will create a new instance of dynamic control (and therefore, sizeable and moveable), how could I do that? Creating individual instances?

---

How about

Quote:

---

You can access any dynamic controls after you've created them by either referring to the form's controls collection, or by creating your own collection for your dynamic picture boxes and adding each one to that collection as you create it (as well as to the form's controls collection).

---

Well, that wasn't the answer for my question.

I asked how to create different instances of dynamic controls (forget the sizeable and moveable for now).

With that code referred in the last post, I can only create one instance of dynamic control.

put that code in a button_click event

Quote:

---

Well, that wasn't the answer for my question.

I asked how to create different instances of dynamic controls (forget the sizeable and moveable for now).

With that code referred in the last post, I can only create one instance of dynamic control.

---

If you have a new question you should really post it in a new thread, however every time you run cicatrix's code it will create a new control.

If you took it out into a separate sub then you can call it 10 times and get 10 new controls :

Code:

---


Private Sub Create10NewButtons

    For X as integer = 1 to 10
        AddNewButton
    Next N

End Sub

Private Sub AddNewButton

    ' Creates a button (any control can be created like that)
    ' and sets its properties
    Dim btn As New Button With { _
            .Width = 200, _
            .Height = 20, _
            .Left = 10, _
            .Top = 10, _
            .Text = "Click me"}

    ' Add the button to the form's control collection
    Me.Controls.Add(btn)

    ' Wire the Click event
    AddHandler btn.Click, AddressOf btn_click

End Sub

Private Sub btn_click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)

    MsgBox ("Button clicked")

End Sub

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by keystone_paul

If you have a new question you should really post it in a new thread, however every time you run cicatrix's code it will create a new control.

If you took it out into a separate sub then you can call it 10 times and get 10 new controls :

Code:

---


Private Sub Create10NewButtons

    For X as integer = 1 to 10
        AddNewButton
    Next N

End Sub

Private Sub AddNewButton

    ' Creates a button (any control can be created like that)
    ' and sets its properties
    Dim btn As New Button With { _
            .Width = 200, _
            .Height = 20, _
            .Left = 10, _
            .Top = 10, _
            .Text = "Click me"}

    ' Add the button to the form's control collection
    Me.Controls.Add(btn)

    ' Wire the Click event
    AddHandler btn.Click, AddressOf btn_click

End Sub

---

---

you'll only see 1 button though because they're all stacked up on top of each other

Quote:

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you'll only see 1 button though because they're all stacked up on top of each other

---

Indeed, although it will still create the 10 buttons.

try this:

vb Code:

Public Class Form5
 
    Private Sub Form5_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        'creates 2 rows of 5 buttons
        For x As Integer = 1 To 10
            AddNewButton(x)
        Next
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub AddNewButton(ByVal index As Integer)
 
        ' Creates a button (any control can be created like that)
        ' and sets its properties
        Dim btn As New Button With { _
               .Width = 75, _
               .Height = 20, _
               .Left = CInt(If(index <= 5, 10 + ((index - 1) * 75), 10 + ((index - 6) * 75))), _
               .Top = CInt(If(index <= 5, 10, 30)), _
               .Tag = index, _
               .Text = "Click me"}
 
        ' Add the button to the form's control collection
        Me.Controls.Add(btn)
 
        ' Wire the Click event
        AddHandler btn.Click, AddressOf btn_click
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub btn_click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
        MsgBox("you clicked button" & DirectCast(sender, Button).Tag.ToString)
    End Sub
 
End Class

Thanks for all the answers, and sorry about bein' noob in the community.

Well, now I've a "problem".

Maybe a logical problem, I will only have the dynamic control available when I click the button to create it, right? 'Cause in the running of the software I don't know if I want to create the control otherwise I click the button.

So, how can I add the handler for the DLL provided (http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...85#post3714785) for a control that haven't been added to the controls list?

I'm not sure where you are going... if you mean how do you refer to a dynamic control after you've created it then I'll refer you again to my post above... either add it to a custom collection as you create it, or interrogate the form's Controls collection.

we need to see your code to see how far you've got

I've this:

vb Code:

Public Class PreviewFrm
 
    Dim worker As MoveResizeControl.controlHandler
 
    'Declarar controlo
    Dim btn As New Button With { _
       .Width = 200, _
       .Height = 200, _
       .Left = 10, _
       .Top = 10, _
       .Text = "Nova caixa de informação", _
       .BackColor = Color.Transparent, _
       .FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup}
 
    Private Sub PreviewFrm_MouseDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Me.MouseDown
        worker.deselectAll()
        Invalidate()
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub PreviewFrm_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
        If worker.boundingRectangle <> Nothing Then
            Dim p As New Pen(Color.Black, 1)
            p.DashStyle = Drawing2D.DashStyle.Dash
            e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(p, worker.boundingRectangle)
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub PreviewFrm_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        ' Inicializar DLL do Resize e movimento de controlos dinâmicos
        worker = New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler
        worker.boundControls.Add(New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler.boundControl(Me, btn))
        worker.bindControls()
 
 
        Me.Width = My.Computer.Screen.Bounds.Width
        Me.Height = My.Computer.Screen.Bounds.Height
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub btn_config_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn_config.Click
        ConfigDesignForm.Show()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub btn_additems_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn_additems.Click
        Me.Controls.Add(btn)
        btn.BringToFront()
    End Sub
End Class

Well, now I've changed somethings. I declared the object first.

Now I've another problem. While "moving" or "resizing", it 'crashes'. Imagine that I'm moving it, it moves something like 10pixels, stay with the hand cursor, but it 'crashes' there. Don't happen anything more. It freezes. Suggestions?

try this:

vb Code:

Public Class PreviewFrm
 
    Dim worker As MoveResizeControl.controlHandler = Nothing
 
    Private Sub PreviewFrm_MouseDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Me.MouseDown
        If worker IsNot Nothing Then
            worker.deselectAll()
            Invalidate()
        End If
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub PreviewFrm_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
        If worker IsNot Nothing Then
            If worker.boundingRectangle <> Nothing Then
                Dim p As New Pen(Color.Black, 1)
                p.DashStyle = Drawing2D.DashStyle.Dash
                e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(p, worker.boundingRectangle)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub PreviewFrm_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
 
        Me.Width = My.Computer.Screen.Bounds.Width
        Me.Height = My.Computer.Screen.Bounds.Height
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub btn_config_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn_config.Click
        ConfigDesignForm.Show()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub btn_additems_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn_additems.Click
        'Declarar controlo
        Dim btn As New Button With { _
           .Width = 200, _
           .Height = 200, _
           .Left = 10, _
           .Top = 10, _
           .Text = "Nova caixa de informação", _
           .BackColor = Color.Transparent, _
           .FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup}
 
        ' Inicializar DLL do Resize e movimento de controlos dinâmicos
        worker = New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler
        worker.boundControls.Add(New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler.boundControl(Me, btn))
        worker.bindControls()
 
        Me.Controls.Add(btn)
        btn.BringToFront()
    End Sub
End Class

Still crashing :( thanks anyway..

try this:

vb Code:

Private Sub btn_additems_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn_additems.Click
    'Declarar controlo
    Dim btn As New Button With { _
       .Width = 200, _
       .Height = 200, _
       .Left = 10, _
       .Top = 10, _
       .Text = "Nova caixa de informação", _
       .BackColor = Color.Transparent, _
       .FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup}
 
 
    Me.Controls.Add(btn)
    btn.BringToFront()
 
    ' Inicializar DLL do Resize e movimento de controlos dinâmicos
    If worker Is Nothing Then
        worker = New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler
    End If
    worker.boundControls.Add(New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler.boundControl(Me, btn))
    worker.bindControls()
 
End Sub

Still nothing. Grrr, I've been trying to explore the code, but can't see where is it failing, or what's the error..

Hi Paul,

Referring to your Move and Resize Control, when I add a panel to it(all the control move into the panel), the border that show for resizing and moving the control tends to move out or does not fit exactly to the current position of the control selected.

What can I do, so that the border's position fit exactly to the selected control???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tearsculprit

Hi Paul,

Referring to your Move and Resize Control, when I add a panel to it(all the control move into the panel), the border that show for resizing and moving the control tends to move out or does not fit exactly to the current position of the control selected.

What can I do, so that the border's position fit exactly to the selected control???

---

Sorry, but if you don't mind create a new topic with your doubt.. :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SirPereira

Sorry, but if you don't mind create a new topic with your doubt.. :rolleyes:

---

Opps, Sorry for that :p

SirPereira, if you want to zip + post your project, i'll try to get it up + running for you

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tearsculprit

Hi Paul,

Referring to your Move and Resize Control, when I add a panel to it(all the control move into the panel), the border that show for resizing and moving the control tends to move out or does not fit exactly to the current position of the control selected.

What can I do, so that the border's position fit exactly to the selected control???

---

can you post a screenshot?

I hope you understand something of the code lol.

http://rapidshare.com/files/36432551...tudio.zip.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by .paul.

can you post a screenshot?

---

Is it Ok if I post it here??? :p

yeah post it in this thread. i'm sure sirpereira won't mind...

Add a Panel and all the control move inside the panel.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/2953/panelix.th.jpg


When running the application, the border does not fit to the control inside the panel.
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2558/29048116.th.jpg


I did make some changes to the value of Location = New Point() to make it fit well to the control...
But do not know if i did the right things...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SirPereira

I hope you understand something of the code lol.

http://rapidshare.com/files/36432551...tudio.zip.html

---

the problem was the wmp fills the form. i modified it for you

http://www.scproject.biz/Zepphire%20TV%20Studio.zip

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tearsculprit

Add a Panel and all the control move inside the panel.
http://www.vbforums.com/


When running the application, the border does not fit to the control inside the panel.
http://www.vbforums.com/


I did make some changes to the value of Location = New Point() to make it fit well to the control...
But do not know if i did the right things...

---

ok i'll check it over tomorrow. i've gotta get some sleep

tearsculprit, are the controls in the panel or on the form?

if they're on the form, you bind them with:

vb Code:

worker.boundControls.Add(New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler.boundControl(Me, Button1))

and if they're in the panel:

vb Code:

worker.boundControls.Add(New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler.boundControl(Panel1, Button1))

then you also need to use the panel's MouseDown + Paint events instead of the form's events

Quote:

---

and if they're in the panel:

vb Code:

worker.boundControls.Add(New MoveResizeControl.controlHandler.boundControl(Panel1, Button1))

then you also need to use the panel's MouseDown + Paint events instead of the form's events

---

It works great, but when I drag the control over the initial size of the panel, the auto scroll function is on and is extending the size of panel, when I click on any place of the panel, a running error occurs (NullReferenceException - Object reference not set to an instance of an object.)... So what should I do to handle this type of error???

vb Code:

Private Sub mControl_Move(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
        activeControl.Invalidate() '<-- This line having error
        Application.DoEvents()
        drawBoundingRectangle()
        paintresize()
End Sub