Maximizing Forms

[woodyaj]

How do you maximize a form in VB so that it sits on top of the taskbar, like every other application, rather than hide the bottom 1/4 inch behind it.

I have an application with some controls near the bottom of the form that are moved when maximized, but the sit partly obscured by the taskbar.

To illustrate what I mean, maximize any MS Office application, or Internet Explorer etc. They all but the bottom of the window, the part with the status bar above the taskbar. Now do the same with a VB form in VB6. It hides behind it.

It's possible with code, but I also need to check if the taskbar is Always On, or set to Autohide etc.

Please help.

[wengang]

Maybe I'm wrong here, so don't sue me.

I remember I was having the opposite problem when I wanted full screen apps but they were only going down to the taskbar.


Problem was: in code I made the dimensions of the form equal screen dimensions

but I left the Forms startup position at Windows default.

It would only go down to the taskbar.

When I switched to Center Screen, problem went away.

So, maybe the answer is for you to do the opposite.
hope it helps.

[woodyaj]

Problem is, all my screens are set to Center so they look nice. The form itself behaves, by sitting on top of the taskbar, it's just that the controls sit behind it.

In code, I have used the command1.top=form1.height-(command1.height+100)

so that the command button can be seen totally, and the bottom of the button is 100 above the bottom of the form.

I have had to calculate where this shuld be if the taskbar is always visible, and also if not, but I cannot, in VB, test to see if the taskbar is visible or not.

A bit of a faff, and, silly me, I assumed VB would have a proprty control to handle all this.

[wengang]

It's interesting to consider.

I don't have as much energy as curiosity, but have you considered this?

If you were to make your Taskbar visible, then change it to invisible, that would change a file somewhere in the computer. So, you just change it back and forth, then check the FIND FILES at win start button. See which file changes
copy that, then do it again and compare against the old copy of the file.
WHen you penpoint what the settings are and which file they are in, you can point your program to the file to see what it is set on.

I know that sounds outrageous and there probably is a better way thru simple code. If I come across it, i'll post again.

Cheers.

[wengang]

You know what?

what a waste of time.

I just tried that and the changes are to

User.Dat
DESKTOP.ini

actually the second one showed no actual change

and the first one is all scrambled up. It would be impossible to get anything from it.


Sorry.

[HeSaidJoe]

If you use a form with no controlbox or caption it will cover the entire screen (taskbar included). Other wise it's the settings propery of always on top that shows the taskbar...however, I don't know how to access this from vb code but someone will.