Minimize Form1 With MainForm Code [SOLVED]

[epixelman]

This does not work...

Private MainFormResize(blah blah)
If Me.WindowState.Minimized = True Then
    Form1.WindowState.Minimized = True
Else
    Form2.WindowState.Normal = True
End If
End Sub

All I want to do is minimize a modeless (toolbox window) form when I minimize the MainForm.

How do I minimize a 2nd visible form from the Main form??

Thanks

[kleinma]

This does not work...

Private MainFormResize(blah blah)
If Me.WindowState.Minimized = True Then
    Form1.WindowState.Minimized = True
Else
    Form2.WindowState.Normal = True
End If
End Sub

All I want to do is minimize a modeless (toolbox window) form when I minimize the MainForm.

How do I minimize a 2nd visible form from the Main form??


Thanks

you just arent setting the properties right... check the other post you made in here.. i answered it there

[epixelman]

This is a different question on minimizing a form, not displaying.

The other post is a mistake... duplicate

Thanks

[kleinma]

yeah but what I am saying is that you are not using those properties right..

Me.WindowState.Minimized will not evaluate to a boolean like you are trying.. I can tell you are coding without option strict on. I recommend putting it on.

Private MainFormResize(blah blah)
        If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
            Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
        Else
            Form2.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
        End If
End Sub

see what i mean

[epixelman]

I'm just getting into this .NET...

Is Option Strict like Option Explicit??

And where does it go?

[epixelman]

Private MainFormResize(blah blah)
        If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
            Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
        Else
            Form2.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
        End If
End Sub

Does this minimize both forms when I minimize the Main Form??

I am getting an error on line... (ref to non-standard member requires obj ref)

Private MainFormResize(blah blah)
If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
------>> Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
Else
------>> Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
End If
End Sub

I'm only trying to minimize Form1 (toolbox) when I minimize MainForm (that is the name)

Thanks

[kleinma]

I'm just getting into this .NET...

Is Option Strict like Option Explicit??

And where does it go?

yes and no..

they work together really, but you can have one on and one off vice versa..

your best bet is to put option strict and option explicit both on. This will ensure your code is as clean and correct as possible from a syntax point of view.

Option Strict requires explicit conversions of datatypes..

for example

Dim b As Boolean = "true"
this is setting a string datatype to a boolean (it converts it in the background), but if you had option strict on.. it would not let you do this.. you would have to do
Dim b As Boolean = true

maybe thats a bad example.. but i hope you get the idea..

here is a better example

Dim i As Integer = 100
MessageBox.Show(i)

with option strict, you need to make the integer a string.. because technically, the messagebox.show method needs a string, not an integer

Dim i As Integer = 100
MessageBox.Show(i.ToString)

you can turn on option strict and explict in the options so by default they are always on.. and you always have the option to specify them on or off in a specific class/form/module by coding it at the very top like option explicit in VB6

hope that helps...

[kleinma]

well where are Form1 and Form2 declared? what form are you calling the code from?

[epixelman]

It all comes from the MainForm...

Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
    Dim fForm1 As New Form1()
    fForm1.Show()
End Sub
        
Private Sub MainFormResize(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
    Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
Else
    Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
End If
End Sub

I am using SharpDevelop for my IDE. I do not have an option to set the "Option Explicit" and "Option Strict" on.

Where in raw code does it go?
Above the namespace section?

Thanks

[kleinma]

yes at the very top of everything... same place you would put option explicit

Option Explicit On
Option Strict On

your problem is that the scope of your form variables are limited to the subs you create them in... move the declarations for the forms to the module level...

Private fForm1 as Form1
 
Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
    fForm1 = New Form1()
    fForm1.Show()
End Sub
 
Private Sub MainFormResize(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
    Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
Else
    Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
End If
End Sub

[epixelman]

Module Level???

Where and how would I call them?

[kleinma]

i did the code for you..

basically what i mean is if you do this:

Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
    Dim fForm1 As New Form1()
    fForm1.Show()
End Sub

only this sub routine can see or access fForm1

if you put outside a routine (in the general declarations section) you can access it anywhere as long as there is a new instance created (which I do in the button click code i posted)

to put something at the entire form level, you declare it at the top, below the Class defenition, and below and inheritence or implements statements...

Public Class MyForm
Inherits System.WIndows.Forms.Form
Private fForm1 as Form1
 
Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
    fForm1 = New Form1()
    fForm1.Show()
End Sub
 
Private Sub MainFormResize(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
    Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
Else
    Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
End If
End Sub

[epixelman]

Here is my entire code...

Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
 
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
 
Namespace DisplayForms
    
    Public Class MainForm
        Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
        Private button1 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
        
        Public Shared Sub Main
            Dim fMainForm As New MainForm
            fMainForm.ShowDialog()
        End Sub
        
        Public Sub New()
            MyBase.New
            ' The Me.InitializeComponent call is required for Windows Forms designer support.
            Me.InitializeComponent
            ' Add constructor code after InitializeComponents
        End Sub
        
        #Region " Windows Forms Designer generated code "
        ' This method is required for Windows Forms designer support.
        ' Do not change the method contents inside the source code editor. The Forms designer might
        ' not be able to load this method if it was changed manually.
        Private Sub InitializeComponent()
            Me.button1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button
            Me.SuspendLayout
            '
            'button1
            '
            Me.button1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(40, 28)
            Me.button1.Name = "button1"
            Me.button1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(120, 40)
            Me.button1.TabIndex = 0
            Me.button1.Text = "button1"
            AddHandler Me.button1.Click, AddressOf Me.Button1Click
            '
            'MainForm
            '
            Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13)
            Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(560, 396)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.button1)
            Me.Name = "MainForm"
            Me.Text = "MainForm"
            AddHandler Resize, AddressOf Me.MainFormResize
            Me.ResumeLayout(false)
        End Sub
        #End Region
        
        Private fForm1 as Form1
 
        Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
            fForm1 = New Form1()
            fForm1.Show()
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub MainFormResize(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
            If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
                Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
            Else
                Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
            End If
        End Sub
        
    End Class
    
End Namespace

[kleinma]

move the

Private fForm1 As Form1 to below Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form and you should be ok

[epixelman]

This is what I have...

Public Class MainForm
            Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
            Private fForm1 As Form1
        End Class
        
        Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
            fForm1 = New Form1()
            fForm1.Show()
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub MainFormResize(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
            If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
                 Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
            Else
                 Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
            End If
        End Sub

I get error....

"fForm1 is not declared"

[epixelman]

I moved the "Private fForm As Form" to the top. I had two MainForm Classes.

Now I get the error... for lines...

---> Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
---> Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal

ERROR..

Ref to non-shared member requires an object ref.

[kleinma]

man I dont know what you are doing.. but it sure is wacky...

you have a public sub main in your MainForm class.. that declares a variable of type MainForm....

Option Explicit On 
Option Strict On
 
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
 
Namespace DisplayForms
    Public Class MainForm
        Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
        Private button1 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
        Private fForm1 As Form1
 
        Public Sub New()
            MyBase.New()
            ' The Me.InitializeComponent call is required for Windows Forms designer support.
            Me.InitializeComponent()
            ' Add constructor code after InitializeComponents
        End Sub
#Region " Windows Forms Designer generated code "
        ' This method is required for Windows Forms designer support.
        ' Do not change the method contents inside the source code editor. The Forms designer might
        ' not be able to load this method if it was changed manually.
        Private Sub InitializeComponent()
            Me.button1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button
            Me.SuspendLayout()
            '
            'button1
            '
            Me.button1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(40, 28)
            Me.button1.Name = "button1"
            Me.button1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(120, 40)
            Me.button1.TabIndex = 0
            Me.button1.Text = "button1"
            AddHandler Me.button1.Click, AddressOf Me.Button1Click
            '
            'MainForm
            '
            Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13)
            Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(560, 396)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.button1)
            Me.Name = "MainForm"
            Me.Text = "MainForm"
            AddHandler Resize, AddressOf Me.MainFormResize
            Me.ResumeLayout(False)
        End Sub
#End Region
 
        Private Sub Button1Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
            fForm1 = New Form1
            fForm1.Show()
        End Sub
        Private Sub MainFormResize(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
            If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
                fForm1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
            Else
                fForm1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
            End If
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace
Module modMain
    Public Sub Main()
        Application.Run(New DisplayForms.MainForm)
    End Sub
End Module

[epixelman]

This is what I have...
The recent post I submitted code that was missing a section... Try this.

Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
 
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
 
Namespace DisplayForms
    
Public Class MainForm
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
    Private button1 As System.Windows.Forms.Button
    Private fForm1 As Form1
        
    Public Shared Sub Main
        Dim fMainForm As New MainForm
        fMainForm.ShowDialog()
            End Sub
        
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New
        ' The Me.InitializeComponent call is required for Windows Forms designer support.
        Me.InitializeComponent
        ' Add constructor code after InitializeComponents
    End Sub
        
    #Region " Windows Forms Designer generated code "
    ' This method is required for Windows Forms designer support.
    ' Do not change the method contents inside the source code editor. The Forms designer might
    ' not be able to load this method if it was changed manually.
    Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        Me.button1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Button
        Me.SuspendLayout
        '
        'button1
        '
        Me.button1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(40, 28)
        Me.button1.Name = "button1"
        Me.button1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(120, 40)
        Me.button1.TabIndex = 0
        Me.button1.Text = "button1"
        AddHandler Me.button1.Click, AddressOf Me.Button1Click
        '
        'MainForm
        '
        Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13)
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(560, 396)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.button1)
        Me.Name = "MainForm"
        Me.Text = "MainForm"
        AddHandler Resize, AddressOf Me.MainFormResize
        Me.ResumeLayout(false)
    End Sub
    #End Region
        
    Private Sub Button1Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
        fForm1 = New Form1()
        fForm1.Show()
    End Sub
    
    Private Sub MainFormResize(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs)
    If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized Then
        Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
    Else
        Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
    End If
    End Sub
        
End Class
    
End Namespace

[kleinma]

come on man.. i think you can take the code i provided you, and work it into yours.. no?

[epixelman]

I got it!!!

The two lines...

Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal

has to have fForm1 instead of just Form1

Thanks
Frank

[kleinma]

I got it!!!

The two lines...

Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized
Form1.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal

has to have fForm1 instead of just Form1

Thanks
Frank

great

[epixelman]

come on man.. i think you can take the code i provided you, and work it into yours.. no?

I'm trying to stick with what the IDE formats.

The only error I was doings was...

1) I left the Sub Main out on one post.
2) I had two MainForm classes
3) I put the "Private fForm As Form1" line in the upper class (which you said) but I put in the 2nd MainForm class. I deleted the 2nd class and put it where it goes... up top
4) I forgot to change the Form1.WindowState to fForm1.WindowState

Thanks Man!!

[kleinma]

I'm trying to stick with what the IDE formats.

The only error I was doings was...

1) I left the Sub Main out on one post.
2) I had two MainForm classes
3) I put the "Private fForm As Form1" line in the upper class (which you said) but I put in the 2nd MainForm class. I deleted the 2nd class and put it where it goes... up top
4) I forgot to change the Form1.WindowState to fForm1.WindowState

Thanks Man!!

yeah its harder to help when you dont use the microsoft IDE either.. it just makes certain things harder to explain...

[epixelman]

I've played with the Visual Studio... this SharpDevelop IDE is not that much different.

Can you do me a favor Klien?

Below is the most basic code that SharpDevelop creates when I create a new project. I have not edit it at all.

Can you post a raw new project code for me so I can compare the difference and see if SharpDevelop is going to work?

Thanks

Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
 
Namespace NewProject
    
Public Class MainForm
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
        
    Public Shared Sub Main
        Dim fMainForm As New MainForm
        fMainForm.ShowDialog()
    End Sub
        
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New
        '
        ' The Me.InitializeComponent call is required for Windows Forms designer support.
        '
        Me.InitializeComponent
        '
        ' TODO : Add constructor code after InitializeComponents
            '
    End Sub
        
    #Region " Windows Forms Designer generated code "
    ' This method is required for Windows Forms designer support.
    ' Do not change the method contents inside the source code editor. The Forms designer might
    ' not be able to load this method if it was changed manually.
    Private Sub InitializeComponent()
                 '
        'Form1
        '
        Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13)
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 266)
        Me.Name = "MainForm"
        Me.Text = "MainForm"
    End Sub
    #End Region
        
End Class
End Namespace

[kleinma]

imports like system and system.drawing arent needed because they are automatically added for you on the project level when you create a new project

Public Class Form1
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
 
#Region " Windows Form Designer generated code "
 
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New()
 
        'This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
        InitializeComponent()
 
        'Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call
 
    End Sub
 
    'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
        If disposing Then
            If Not (components Is Nothing) Then
                components.Dispose()
            End If
        End If
        MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
    End Sub
 
    'Required by the Windows Form Designer
    Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer
 
    'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
    'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.  
    'Do not modify it using the code editor.
    <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        components = New System.ComponentModel.Container()
        Me.Text = "Form1"
    End Sub
 
#End Region
 
End Class

[epixelman]

Klien..

Here are the major differences I see...

MY SHARPDEVELOP IDE
=====================================

Public Shared Sub Main
    Dim fMainForm As New MainForm
    fMainForm.ShowDialog()
End Sub

YOUR VISUAL STUDIO IDE
=====================================

'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
    If disposing Then
            If Not (components Is Nothing) Then
                components.Dispose()
            End If
        End If
        MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
End Sub

Mine has the startup main, yours don't
Yours has the Dispose sub, mine don't.

Why, and what impact will my apps have?

Thanks

[epixelman]

Klein,

I would still like an answer from the question of my previous post about the diffrence bewteen the code.

BTW... I have found something I do not like about .NET. If you care to know see this post...

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=329756

[kleinma]

the only differences there are that it appears your IDE creates a sub main to start up the app, but makes it shared in the form class itself.. generally from what I have seen, programmers usually make a module (which means all public things in it are shared already) and put a sub main there.

the disposing thing is when the form is going to be disposed, it calls the dispose method on any components in the form to clean it up.. i imagine any of these components should get disposed of eventually anyway by the GC, so perhaps what the VS IDE adds in is just to speed up the process and get resources free as soon as possible...