Graphical User Interface

Dr. AbrahamProfessor

UTPA

Graphical User Interface

FormsForms used to create GUIs for programs and

it is a container for controls and components.Active window has a highlighted title bar and

It has the focusWhen a control or component is dragged

onto the form, visual studio generates code for it and can be viewed.

A programmer can write the code to place these controls as well.

See the example of adding pictures I discussed in class.

Coding to add a buttonFriend WithEvents BtnMine As

System.Windows.Forms.Button Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As

System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

BtnMine = New System.Windows.Forms.Button BtnMine.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(20,

20) BtnMine.Name = "BtnMine" BtnMine.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(75, 23) BtnMine.Text = "My Button" Controls.Add(BtnMine) End Sub

Code generated for picture boxPictureBox1 = New PictureBox PictureBox1.Image =

Global.windowsForms.My.Resources.Resources._1 Me.PictureBox1.Location = New

System.Drawing.Point(12, 51) Me.PictureBox1.Name = "PictureBox1" Me.PictureBox1.Size = New

System.Drawing.Size(74, 97) Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New

System.Drawing.SizeF(6.0!, 13.0!) Me.AutoScaleMode =

System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(284,

264) Me.Controls.Add(Me.PictureBox1)

Now look at the program I discussed in class ‘PictureName = InputBox("What is the Name of

the Picture?", "Picture") PictureName = "C:\vb2008\addPictures\" +

PictureName pictBox = New PictureBox Controls.Add(pictBox) pictBox.BringToFront() pictBox.Image =

Image.FromFile(PictureName) pictBox.Top = offset pictBox.Width = 100 pictBox.Height = 100 pictBox.Left = offset offset = offset + 10

Change parameters in the code generated

Example comment picture box locationAdd picturebox1.topEtc.You can learn coding for controls like this

Control Properties & LayoutTab IndexEnabled – focusAnchor (remain at fixed distance from the

sides)Docking (Attaches a control to a container)Labels, TextBoxes and Buttons. Password

Textboxt box hides information typed.Checkboxes,comboboxes, and radio buttonsGroupboxes and Panels to arrange controls

and group them.

Keyboard & mouse Event HandlingMouseEnter, MouseLeave, MouseDown,

MouseUp, MouseMove, MovesHoverKeyDown, KeyUp, KeyPress, KeyChar,

Handled, Alt, Control, Shift, etc.

Rich Text BoxWriting a text editor.File Opening and ReadingWriting to FileDrop Down MenusContext Sensitive MenusChanging Font attributesSee demo

Other FeaturesSplash ScreenCheck boxes and dropdown lists covered

earlierBackground color changeFade-in effectButton tricksSee math game demo

Printing to Default PrinterSee demo