I'm creating a simple WYSIWYG editor for HTML in C#, and I want to implement a simple group of controls to view and manipulate the various properties of HTML form elements. I envision the properties panel to look like the one in Visual Studio:
Such that when the user clicks on an HTML element they've added they can change the text, class, id, etc. of the element. The problem is, I can't find how to make a panel that looks like this using C#. Obviously I know how to implement the dropdown list and the buttons, but the main body that actually contains the properties is like a slick version of a tree-view that I don't even know where to begin coding.
I'm not looking for someone to code this whole thing for me, but it would be great if somebody could point me to a form control that looks like the tree-view. I have tried googling around for answers but haven't had any luck. I have also tried looking at the open source project Sharp Develop which uses a similar control, but I've had considerable trouble wading through the hundreds of files of code to find the specific part of the GUI I'm focused on.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if I was a tad bit vauge above, I guess what I'm really looking for is a nice form control or set of controls in C# to mimick the main body of the properties window. I've tried to be as thorough as possible, but if you have any questions leave a comment and I'll try to improve my question.
The body of that panel contains a PropertyGrid control, which you can use yourself. It's not in the Toolbox by default but you can add it.
Related
Struggling, I need a button to open up a window but below the MainWindow in C#. Like in a website you can open other pages but the master page layout doesn't change only the page you are viewing shows differently.
I need similar thing. I have components (tools i added from toolbox) on my MainWindow.xaml so for example if i click on a button i named new student, a tabbed-window where i can capture student details must appear but it must not be a separate windows it must appear within the mainwindow and seem like a one thing. Forgive for my English. I hope someone will understand me though, thanks in advance. I want to have components/functionality according a specific button click but constant Mainwindow, the one with "File" "Edit" "View" "Help".
There are a couple different solutions to you problem, but Visual Studio doesn't quite have something like the Master View option through ASP .NET with webforms.
Option One
Using TabControl. This option is the easiest solution to your problem. The GUI in Visual studio has support for adding components to each tab, which nothing else has. This is the closest component to something like multi-panels in Java, but it will still create the Tabs, which may not be what you are looking for.
Option Two
Using multiple Panels over one another. With this option, you can add multiple panels to your main window and layer each panel over one another. You can add a button or other control which will hide each panel and all of its contents. This is a great solution if you don't want tabs, but it can be frustrating to create in Visual Studio since you must move each panel away from another in order to add/remove/adjust the components on the underlying panel.
Of course there are still a few more controls you can use to produce the results you are looking for, but these are probably the most applicable solutions to your problem.
I have problems with editing panels in C# windows forms(Visual studio 2008). I placed some panels into another, and now I have problems with navigating panels inside parental containers. Is there any tool that gives not only drag-drop control, but also tree view of container and panels in it. For example, like Navigator window in NetBeans(IDE for Java). Any help?
I'm not sure about VS2008, but newer versions have Document Outline Window (View > Other Windows > Document Outline)
To not get lost in controls, consider to name them properly. Then you can find them in the list of Properties window.
Instead of label1 use labelInputName, located on panel1, which you also rename to panelInput. This gives parent/child feeling and you will never lost.
If you get lost, use Document Outline window to see tree-like relation via Controls property (who is control of who). This window is a helper (help to find and select control), you will still have to use designer to do changes.
Another important thing is UI design. Whenever you get cluttered or bulky feeling, than it's the time to change something.
Making UserControl for repeatable part is one way.
Another is to differ design and run time (what you see in designer): to example, if you have several panels, which has to be shown at same place, then you can use dynamic container for them (FlowLayoutPanel, TableLayoutPanel) or you can have them placed in a way for you to easily see them in design-time, but their position will be corrected during run-time (to example, in the constructor). Prioritizing designing is a must if you are going to support project and edit functionality in next versions.
p.s.: talking about winforms, but all said should be true for wpf as well.
I'm currently developing an IDE and Im working on Code-Folding codes now .
I'm thinking to use a TreeView as for it has a collapse and expand property but i dunno/not sure how can I implement it on RichTextBox .
Even an Initial Code showing if interaction within RichTextBox and TreeView will be much appreciated .
like:
{
}
then RichTextBox will have a line indicating till where to collapse .
Thanks a lot in advance!
It doesn't seem feasible to include a TreeView inside a RichTextBox. From my experience, building something atop the RTB is quite problematic and doesn't render the desired result without having quite a lot of quirks.
I suggest taking a look at the Fast-Colored-TextBox:
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/161871/Fast-Colored-TextBox-for-syntax-highlighting
Or possibly building a similar control from scratch (if you too suffer from NIH) instead of attempting to extend the RTB.
If you really need your own code editor you should really think about taking Avalon Edit. It is able to rebuilt an Visual Studio Editor. So it has all you feature you need (and more).
I know it is a WPF component and not winforms. But it is quite easy to host a WPF control within winforms. So better take this route, cause trying to interweave a tree view with a rich text box will never match exactly what you like (just think about finding out the pixel size of a textline if you are using different fonts or how to determine line wrapping).
I'm starting my first C# project, and I want to make a "form designer" (like the one in VS).
The idea is, there will be a visual form designer with a limited toolbox, which will generate Python code (later more) to create the same form.
Problem is, I have no idea how to even get started. First of all, I have the form designer in VS: how do I make a "form-within-a-form?"
Next... I have no idea how complicated this is going to be. I suppose I could just make little boxes appear beside each control created on the form when it is clicked, for resizing, and make a textbox appear on it when double clicked or something, to change the text in it... Things like this.
So another thing I would like to know is this:
I do have programming experience in C and C++, I've done PHP for a number of years and am starting with Python as of recently. I've generated forms dynamically in VB6. Given this experience, am I in way over my head with this project?
this looks like a really good place to start. It has a pretty good example to get you started. You can even download his source (registration required).
It sounds like you're aware it's non-trivial for a C# first-timer. If you keep it pretty simple, it sounds like you're heading in the right direction (although a web-based form designer might be easier).
SharpDevelop would be an example of a full-featured IDE that can be re-purposed, but that's way over the top.
Good luck!
For most people starting out in C#, this project would be too much. With your VB6 background, you may be able to pull it off, though.
Here's a hint: the Visual Studio Windows Forms designer draws controls on its surface - by asking the controls to draw themselves.
I hope I am able to illustrate the problem using a lot of images. First of all, I was no real fan of XAML (Silverlight issues, crashes in Preview, and so on...)
Now, with VS2010 the situation has become better. There are still a lot of things I like better in code, but I also want a preview in my VS.
So, take a look at the following control: It is really simple, a todo details list. The first screenshot shows the code of the control, pretty straighforward:
CodebasedControl http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2263/invoicea49.png
There is no XAML, so obviously no preview. Of course, I could encapsulate it in another control, like shown in the next screenshot:
CodebasedControl http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9515/invoicea48.png
But, in that case I have an additional file I do not want or need.
So I had the idea to move the init stuff inside the contructor of a XAML control. For simplicity, I used simple elements. But they do not show up in the preview...
CodebasedControl http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5547/invoicea47.png
CodebasedControl http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9625/invoicea46.png
Finally, I know I could use the controls in other parts of my app when creating UIs. But I am using layout manager, PRISM and a lot of other stuff, so I just want an easy preview of some specific control I created (without having to have a XAML wrapper file for each control)
Thanks for help, and sorry for the post structure, but I though with images it is better to understand...
Chris
Ok,
I found a way. Basically I am tricking VS by changing the XAML, but keeping the code-behind linked to the file. It the same like the wrapper solution, but without having a dedicated extra class or file. I am using the "xaml-infront" file for preview.
This solution only works with pure code controls, I have to do more research for mixed controls (at least I think so.. but it is enough for me for now).
Please be aware, the code behind is NOT partial anymore. It could be placed anywhere else, what I am doing here is basically only related to file-names and visual studio "readability"..
See screenshots for explanation:
alt text http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5456/invoicea50.png
Some space for easier reading
alt text http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1545/invoicea51.png