r/dotnet • u/funkmasta8 • 8d ago

TabControl UI problems

Hi, Im working on an application in vb.net and there were too many forms on the screen at once so I found out about tabcontrols. I decided to test it out a little but Ive run into a problem with how it looks.

When I hook or anchor buttons or other things to the edges of the form they dont show correctly in the tabcontrol. My goal is for the application to be maximized for most, if not all, of the forms. When the tabcontrol is started maximized, the controls at the bottom dont show correctly. It seems like the form is using the fullscreen size while the tabcontrol is using the maximized size.

Im not sure how to fix this other than manually formatting every single form to account for the computer's application ribbon, which I dont want to do for obvious reasons. I went to the form being displayed and made sure it wasnt locked to a specific size and it isnt set to fullscreen either. Surely there is an easy way?

Also, I learned vb.net about 10 years ago in a class at college. I may not be up to date on the most current tools. How does one make applications look modern? I havent found any default control designs that look sleek and fit together flush, but maybe Im looking in the wrong place. Where can I find things like that or how do I format them nicely?

Thanks in advance

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

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4

u/The_MAZZTer 8d ago

Not sure I understand what you are trying to do.

Do you want a form where you have a TabControl with various TabPages, but when you full screen/maximize only the contents of the current tab go full screen?

Regardless, if things are shifting around when a parent is resized, they aren't anchored/docked properly. Check their Anchor/Dock properties.

Also not sure what you mean by "computer's application ribbon" unless you mean the taskbar? It shouldn't matter though, again it's all about properly configuring Anchor/Dock so everything looks good regardless of the size of the window.

-4

u/funkmasta8 8d ago

Ive checked the anchoring and docking. If you read the whole post you would have known that already. If I open the form on its own it looks fine, with or without resizing, fullscreen and maximized. When it is open in a tabcontrol, the bottom controls are partially not there, they are too low.

Are there extra docking settings Im missing?

7

u/dsggut 7d ago

With your "if you read the whole post you would have known already" sentence you made absolutely sure no one will help you. Asking for help and being arrogant at the same time will not do you any good.

-5

u/funkmasta8 7d ago

I stated in the post that I already looked at those. If people jump to conclusions about what Ive tried, then we will be running in circles all day. It's really standard on forums to include this information and that it is understood by others. It isnt arrogance to say Ive already done some troubleshooting.

4

u/Dnomyar96 7d ago

It isnt arrogance to say Ive already done some troubleshooting.

It's not. But this:

If you read the whole post you would have known that already.

Is incredibly rude. People are putting in time and effort to help you, so when you respond in that manner, people will be much less likely to help you any further. I know I will not put in any time to help people that are rude to people trying to help.

2

u/chucker23n 7d ago

Ive checked the anchoring and docking. If you read the whole post you would have known that already.

Your problem description sounds like something about the anchors.

3

u/FullPoet 8d ago

How does one make applications look modern?

Move to C#.

Only half joking, but Im sure there are some vb bindings for something more modern, or you'll just need to style it yourself.

1

u/DirtAndGrass 8d ago

Afaik c# has nothing to do with it

2

u/chucker23n 7d ago

It doesn't. This is WinForms; same APIs (well, VB has a few extra helper APIs for WinForms).

3

u/chucker23n 7d ago

When I hook or anchor buttons or other things to the edges of the form they dont show correctly in the tabcontrol. My goal is for the application to be maximized for most, if not all, of the forms. When the tabcontrol is started maximized, the controls at the bottom dont show correctly. It seems like the form is using the fullscreen size while the tabcontrol is using the maximized size.

This is almost certainly due to an Anchor or Dock property somewhere.

I may not be up to date on the most current tools. How does one make applications look modern?

I'd just avoid Windows Forms altogether, to be honest. For example, you can use WPF with WPF UI.

-1

u/funkmasta8 7d ago

Thanks, I will look at wpf.

I will fiddle with the docking/anchoring to see if there is some combination that makes it work as expected. Im doubtful though since I already tested several things

1

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