Serializing and deserializing form layout

[Mantorok]

Hi all

Is there a way to serialize the current form's layout to a string or file?

I'll re-phrase - is there an EASY way to do it ;-)

Thanks
Kev

[Dan Manges]

Mantorok wrote:

Is there a way to serialize the current form's layout to a string or file?

Kev,

I'm not sure if this will accomplish what you want to do, but code for
the controls and layout of the form will be in the
InitializeComponents() method generated by the IDE (assuming you used
the IDE to make the form). If so, you may be able to use reflection to
look at the contents of that method.

Dan Manges

[Dan Manges]

Dan Manges wrote:

I'm not sure if this will accomplish what you want to do, but code for
the controls and layout of the form will be in the
InitializeComponents() method generated by the IDE (assuming you used
the IDE to make the form). If so, you may be able to use reflection to
look at the contents of that method.

If you know what the controls on your form are, an easier solution would
be to just write a method to look at each control's location and
serialize it however you want (e.g. "(0,0,20,30)" for top coordinates
and then size).

Maybe you could give more clarification as to what specifically you
would like to accomplish?

Thanks,

Dan Manges

[Mantorok]

"Dan Manges" <da***********@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xf******************@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .

Dan Manges wrote:

I'm not sure if this will accomplish what you want to do, but code for
the controls and layout of the form will be in the InitializeComponents()
method generated by the IDE (assuming you used the IDE to make the form).
If so, you may be able to use reflection to look at the contents of that
method.

If you know what the controls on your form are, an easier solution would
be to just write a method to look at each control's location and serialize
it however you want (e.g. "(0,0,20,30)" for top coordinates and then
size).

Maybe you could give more clarification as to what specifically you would
like to accomplish?

I basically have a base-class form and when the form closes and loads I want
it to serialise/deserialize the layout (where possible). My main interests
are size of control.

I would prefer it if the form handled this so that I don't have to code it
for each new control I create.

Kev

[Dan Manges]

Mantorok wrote:

I basically have a base-class form and when the form closes and loads I want
it to serialise/deserialize the layout (where possible). My main interests
are size of control.

I would prefer it if the form handled this so that I don't have to code it
for each new control I create.

Kev

Ah, so you're talking about the size and location of just the form?
(Sorry for the really bad advice before, I misunderstood what you were
trying to do).

I would either use a base class to do this for all your forms, or use a
static method in a helper class that takes the form as an argument.

Example using a static method (can easily be adjusted to use a base class):

public static void RememberFormSize(Form myForm)
{
/* load height and width from where you saved it last and adjust
the form accordingly */
myForm.Resize += new EventHandler(myForm_Resize);
}

static void myForm_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Form theForm = (Form)sender;
int height = theForm.Size.Height;
int width = theForm.Size.Width;
/* save height and width in a file, database, or whatever works for
your application */
}

I think typecasting the sender in the myForm_Resize method to a Form
should be okay. Somebody please correct me if it's not.

Hopefully this helps you, sorry again for the bad advice before.

Dan Manges