Dynamic Label height based on Content

[Samishii23]

So I have a custom tool tip in my program. Its a Panel control that has a few Label controls. I have set my Panel to AutoSize based on content.

I tried to use the AutoSize property on one of the Labels, as this one holds the largest content, but that just extends its width. I would like to have it just expand height wise. The content I have ranges from a small sentence to a full paragraph. I haven't been able to find anything in searches. So now I ask the experts.

Should I use something like counting how many words are in the Panel, and scale it based on that? (I've tried this in the past, without good success) or is there a better way?

[GaryTexmo]

You should be able to measure the width/height of a string on a panel using the Graphics.MeasureString method. I'm not sure if that will handle word wrapping through... but worth a try! I'm guessing you are intending for your tool tip to eventually wrap the text after a certain point?

You can use the measure string method to find the total width and then divide that by the maximum width you want. I'm not sure if that takes into account he spacing between rows though.

[tlhintoq]

I'm a HUGE believer in building your own stuff.
I also believe that dismantling the code of those more experienced is a great way to learn.
And... I hate to re-invent the wheel.
Perhaps this project will help you in several ways.
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dialog...ith_Image.aspx

[Samishii23]

@Gary... I think you misunderstand. The only way I can get the text to wrap via height is to set the Height property of the Label. It wraps just fine.

@tlhintoq... Thanks for the link, I will check it out. I also agree with you about building my own stuff. Just need to learn more, and I'll be off to do so.

[GaryTexmo]

Sorry, then I don't understand what the problem is :(

[Samishii23]

Sorry, then I don't understand what the problem is... you want a fixed width and want to set the height of the form so it fits all the text?

Thats pretty much exactly it.

[GaryTexmo]

ok, well that's what I was talking about :D Use MeasureString to get the width and height of the text. Divide the fixed width by the text width, multiply the height by that number, set your label to that number?

[Samishii23]

@Gary, it seems that I can only use MeasureString with a draw event. I'm not using the ToolTip class. I'm just using a Panel that moves around based on which PictureBox the mouse is over. I don't actually use a Paint method. I only hide / show the Panel.

If you know of a way to still use it, or something else. I'd be glad to see it! :D

@tlhintoq. After reading through the source code of that nice custom tool tip project, I don't think it'll work for me. It calls for binding the ToolTip text to each button ( PictureBox for me ). That would be probably alot of over head on my program. Plus the tool tip has a couple bugs that I wouldn't know how to iron out. Lastly my Tool Tip text is dynamic, and will change alot. It looks like I would have to rebind the custom tool tip to the picture box every time I changed the text.

Thanks for the link is it is a cool project, and it'll defiantly be something i'll wanna learn from.

[GaryTexmo]

You should still be able to override the paint event on the panel and get the information you need :)

If you wanted, you could even use the DrawString method to draw your text too, but that's up to you I guess.

[Samishii23]

Ok gary, thanks for the input, I finally was able to get around to implementing that Paint event idea of yours. The results aren't the best. But it works. :) Thanks for the help both of you!

        public void HandlePaint_ToolTip(object X, PaintEventArgs EX) {
            SizeF SSize = new SizeF();
            float TTHeight;
 
            SSize = EX.Graphics.MeasureString(ToolTipDisc.Text, ToolTipDisc.Font);
            TTHeight = SSize.Width / (float)ToolTipDisc.Width + 1.5f;
            ToolTipDisc.Height = ((int)SSize.Height * (int)TTHeight);
            }