C# - App - How to Drag and Drop from the desktop to a Panel in a Form?

[Alfonso2968]

Hello,

If someone can help plz.

I have searched everything and all I can find is how to drag and drop within a form from panel to panel.

What I need to do is Drag an image from the desktop or from an open folder to a panel on my form.

This will be done for a few images and then on Buttonclik I need to save each image in its own folder.

Any help is much appreciated.

Here is what I have on the events - for d&d

This allows me to drag and drop within the form but trying to drag from desktop to panel1 doesn't work.

 private void panel_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
            {
                //target control will accept data here 
                Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
                destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
 
            }
 
 
 
 
 private void panel_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
            {
                //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
                if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
                {
                    e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
                }
                else
                {
                    e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
                }
 
            }
 
 
 private void panel_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
            {
                //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
                //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
                //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
                Panel source = (Panel)sender;
                DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
 
 
            }
 

[Alfonso2968]

My code is not showing?

[Alfonso2968]

I have added a panel and a open dialog that paints an image in the panel but I cannot drag the image to any other panels.

With what I have here I can drag and drop in the same form.

I cannot drag from the image opened in panel1 from the loadbutton.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
 
namespace OpeninPanel
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
 
        private Bitmap m_Bitmap = null;
 
        private void m_LoadButton_Click( object sender, EventArgs e )
        {
            if( m_OpenFileDialog.ShowDialog( this ) == DialogResult.OK )
            {
                m_Bitmap = new Bitmap( m_OpenFileDialog.FileName );
 
                m_PaintPanel.SuspendLayout();
                m_PaintPanel.Controls.Clear();
 
                Panel panel = new Panel();
                //int left = 0, top = 0;
                //if( m_Bitmap.Width < m_PaintPanel.Width )
                //{
                 //   left = ( m_PaintPanel.Width - m_Bitmap.Width ) / 2;
               // }
               // if( m_Bitmap.Height < m_PaintPanel.Height )
              //  {
               //     top = (m_PaintPanel.Height - m_Bitmap.Height) / 2;
              //  }
                panel.Size = m_Bitmap.Size;
               // panel.Location = new Point( left, top );
                panel.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler( this.m_PaintPanel_Paint );
                m_PaintPanel.Controls.Add( panel );
 
                m_PaintPanel.ResumeLayout();
 
                Panel source = (Panel)sender;
                DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
            }
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_Paint( object sender, PaintEventArgs e )
        {
            if( m_Bitmap != null )
            {
                e.Graphics.DrawImageUnscaled( m_Bitmap, 0, 0 );
            }
        }
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="disposing">true if managed resources should be disposed; otherwise, false.</param>
 
 
        #region Windows Form Designer generated code
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.m_PaintPanel = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.m_LoadButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.m_OpenFileDialog = new System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog();
            this.panel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.panel2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.panel3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.panel2.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // m_PaintPanel
            // 
            this.m_PaintPanel.AllowDrop = true;
            this.m_PaintPanel.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom)
                        | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left)
                        | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
            this.m_PaintPanel.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;
            this.m_PaintPanel.BackgroundImageLayout = System.Windows.Forms.ImageLayout.Stretch;
            this.m_PaintPanel.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.FixedSingle;
            this.m_PaintPanel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(273, 107);
            this.m_PaintPanel.Name = "m_PaintPanel";
            this.m_PaintPanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(121, 190);
            this.m_PaintPanel.TabIndex = 0;
            this.m_PaintPanel.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_MouseDown);
            this.m_PaintPanel.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_DragDrop);
            this.m_PaintPanel.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_DragEnter);
            this.m_PaintPanel.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_Paint_1);
            // 
            // m_LoadButton
            // 
            this.m_LoadButton.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left)));
            this.m_LoadButton.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(299, 318);
            this.m_LoadButton.Name = "m_LoadButton";
            this.m_LoadButton.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(75, 23);
            this.m_LoadButton.TabIndex = 1;
            this.m_LoadButton.Text = "Load image";
            this.m_LoadButton.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.m_LoadButton.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.m_LoadButton_Click);
            // 
            // m_OpenFileDialog
            // 
            this.m_OpenFileDialog.FileName = "openFileDialog1";
            // 
            // panel1
            // 
            this.panel1.AllowDrop = true;
            this.panel1.BackgroundImage = global::CenterPictureBox.Properties.Resources.icon;
            this.panel1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(23, 135);
            this.panel1.Name = "panel1";
            this.panel1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(60, 60);
            this.panel1.TabIndex = 4;
            this.panel1.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.panel1_MouseDown);
            this.panel1.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel1_DragDrop);
            this.panel1.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel1_DragEnter);
            // 
            // panel2
            // 
            this.panel2.AllowDrop = true;
            this.panel2.BackgroundImage = global::CenterPictureBox.Properties.Resources.darktower;
            this.panel2.Controls.Add(this.panel3);
            this.panel2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(429, 12);
            this.panel2.Name = "panel2";
            this.panel2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(320, 480);
            this.panel2.TabIndex = 3;
            this.panel2.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.panel2_MouseDown);
            this.panel2.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel2_DragDrop);
            this.panel2.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel2_DragEnter);
            // 
            // panel3
            // 
            this.panel3.AllowDrop = true;
            this.panel3.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;
            this.panel3.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.FixedSingle;
            this.panel3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(26, 21);
            this.panel3.Name = "panel3";
            this.panel3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(60, 60);
            this.panel3.TabIndex = 0;
            this.panel3.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.panel3_MouseDown);
            this.panel3.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel3_DragDrop);
            this.panel3.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel3_DragEnter);
            // 
            // Form1
            // 
            this.AllowDrop = true;
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(761, 525);
            this.Controls.Add(this.panel1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.panel2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.m_LoadButton);
            this.Controls.Add(this.m_PaintPanel);
            this.Name = "Form1";
            this.Text = "Form1";
            this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Load);
            this.panel2.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
 
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        private System.Windows.Forms.Panel m_PaintPanel;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button m_LoadButton;
        private System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog m_OpenFileDialog;
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_Paint_1(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
        {
 
        }
 
        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
 
        }
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        private void panel2_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void panel2_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
 
        private void panel2_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
 
        private void panel3_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void panel3_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
 
        private void panel3_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void panel1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void panel1_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void panel1_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
    }
}
 

[Alfonso2968]

I have added a panel and a open dialog that paints an image in the panel but I cannot drag the image to any other panels.

With what I have here I can drag and drop in the same form.

I cannot drag from the image opened in panel1 from the load button.

 
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
 
namespace OpeninPanel
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
 
        private Bitmap m_Bitmap = null;
 
        private void m_LoadButton_Click( object sender, EventArgs e )
        {
            if( m_OpenFileDialog.ShowDialog( this ) == DialogResult.OK )
            {
                m_Bitmap = new Bitmap( m_OpenFileDialog.FileName );
 
                m_PaintPanel.SuspendLayout();
                m_PaintPanel.Controls.Clear();
 
                Panel panel = new Panel();
                //int left = 0, top = 0;
                //if( m_Bitmap.Width < m_PaintPanel.Width )
                //{
                 //   left = ( m_PaintPanel.Width - m_Bitmap.Width ) / 2;
               // }
               // if( m_Bitmap.Height < m_PaintPanel.Height )
              //  {
               //     top = (m_PaintPanel.Height - m_Bitmap.Height) / 2;
              //  }
                panel.Size = m_Bitmap.Size;
               // panel.Location = new Point( left, top );
                panel.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler( this.m_PaintPanel_Paint );
                m_PaintPanel.Controls.Add( panel );
 
                m_PaintPanel.ResumeLayout();
 
                Panel source = (Panel)sender;
                DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
            }
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_Paint( object sender, PaintEventArgs e )
        {
            if( m_Bitmap != null )
            {
                e.Graphics.DrawImageUnscaled( m_Bitmap, 0, 0 );
            }
        }
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="disposing">true if managed resources should be disposed; otherwise, false.</param>
 
 
        #region Windows Form Designer generated code
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.m_PaintPanel = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.m_LoadButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.m_OpenFileDialog = new System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog();
            this.panel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.panel2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.panel3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.panel2.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // m_PaintPanel
            // 
            this.m_PaintPanel.AllowDrop = true;
            this.m_PaintPanel.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom)
                        | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left)
                        | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
            this.m_PaintPanel.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;
            this.m_PaintPanel.BackgroundImageLayout = System.Windows.Forms.ImageLayout.Stretch;
            this.m_PaintPanel.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.FixedSingle;
            this.m_PaintPanel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(273, 107);
            this.m_PaintPanel.Name = "m_PaintPanel";
            this.m_PaintPanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(121, 190);
            this.m_PaintPanel.TabIndex = 0;
            this.m_PaintPanel.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_MouseDown);
            this.m_PaintPanel.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_DragDrop);
            this.m_PaintPanel.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_DragEnter);
            this.m_PaintPanel.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.m_PaintPanel_Paint_1);
            // 
            // m_LoadButton
            // 
            this.m_LoadButton.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left)));
            this.m_LoadButton.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(299, 318);
            this.m_LoadButton.Name = "m_LoadButton";
            this.m_LoadButton.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(75, 23);
            this.m_LoadButton.TabIndex = 1;
            this.m_LoadButton.Text = "Load image";
            this.m_LoadButton.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.m_LoadButton.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.m_LoadButton_Click);
            // 
            // m_OpenFileDialog
            // 
            this.m_OpenFileDialog.FileName = "openFileDialog1";
            // 
            // panel1
            // 
            this.panel1.AllowDrop = true;
            this.panel1.BackgroundImage = global::CenterPictureBox.Properties.Resources.icon;
            this.panel1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(23, 135);
            this.panel1.Name = "panel1";
            this.panel1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(60, 60);
            this.panel1.TabIndex = 4;
            this.panel1.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.panel1_MouseDown);
            this.panel1.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel1_DragDrop);
            this.panel1.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel1_DragEnter);
            // 
            // panel2
            // 
            this.panel2.AllowDrop = true;
            this.panel2.BackgroundImage = global::CenterPictureBox.Properties.Resources.darktower;
            this.panel2.Controls.Add(this.panel3);
            this.panel2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(429, 12);
            this.panel2.Name = "panel2";
            this.panel2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(320, 480);
            this.panel2.TabIndex = 3;
            this.panel2.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.panel2_MouseDown);
            this.panel2.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel2_DragDrop);
            this.panel2.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel2_DragEnter);
            // 
            // panel3
            // 
            this.panel3.AllowDrop = true;
            this.panel3.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;
            this.panel3.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.FixedSingle;
            this.panel3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(26, 21);
            this.panel3.Name = "panel3";
            this.panel3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(60, 60);
            this.panel3.TabIndex = 0;
            this.panel3.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.panel3_MouseDown);
            this.panel3.DragDrop += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel3_DragDrop);
            this.panel3.DragEnter += new System.Windows.Forms.DragEventHandler(this.panel3_DragEnter);
            // 
            // Form1
            // 
            this.AllowDrop = true;
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(761, 525);
            this.Controls.Add(this.panel1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.panel2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.m_LoadButton);
            this.Controls.Add(this.m_PaintPanel);
            this.Name = "Form1";
            this.Text = "Form1";
            this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Load);
            this.panel2.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
 
        }
 
        #endregion
 
        private System.Windows.Forms.Panel m_PaintPanel;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button m_LoadButton;
        private System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog m_OpenFileDialog;
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_Paint_1(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
        {
 
        }
 
        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
 
        }
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        private void panel2_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void panel2_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
 
        private void panel2_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void m_PaintPanel_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
 
        private void panel3_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void panel3_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
 
        private void panel3_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void panel1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            //we will pass the data that user wants to drag DoDragDrop method is used for holding data
            //DoDragDrop accepts two paramete first paramter is data(image,file,text etc) and second paramter 
            //specify either user wants to copy the data or move data
 
            Panel source = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(source.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Copy);
        }
 
        private void panel1_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //target control will accept data here 
            Panel destination = (Panel)sender;
            destination.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
        }
 
        private void panel1_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            //As we are interested in Image data only we will check this as follows
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            }
            else
            {
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
            }
        }
    }
}
 

[Shashi Sadasivan]

hi.
I have never tried dragging and dropping with applications
Found 2 links which should help u out, one is in vb, hope u transalet that to c# if it is so
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.control.allowdrop(VS.80).aspx
http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2002/11/11/dragdrop.htm

and please keep ure comments tidy

[Plater]

If you are dragging a file, it will NOT show up as bitmap data.
You should debug and look at what DataTypes are sent when you drag and drop.

[Alfonso2968]

Thanks for your responses I have it all sorted out now.

Here is the solution for anyone else looking to do this.

Drag and drop images from outside the form into panels.

 
private void OpenFile(string ImageFile)
        {
            Bitmap bmp;
 
            try
            {
                // Load bitmap file
                bmp = (Bitmap)Bitmap.FromFile(ImageFile, false);
 
                if (bmp != null)
                {
                    // Keep bitmap in class member
                    m_Bitmap = (Bitmap)bmp.Clone();
 
                    this.AutoScroll = true;
                    this.AutoScrollMinSize = new Size(
                            m_Bitmap.Width,
                            m_Bitmap.Height);
 
                    Invalidate();
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Error loading from file");
            }
 
        }
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
private void panel6_DragDrop(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(DataFormats.FileDrop))
                {
                    Array a = (Array)e.Data.GetData(DataFormats.FileDrop);
                    if (a != null)
                    {
                        string s = a.GetValue(0).ToString();
                        this.OpenFile(s);
                        this.panel6.BackgroundImage = m_Bitmap;
                    }
                }
                else
                    if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
                    {
                        Panel dich = (Panel)sender;
                        dich.BackgroundImage = (Bitmap)e.Data.GetData(typeof(Bitmap));
                    }
 
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Trace.WriteLine("Error in DragDrop function: " + ex.Message);
            }
        }
 
 
        private void panel6_DragEnter(object sender, DragEventArgs e)
        {
            // If file is dragged, show cursor "Drop allowed"
 
            if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(DataFormats.FileDrop))
                e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Copy;
            else
                if (e.Data.GetDataPresent(typeof(Bitmap)))
                    e.Effect = DragDropEffects.Move;
                else
                    e.Effect = DragDropEffects.None;
 
 
 
        }
 
        private void panel6_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            Panel nguon = (Panel)sender;
            DoDragDrop(nguon.BackgroundImage, DragDropEffects.Move);
        }