Thread: Using the VS.NET form designer with tab controls

  1. #1
    mustang benny bennyandthejets's Avatar
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    Using the VS.NET form designer with tab controls

    I'm having difficulties using the VS.NET form designer and tab controls. The main problem is that there are controls on top of each other, which makes it very difficult to move/size them. Also, I am unsure of the best way to have multiple tabs. I thought about handling the tab changes and just changing the visibility of individual controls, but that seems really inefficient.

    Questions:
    1. What is the best way to go about implementing a tab control system?

    Thanks.
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  2. #2
    train spotter
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    >>there are controls on top of each other, which makes it very difficult to move/size them

    Yes. Depends on the number of controls.
    TAB control does not have to have any client area, apart from the TAB 'buttons' themselves. This may help make it easier to work with the controls 'under' the TAB.

    >>1. What is the best way to go about implementing a tab control system?

    Property pages may be what you are looking for, derived from CDialog in MFC.
    "Objects of class CPropertyPage represent individual pages of a property sheet, otherwise known as a tab dialog box." MSDN MFC

    Another way is to create a dialog for each TAB page in the designer. When the TAB is called create all the dialogs. Show the correct one, hide the old one, when the user changes the TAB. Handle the move, and stop size, messages for both ie hook the dialogs move into the TAB (or its parents).
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