Editing Windows Forms (section)

== Features ==
All visual elements in the Windows Forms class library derive from the Control class. This provides the minimal functionality of a user interface element such as location, size, color, font, text, as well as common events like click and drag/drop. The Control class also has docking support to let a control rearrange its position under its parent. The [[Microsoft Active Accessibility]] support in the Control class also helps impaired users to use Windows Forms better.<ref name="Griffiths2003">{{cite book|title=NET Windows Forms in a Nutshell|last1=Griffiths|first1=Ian|last2=Adams|first2=Matthew|publisher=O'Reilly Media|date=March 2003|pages=27–53}}</ref>

In Visual Studio, forms are created using [[drag-and-drop]] techniques.  A tool is used to place controls (e.g., text boxes, buttons, etc.) on the form (window).  Controls have [[Attribute (computing)|attributes]] and [[Event handler|event handlers]] associated with them.  Default values are provided when the control is created, but may be changed by the programmer.  Many attribute values can be modified during run time based on user actions or changes in the environment, providing a dynamic application.  For example, code can be inserted into the form resize event handler to reposition a control so that it remains centered on the form, expands to fill up the form, etc.  By inserting code into the event handler for a keypress in a text box, the program can automatically translate the case of the text being entered, or even prevent certain characters from being inserted.

Besides providing access to native Windows controls like button, textbox, checkbox and listview, Windows Forms added its own controls for [[ActiveX]] hosting, layout arrangement, validation and rich data binding. Those controls are rendered using [[Graphics Device Interface|GDI]]+.<ref name="Griffiths2003"/>