How to highlight the form_2 which is created by form_1

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Improved question

To Answer 2 : Thanks, but I am not to show it only.

To Answer 1 :
(1) If I don't add the line of "this.Controls.Add(form_2)", the form_2 will be shown behind the form_1. So, I add this line in form_1 just below the line of "initialcomponet()", so that the form_2 can be shown in the form_1 client area.

Plus, I have to add "form_2.toplevel=false" before "this.Controls.add(form_2)", or, it will show message of "can not add top level control(form_2) to control(this)", and then it can not run in advanced.

(2) The highlight means to let top bar in form_2 has highlight blue color. Since I can only see gray blue color of top bar in form_2 even I click the form_2, or add any line of following in form_1 :

C#

form_2.Show();
form_2.Activate();
form_2.Enabled = true;
form_2.BringToFront();
form_2.Focus();

First question

I have a winform application with a form named form_1, I write code in form_1 to create form_2, and I would like to activate the form_2 with highlight color, however, it fails. The code is below :

1. I create form_2 and let it be included in form_1 (this)

C#

Form_help form_2 = new Form_help();
form_2.TopLevel = false;
this.Controls.Add(form_2);

2. I try to activate form_2 to highlight it with the following lines, but all fails to highlight it.

C#

form_2.Show();
form_2.Activate();
form_2.Enabled = true;
form_2.BringToFront();
form_2.Focus();

The question is how can I highlight the form_2? Since I would place multiple forms in form_1, and when click any of the forms, the clicked form will be highlight.

I also try the way of form_1.activecontrol(form_2) method, but it still fails.

Posted 29-Jul-10 16:18pm

Sports Kuo

Updated 29-Jul-10 21:55pm

DaveyM69

v5

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Comments

Sandeep Mewara 30-Jul-10 1:36am

Use PRE tags to format code part. It makes the question readable.

Pawan Kiran 30-Jul-10 4:52am

check f.Show(this) it may help you.

3 solutions

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Mike$7 · Answer 1 · 2010-07-29T23:18:00

Solution 3

Are you trying to make form 1 contain multiple forms? If so, try using a mdi Parent Container instead. <-- Recommended over solution below.

Otherwise you can use P/Invoke:
http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/user32.setforegroundwindow

It'll set any window to the foreground window or atleast try to, just use this.Handle to get the form's handle.

Posted 29-Jul-10 23:18pm

Mike$7

Comments

Sports Kuo 30-Jul-10 6:29am

If the form_1 client area only have multiple forms, the mdiparent attribute works well, all forms can be seen, and the active one has highlight blue color.

However, my problem now is that there will be one 'toolstripcontainer1' control put inside the form_1 client area,so when I write code to set mdiparent attrubute be true for all child form, the forms can not be seen, if I add "toolstripcontainer1.contentpanel.controls.add(form_2)" for all child form, the forms then can be seen inside form_1, but the color will be gray color, how can I get the color be highlight ?

Mike$7 30-Jul-10 14:14pm

Have you tried playing around with the mdi parent container in a new solution? Try making a new one, go to Project -> Add Windows Form -> MDI Parent Form. Then on the solution explorer, click Program.cs and replace: Application.Run(new Form1()); to: Application.Run(new YourMDIParentContainerNameHere()); Then debug!

Pawan Kiran · Answer 2 · 2010-07-29T19:52:00

Solution 2

C#

Form_help f = new Form_help();
f.ShowInTaskbar=false;
f.backcolor=color.red;
f.windowstate=formwindowstate.maximized;
f.show();

Posted 29-Jul-10 19:52pm

Pawan Kiran

Updated 29-Jul-10 21:56pm

v3

Comments

Sports Kuo 30-Jul-10 6:03am

Thanks, but it is not to show form only.

Christian Graus · Answer 3 · 2010-07-29T19:36:00

Solution 1

A form is not a control, you don't add it to the controls collection.

What do you mean by highlight ?

Posted 29-Jul-10 19:36pm

Christian Graus

Comments

Sports Kuo 30-Jul-10 6:02am

Thanks, please see my improved question.

Toli Cuturicu 30-Jul-10 6:06am

Reason for my vote of 1
False. A Form IS a Control.