How to make the sliding panel.

Add a panel to the top of your form.  Set the width the full width of the form, and I set the height at 22. Anchor the panel (top, left, right). Set a background color (so users know it's a 2nd form).

Place a button on the panel. This button will be used to open and close the sliding panel (I used it for configuration settings)

Click on the panel and drag the bottom to fill the form space.  Record the height size (462 in my code), this will be the max height when the panel is opened.

Place your configuration options or instructions on this panel.  Drag or set the panel bottom back to 22 height when finished.

Place a groupbox to fill the full size of the form under the panel.  The items that your want always displayed (your main form) will be placed on this groupbox.  A groupbox is required as the groupbox display will be sent to the background (behind the panel) when the panel is opened.  If not used you would need to send every item (label, textbox, checkbox, etc) to the backgound or they would still display on top of the opened panel.

I open or close the panel by pushing on the button (on the panel).

It all depends what text is displayed on the button (open or hide).

Private Sub ConfigurationOptions_Button_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ConfigurationOptions_Button.Click
 If ConfigurationOptions_Button.Text = "Show Configuration Options" Then
   ' Send the main form groupbox behind the opening panel
   Details_GroupBox.SendToBack()
   ' Configuration panel was minimized and needs to be expanded
   While Configuration_Panel.Height < 461
     ' Run in a loop adding to the panel height until the desired open height is met
     Configuration_Panel.Size = New Size(Configuration_Panel.Width, Configuration_Panel.Height + 1)
     ' Update the form display each time to display a smooth opening panel 
     Me.Update()
   End While
   ' Change the button text as it is now fully open
   ConfigurationOptions_Button.Text = "Hide Configuration Options"
 Else
   ' Configuration panel was maximized and needs to be closed
   While Configuration_Panel.Height > 22
     ' Run in a loop subtracting from the panel height until the desired closed height is met
     Configuration_Panel.Size = New Size(Configuration_Panel.Width, Configuration_Panel.Height - 1)
     ' Update the form display each time to display a smooth closing panel 
     Me.Update()
   End While
   ' Change the button text as it is now fully closed
   ConfigurationOptions_Button.Text = "Show Configuration Options"
 End If
End Sub

If you need to edit items displayed on the panel.  Drag the main form groupbox out of the way, and drag bottom of panel down to display the items.  Edit as desired, then drag or set panel height back to 22, and drag the groupbox back into position.