Layout in WPF

Rujchai Ung-arunyaweeDepartment of Computer Engineering

Khon Kaen University

Layout History.NET 1.0

Coordinate-based layout onlyAnchoring and Docking

.NET 2.0Coordinate-based layout is standardFlow-based layout is optional

FlowLayoutPanel and TableLayoutPanel

.NET 3.0 and greaterFlow-based layout is standardCoordinate-based layout is optionalDevelopers can now create resolution-

independent, size-independent interfaces that scale well on different monitors.

The WPF Layout PhilosophyWPF window can hold only a single

element.You need to place a container in your

window and then add other elements to that container.

Elements (like controls) should not be explicitly sized.

Elements do not indicate their position with screen coordinates.

Layout containers can be nested.

The Layout ContainersAll the WPF layout containers are panelsPanel class has 3 public properties:

Background, Children, and IsItemHost.

Name Description

StackPanel Places elements in a horizontal or vertical stack. This layout container is typically used for small sections of a larger, more complex window.

WrapPanel Places elements in a series of wrapped lines. In horizontal orientation, the WrapPanel lays items out in a row from left to right and then onto subsequent lines. In vertical orientation, the WrapPanel lays out items in a top-to-bottom column and then uses additional columns to fit the remaining items.

DockPanel Aligns elements against an entire edge of the container.

Grid Arranges elements in rows and columns according to an invisible table. This is one of the most flexible and commonly used layout containers.

UniformGrid Places elements in an invisible table but forces all cells to have the same size. This layout container is used infrequently.

Canvas Allows elements to be positioned absolutely using fixed coordinates. This layout container is the most similar to traditional Windows Forms, but it doesn’t provide anchoring or docking features. As a result, it’s an unsuitable choice for a resizable window unless you’re willing to do a fair bit of work.

StackPanelone of the simplest layout containerssimply stacks its children in a single row or

column.

Arrange elements horizontally

Layout Properties: Alignment

Layout Properties: MarginTo make an extra space between

elementsSame margin for all sides

Different margins for each side of a control in the order left, top, right, bottom:

How Margins are combined

Element Properties: PaddingInserts space between the edges of the

control and the edges of the content

WrapPanel

DockPanel

Nesting Layout Containers

GridThe most powerful layout container in

WPFUsed by Visual Studio when creating a

new XAML file.Separates elements into an invisible grid

of rows and columnsMore than one element can be placed in

a single cellElement may itself be another layout

container that organizes its own group of contained controls: Nesting Layout.

Creating a Grid-based layout2-step processFirst, choose the number of columns and

rows that you want

Creating a Grid-based layoutSecond, place individual elements into a cell

using the attached Row and Column properties

You can place more than one element into a cellIf you don’t specify the Grid.Row or

Grid.Column property, the Grid assumes that it’s 0.

Example Grid

Sizing Rows and ColumnsThe Grid supports three sizing strategiesAbsolute sizes

Automatic sizes

Proportional sizes

Spanning Rows and ColumnsMake an element stretch over several

cellsThere are 2 attached properties

Grid.RowSpanGrid.ColumnSpan

Examples:

The Sample Dialog

SplitterIn WPF, Splitter bars are represented by

the GridSplitter class and are a feature of the Grid

Provides the ability to resize rows or columns

Always resizes entire rows or columns (not single cells)

The GridSplitter must be placed in a Grid cell

Horizontal splitter resizes rowsSet HorizontalAlignment to Stretch and

VerticalAlignment to CenterVertical splitter resizes columns

Set VerticalAlignment to Stretch and HorizontalAlignment to Center

Multiple splittersA Grid usually contains no more than a single

GridSplitterUse Nested Grid, each Grid has its own

GridSplitter

UniformGridSimply set the Rows and Columns

properties to set its sizeEach cell is always the same size

Canvas

Z-OrderTo control how they are layered by setting

the attached Canvas.ZIndex property when there are more than one overlapping elements.

By default, all elements have the same ZIndex – 0

When having the same ZIndex, elements are displayed on the order they’re defined in the XAML

With Zindex setting, the higher ZIndex elements always appear over the lower ZIndex elements

Z-Order in Code-BehindUseful if you need to change the position of

an element Programmatically.Call Canvas.SetZIndex()Pass in the element you want to modify

and the new ZIndex you want to apply.

InkCanvas

InkCanvas: EditingModeName Description

Ink This is the default mode. When the user draws with the mouse or stylus, a stroke is drawn.

Select To select an element, the user must click it or drag a selection “lasso” around it. Once an element is selected, it can be moved,resized, or deleted.

GestureOnly Draw stroke annotations but pays attention to specific predefined gestures

InkAndGesture

The InkCanvas allows the user to draw stroke annotations and also recognizespredefined gestures.

EraseByStroke

The InkCanvas erases a stroke when it’s clicked.

EraseByPoint The InkCanvas erases a portion of a stroke (a point in a stroke) when that portion is clicked.

None The InkCanvas ignores mouse and stylus input.

InkCanvas: Select Mode