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How to: Layer objects on Windows Forms

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When you create a complex user interface, or work with a multiple document interface (MDI) form, you will often want to layer both controls and child forms to create more complex user interfaces (UI). To move and keep track of controls and windows within the context of a group, you manipulate their z-order. Z-order is the visual layering of controls on a form along the form's z-axis (depth). The window at the top of the z-order overlaps all other windows. All other windows overlap the window at the bottom of the z-order.

To layer controls at design time

  1. In Visual Studio, select a control that you want to layer.

  2. On the Format menu, select Order, and then select Bring To Front or Send To Back.

To layer controls programmatically

Use the BringToFront and SendToBack methods to manipulate the z-order of the controls.

For example, if a TextBox control, txtFirstName, is underneath another control and you want to have it on top, use the following code:

txtFirstName.BringToFront()

txtFirstName.BringToFront();

txtFirstName->BringToFront();

Note

Windows Forms supports control containment. Control containment involves placing a number of controls within a containing control, such as a number of RadioButton controls within a GroupBox control. You can then layer the controls within the containing control. Moving the group box moves the controls as well, because they are contained inside it.

See also