How to: Use the Attached Properties of Canvas to Position Child Elements

This example shows how to use the attached properties of Canvas to position child elements.

Example

The following example adds four Button elements as child elements of a parent Canvas. Each element is represented by a Bottom, Left, Right, and Top. Each Button is positioned relative to the parent Canvas and according to its assigned property value.


// Create the application's main window
mainWindow = gcnew System::Windows::Window();
mainWindow->Title = "Canvas Attached Properties Sample";

// Add a Border
Border^ myBorder = gcnew Border();
myBorder->HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment::Left;
myBorder->VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment::Top;
myBorder->BorderBrush = Brushes::Black;
myBorder->BorderThickness = System::Windows::Thickness(2);

// Create the Canvas
Canvas^ myCanvas = gcnew Canvas();
myCanvas->Background = Brushes::LightBlue;
myCanvas->Width = 400;
myCanvas->Height = 400;

// Create the child Button elements
Button^ myButton1 = gcnew Button();
Button^ myButton2 = gcnew Button();
Button^ myButton3 = gcnew Button();
Button^ myButton4 = gcnew Button();

// Set Positioning attached properties on Button elements
Canvas::SetTop(myButton1, 50);
myButton1->Content = "Canvas.Top=50";
Canvas::SetBottom(myButton2, 50);
myButton2->Content = "Canvas.Bottom=50";
Canvas::SetLeft(myButton3, 50);
myButton3->Content = "Canvas.Left=50";
Canvas::SetRight(myButton4, 50);
myButton4->Content = "Canvas.Right=50";

// Add Buttons to the Canvas' Children collection
myCanvas->Children->Add(myButton1);
myCanvas->Children->Add(myButton2);
myCanvas->Children->Add(myButton3);
myCanvas->Children->Add(myButton4);

// Add the Canvas as the lone Child of the Border
myBorder->Child = myCanvas;

// Add the Border as the Content of the Parent Window Object
mainWindow->Content = myBorder;
mainWindow->Show();


// Create the application's main window
mainWindow = new Window ();
mainWindow.Title = "Canvas Attached Properties Sample";

// Add a Border
Border myBorder = new Border();
myBorder.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Left;
myBorder.VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Top;
myBorder.BorderBrush = Brushes.Black;
myBorder.BorderThickness = new Thickness(2);

// Create the Canvas
Canvas myCanvas = new Canvas();
myCanvas.Background = Brushes.LightBlue;
myCanvas.Width = 400;
myCanvas.Height = 400;

// Create the child Button elements
Button myButton1 = new Button();
Button myButton2 = new Button();
Button myButton3 = new Button();
Button myButton4 = new Button();

// Set Positioning attached properties on Button elements
Canvas.SetTop(myButton1, 50);
myButton1.Content = "Canvas.Top=50";
Canvas.SetBottom(myButton2, 50);
myButton2.Content = "Canvas.Bottom=50";
Canvas.SetLeft(myButton3, 50);
myButton3.Content = "Canvas.Left=50";
Canvas.SetRight(myButton4, 50);
myButton4.Content = "Canvas.Right=50";

// Add Buttons to the Canvas' Children collection
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton1);
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton2);
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton3);
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton4);

// Add the Canvas as the lone Child of the Border
myBorder.Child = myCanvas;

// Add the Border as the Content of the Parent Window Object
mainWindow.Content = myBorder;
mainWindow.Show ();

WindowTitle = "Attached Properties Sample"
' Add a Border
Dim myBorder As New Border()
myBorder.HorizontalAlignment = Windows.HorizontalAlignment.Left
myBorder.VerticalAlignment = Windows.VerticalAlignment.Top
myBorder.BorderBrush = Brushes.Black
myBorder.BorderThickness = New Thickness(2)

' Create a Canvas as the root Panel
Dim myCanvas As New Canvas()
myCanvas.Background = Brushes.LightBlue
myCanvas.Width = 400
myCanvas.Height = 400

' Create the child Button elements
Dim myButton1 As New Button()
Dim myButton2 As New Button()
Dim myButton3 As New Button()
Dim myButton4 As New Button()

' Set Positioning attached properties on Button elements
Canvas.SetTop(myButton1, 50)
myButton1.Content = "Canvas.Top=50"
Canvas.SetBottom(myButton2, 50)
myButton2.Content = "Canvas.Bottom=50"
Canvas.SetLeft(myButton3, 50)
myButton3.Content = "Canvas.Left=50"
Canvas.SetRight(myButton4, 50)
myButton4.Content = "Canvas.Right=50"

' Add Buttons to the Canvas' Children collection
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton1)
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton2)
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton3)
myCanvas.Children.Add(myButton4)

' Add the Canvas as the lone Child of the Border
myBorder.Child = myCanvas
Me.Content = myBorder

See also