In C# Windows Forms Application, how to bring a form to front?

Question

2.65/5 (3 votes)

See more:

When the user has the program minimized and presses F3 a global hook keys gets the press and translation window should be made and brought to front.

These don't always work:

(f = new FormDefineWord()).Show();
f.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
f.BringToFront();
F.Topmost=true;

How to force the new form to be brought to front and focused on?

Posted 17-Feb-15 3:20am

john1990_1

Updated 25-May-21 0:01am

v2

Add a Solution

Comments

BillWoodruff 17-Feb-15 9:38am

"These don't always work:" what exactly do you observe that leads you to this conclusion. By "program minimized" do you mean the MainForm has been minimized and is visible as an Icon in the system-tray ? or ... ?

john1990_1 17-Feb-15 9:40am

the program is minimized to taskbar not system tray, the program detects F3 globally, and this code is run in order to show the user a form to enter a term to translate, the form opens but isn't brought to front nor focused on.

I added this.Topmost=true; and still not brought to front always.

Ramza360 17-Feb-15 10:44am

Did you try to specifically call Focus or Activate on the form, say after f.Topmost = true?

john1990_1 17-Feb-15 10:49am

Ramza you're right, submit answer to choose you best answer.

Ramza360 17-Feb-15 10:51am

added

4 solutions

Solution 2

Try use a timer. First only show the window and activate a timer to run in about 50 or 100ms. Then in the timer event you call the BringToFront or set it to TopMost or whatever you like best.

The problem is that you create the window and try to set its properties in the same method. Calling BringToFront does not work because there is no form yet. This has to go through the same event looping to start up. After that you can change its properties.

Good luck!

Posted 17-Feb-15 3:55am

E.F. Nijboer

Updated 17-Feb-15 3:56am

v2

Comments

john1990_1 17-Feb-15 9:56am

i tried using them is the Shwon method in the form and still doesn't work

E.F. Nijboer 17-Feb-15 9:57am

But that isn't a timer. The form needs to be completely ready. Other option is to create the form and hide it (instead of recreating it)

john1990_1 17-Feb-15 10:02am

didnt understand the other option

E.F. Nijboer 17-Feb-15 12:23pm

You now create a new FormDefineWord form each time the user presses F3. You could create this form once and hide it instead of recreating.

Solution 7

Hello,
I know it is a old post but I all the solutions given here didn't worked for me.

However i found a trick to make this works :

// keep the size status of the form when variable is created.
FormWindowState keep_in_memory = this.WindowState;  



private void MainPage_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (this.WindowState == FormWindowState.Minimized)
    {
        Hide();
        // apply the last size status of the form.
        this.WindowState = keep_in_memory;
    }
    else
    {
        // if size is changed but not minimized, so keep the windows status.
        keep_in_memory = this.WindowState;
    }
}


private void notifyIcon_MP_MouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
    this.Show();
    this.Activate();
}

The trick is to keep in a variable the status of the windows before it minimize.
Then, after the windows is hiden, set the form to the memorized status.
This will made the form reopen as previously.

Hope this will help some of you :)

Posted 25-May-21 0:01am

N.Enguehard

Updated 25-May-21 0:03am

v2

Solution 4

this works for me
VS 2010
assuming this is current form for which focus is needed.

this.Show();
     this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
     this.BringToFront();
     this.TopLevel = true;
     this.Focus();

Posted 23-May-18 5:34am

CHITRAKSH 2010

Updated 23-May-18 6:06am

v2

Comments

CHill60 24-May-18 5:26am

The only thing you have changed from the Accepted Solution posted 3 years ago is to change Topmost to TopLevel which will unnecessarily change the behaviour of the OP's form

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Ramza360 · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-17T04:51:00

Solution 3

Adding Focus() call should do the trick.

C#

(f = new FormDefineWord()).Show();
f.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
f.BringToFront();
f.Topmost=true;
f.Focus();

Posted 17-Feb-15 4:51am

Ramza360