Move and Resize Controls on a Form at Runtime (With Mouse)

Hi, I'm having issues trying to use the class or even trying to implement the same behavior with a user defined user.
Say for instance I have a user control that consists in two labels. Simple like that.
When I try to use the class it doesn't crash but the control doesn't react to the mouse events.
Even if I assing the code straight to the actual events (MouseDown, MouseMove & MouseUp) on my control it doesn't behave the same, It does nothing.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

That there is a bug when I try to change the size of ListBox or ComboBox. Does anyone know how to handle it?

Thanks man, u grrrrrrrrrrrreat. You make it easiest...

Thank you for use it Smile | :)

Good luck

Can you write the code for Vb?
i try to use online converter but no luck Frown | :(

sorry, i can't do that.

ahhh pity looks really cool Frown | :(

this is a auto converted code.(i am not test this code). code:

VB

Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public Class ControlMoverOrResizer

    Private Shared _moving As Boolean
    Private Shared _cursorStartPoint As Point
    Private Shared _moveIsInterNal As Boolean
    Private Shared _resizing As Boolean
    Private Shared _currentControlStartSize As Size
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInLeftEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInLeftEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInLeftEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInLeftEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInRightEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInRightEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInRightEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInRightEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInTopEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInTopEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInTopEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInTopEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInBottomEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInBottomEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInBottomEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInBottomEdge As Boolean

    Friend Enum MoveOrResize
        Move
        Resize
        MoveAndResize
    End Enum

    Friend Shared Property WorkType() As MoveOrResize
        Get
            Return m_WorkType
        End Get
        Set(value As MoveOrResize)
            m_WorkType = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_WorkType As MoveOrResize

    Friend Shared Sub Init(control As Control)
        Init(control, control)
    End Sub

    Friend Shared Sub Init(control As Control, container As Control)
        _moving = False
        _resizing = False
        _moveIsInterNal = False
        _cursorStartPoint = Point.Empty
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = False
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = False
        MouseIsInRightEdge = False
        MouseIsInTopEdge = False
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = False
        WorkType = MoveOrResize.MoveAndResize
		AddHandler control.MouseDown, AddressOf  StartMovingOrResizing
		AddHandler control.MouseUp, AddressOf  StopDragOrResizing
		AddHandler control.MouseMove, AddressOf  MoveControl
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control As Control, mouseLocationInControl As Point)
        If WorkType = MoveOrResize.Move Then
            Return
        End If
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X) <= 2
        MouseIsInRightEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X - control.Width) <= 2
        MouseIsInTopEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y) <= 2
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y - control.Height) <= 2
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub UpdateMouseCursor(control As Control)
        If WorkType = MoveOrResize.Move Then
            Return
        End If
        If MouseIsInLeftEdge Then
            If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW
            Else
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE
            End If
        ElseIf MouseIsInRightEdge Then
            If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE
            Else
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE
            End If
        ElseIf MouseIsInTopEdge OrElse MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
            control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNS
        Else
            control.Cursor = Cursors.[Default]
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub StartMovingOrResizing(control As Control, e As MouseEventArgs)
        If _moving OrElse _resizing Then
            Return
        End If
        If WorkType <> MoveOrResize.Move AndAlso (MouseIsInRightEdge OrElse MouseIsInLeftEdge OrElse MouseIsInTopEdge OrElse MouseIsInBottomEdge) Then
            _resizing = True
            _currentControlStartSize = control.Size
        ElseIf WorkType <> MoveOrResize.Resize Then
            _moving = True
            control.Cursor = Cursors.Hand
        End If
        _cursorStartPoint = New Point(e.X, e.Y)
        control.Capture = True
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub MoveControl(control As Control, e As MouseEventArgs)
        If Not _resizing AndAlso Not _moving Then
            UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control, New Point(e.X, e.Y))
            UpdateMouseCursor(control)
        End If
        If _resizing Then
            If MouseIsInLeftEdge Then
                If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
                Else
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                End If
            ElseIf MouseIsInRightEdge Then
                If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)

                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
                Else
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                End If
            ElseIf MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
            Else
                StopDragOrResizing(control)
            End If
        ElseIf _moving Then
            _moveIsInterNal = Not _moveIsInterNal
            If Not _moveIsInterNal Then
                Dim x As Integer = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + control.Left
                Dim y As Integer = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + control.Top
                control.Location = New Point(x, y)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub StopDragOrResizing(control As Control, e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
        _resizing = False
        _moving = False
        control.Capture = False
        UpdateMouseCursor(control)
    End Sub

#Region "Save And Load"
     Private Shared Function GetAllChildControls(control As Control, list As List(Of Control)) As List(Of Control)
        Dim controls As List(Of Control) = control.Controls.Cast(Of Control)().ToList()
        list.AddRange(controls)
        Return controls.SelectMany(Function(ctrl) GetAllChildControls(ctrl, list)).ToList()
    End Function

    Friend Shared Function GetSizeAndPositionOfControlsToString(container As Control) As String
        Dim controls As New List(Of Control)()
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls)
        Dim cultureInfo As New CultureInfo("en")
        Dim info As String = String.Empty
        For Each control As Control In controls
            info += control.Name & ":" & control.Left.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Top.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Width.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Height.ToString(cultureInfo) & "*"
        Next
        Return info
    End Function
    Friend Shared Sub SetSizeAndPositionOfControlsFromString(container As Control, controlsInfoStr As String)
        Dim controls As New List(Of Control)()
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls)
			Dim controlsInfo As String() = controlsInfoStr.Split(New () {"*"}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
        Dim controlsInfoDictionary As New Dictionary(Of String, String)()
        For Each controlInfo As String In controlsInfo
				Dim info As String() = controlInfo.Split(New () {":"}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
            controlsInfoDictionary.Add(info(0), info(1))
        Next
        For Each control As Control In controls
            Dim propertiesStr As String
            controlsInfoDictionary.TryGetValue(control.Name, propertiesStr)
				Dim properties As String() = propertiesStr.Split(New () {","}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
            If properties.Length = 4 Then
                control.Left = Integer.Parse(properties(0))
                control.Top = Integer.Parse(properties(1))
                control.Width = Integer.Parse(properties(2))
                control.Height = Integer.Parse(properties(3))
            End If
        Next
    End Sub

#End Region

modified 17-Sep-14 14:01pm.

Worked for my (VS2015)

VB.NET

Imports System.Globalization
Public Class ControlMoverOrResizer

    Private Shared _moving As Boolean
    Private Shared _cursorStartPoint As Point
    Private Shared _moveIsInterNal As Boolean
    Private Shared _resizing As Boolean
    Private Shared _currentControlStartSize As Size
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInLeftEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInLeftEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInLeftEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInLeftEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInRightEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInRightEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInRightEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInRightEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInTopEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInTopEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInTopEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInTopEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInBottomEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInBottomEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInBottomEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInBottomEdge As Boolean

    Friend Enum MoveOrResize
        Move
        Resize
        MoveAndResize
    End Enum

    Friend Shared Property WorkType() As MoveOrResize
        Get
            Return m_WorkType
        End Get
        Set(value As MoveOrResize)
            m_WorkType = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_WorkType As MoveOrResize

    Friend Shared Sub Init(control As Control)
        Init(control, control)
    End Sub

    Friend Shared Sub Init(control As Control, container As Control)
        _moving = False
        _resizing = False
        _moveIsInterNal = False
        _cursorStartPoint = Point.Empty
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = False
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = False
        MouseIsInRightEdge = False
        MouseIsInTopEdge = False
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = False
        WorkType = MoveOrResize.MoveAndResize
#Disable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
        AddHandler control.MouseDown, AddressOf StartMovingOrResizing
#Enable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
#Disable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
        AddHandler control.MouseUp, AddressOf StopDragOrResizing
#Enable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
#Disable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
        AddHandler control.MouseMove, AddressOf MoveControl
#Enable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control As Control, mouseLocationInControl As Point)
        If WorkType = MoveOrResize.Move Then
            Return
        End If
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X) <= 2
        MouseIsInRightEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X - control.Width) <= 2
        MouseIsInTopEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y) <= 2
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y - control.Height) <= 2
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub UpdateMouseCursor(control As Control)
        If WorkType = MoveOrResize.Move Then
            Return
        End If
        If MouseIsInLeftEdge Then
            If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW
            Else
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE
            End If
        ElseIf MouseIsInRightEdge Then
            If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE
            Else
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE
            End If
        ElseIf MouseIsInTopEdge OrElse MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
            control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNS
        Else
            control.Cursor = Cursors.[Default]
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub StartMovingOrResizing(control As Control, e As MouseEventArgs)
        If _moving OrElse _resizing Then
            Return
        End If
        If WorkType <> MoveOrResize.Move AndAlso (MouseIsInRightEdge OrElse MouseIsInLeftEdge OrElse MouseIsInTopEdge OrElse MouseIsInBottomEdge) Then
            _resizing = True
            _currentControlStartSize = control.Size
        ElseIf WorkType <> MoveOrResize.Resize Then
            _moving = True
            control.Cursor = Cursors.Hand
        End If
        _cursorStartPoint = New Point(e.X, e.Y)
        control.Capture = True
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub MoveControl(control As Control, e As MouseEventArgs)
        If Not _resizing AndAlso Not _moving Then
            UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control, New Point(e.X, e.Y))
            UpdateMouseCursor(control)
        End If
        If _resizing Then
            If MouseIsInLeftEdge Then
                If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
                Else
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                End If
            ElseIf MouseIsInRightEdge Then
                If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)

                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
                Else
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                End If
            ElseIf MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
            Else
                StopDragOrResizing(control, e)
            End If
        ElseIf _moving Then
            _moveIsInterNal = Not _moveIsInterNal
            If Not _moveIsInterNal Then
                Dim x As Integer = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + control.Left
                Dim y As Integer = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + control.Top
                control.Location = New Point(x, y)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub StopDragOrResizing(control As Control, e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
        _resizing = False
        _moving = False
        control.Capture = False
        UpdateMouseCursor(control)
    End Sub

#Region "Save And Load"
     Private Shared Function GetAllChildControls(control As Control, list As List(Of Control)) As List(Of Control)
        Dim controls As List(Of Control) = control.Controls.Cast(Of Control)().ToList()
        list.AddRange(controls)
        Return controls.SelectMany(Function(ctrl) GetAllChildControls(ctrl, list)).ToList()
    End Function

    Friend Shared Function GetSizeAndPositionOfControlsToString(container As Control) As String
        Dim controls As New List(Of Control)()
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls)
        Dim cultureInfo As New CultureInfo("en")
        Dim info As String = String.Empty
        For Each control As Control In controls
            info += control.Name & ":" & control.Left.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Top.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Width.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Height.ToString(cultureInfo) & "*"
        Next
        Return info
    End Function
    Friend Shared Sub SetSizeAndPositionOfControlsFromString(container As Control, controlsInfoStr As String)
        Dim controls As New List(Of Control)()
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls)
#Disable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
        Dim controlsInfo As String() = controlsInfoStr.Split(New Char() {"*"}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
#Enable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
        Dim controlsInfoDictionary As New Dictionary(Of String, String)()
        For Each controlInfo As String In controlsInfo
#Disable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
            Dim info As String() = controlInfo.Split(New Char() {":"}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
#Enable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
            controlsInfoDictionary.Add(info(0), info(1))
        Next
        For Each control As Control In controls
            Dim propertiesStr As String
#Disable Warning BC42030 ' La referencia pasa una variable ates de que se le haya asignado un valor
            controlsInfoDictionary.TryGetValue(control.Name, propertiesStr)
#Enable Warning BC42030 ' La referencia pasa una variable ates de que se le haya asignado un valor
#Disable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
            Dim properties As String() = propertiesStr.Split(New Char() {","}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
#Enable Warning BC42016 ' Conversión implícita
            If properties.Length = 4 Then
                control.Left = Integer.Parse(properties(0))
                control.Top = Integer.Parse(properties(1))
                control.Width = Integer.Parse(properties(2))
                control.Height = Integer.Parse(properties(3))
            End If
        Next
    End Sub

#End Region
End Class

'Form and GroupBox1

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        ControlMoverOrResizer.Init(GroupBox1)
    End Sub
End Class

'Module

Module Module1
    Public Cntlx As Control
End Module

'Class Module

Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public Class ControlMoverOrResizer

    Private Shared _moving As Boolean
    Private Shared _cursorStartPoint As Point
    Private Shared _moveIsInterNal As Boolean
    Private Shared _resizing As Boolean
    Private Shared _currentControlStartSize As Size
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInLeftEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInLeftEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInLeftEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInLeftEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInRightEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInRightEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInRightEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInRightEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInTopEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInTopEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInTopEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInTopEdge As Boolean
    Friend Shared Property MouseIsInBottomEdge() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_MouseIsInBottomEdge
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_MouseIsInBottomEdge = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_MouseIsInBottomEdge As Boolean

    Friend Enum MoveOrResize
        Move
        Resize
        MoveAndResize
    End Enum

    Friend Shared Property WorkType() As MoveOrResize
        Get
            Return m_WorkType
        End Get
        Set(value As MoveOrResize)
            m_WorkType = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private Shared m_WorkType As MoveOrResize

    Friend Shared Sub Init(control As Control)
        Init(control, control)
        Cntlx = control
    End Sub

    Friend Shared Sub Init(control As Control, container As Control)
        _moving = False
        _resizing = False
        _moveIsInterNal = False
        _cursorStartPoint = Point.Empty
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = False
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = False
        MouseIsInRightEdge = False
        MouseIsInTopEdge = False
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = False
        WorkType = MoveOrResize.MoveAndResize
        AddHandler control.MouseDown, AddressOf StartMovingOrResizing
        AddHandler control.MouseUp, AddressOf StopDragOrResizing
        AddHandler control.MouseMove, AddressOf MoveControl
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control As Control, mouseLocationInControl As Point)
        If WorkType = MoveOrResize.Move Then
            Return
        End If
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X) <= 2
        MouseIsInRightEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X - control.Width) <= 2
        MouseIsInTopEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y) <= 2
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y - control.Height) <= 2
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub UpdateMouseCursor(control As Control)
        If WorkType = MoveOrResize.Move Then
            Return
        End If
        If MouseIsInLeftEdge Then
            If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW
            Else
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE
            End If
        ElseIf MouseIsInRightEdge Then
            If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE
            Else
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE
            End If
        ElseIf MouseIsInTopEdge OrElse MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
            control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNS
        Else
            control.Cursor = Cursors.[Default]
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub StartMovingOrResizing(control As Control, e As MouseEventArgs)
        If _moving OrElse _resizing Then
            Return
        End If
        If WorkType <> MoveOrResize.Move AndAlso (MouseIsInRightEdge OrElse MouseIsInLeftEdge OrElse MouseIsInTopEdge OrElse MouseIsInBottomEdge) Then
            _resizing = True
            _currentControlStartSize = control.Size
        ElseIf WorkType <> MoveOrResize.Resize Then
            _moving = True
            control.Cursor = Cursors.Hand
        End If
        _cursorStartPoint = New Point(e.X, e.Y)
        control.Capture = True
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub MoveControl(control As Control, e As MouseEventArgs)
        Cntlx = control

        If Not _resizing AndAlso Not _moving Then
            UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control, New Point(e.X, e.Y))
            UpdateMouseCursor(control)
        End If
        If _resizing Then
            If MouseIsInLeftEdge Then
                If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
                Else
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)
                End If
            ElseIf MouseIsInRightEdge Then
                If MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)

                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
                Else
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width
                End If
            ElseIf MouseIsInTopEdge Then
                control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
                control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y)
            ElseIf MouseIsInBottomEdge Then
                control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height
            Else
                StopDragOrResizing()
            End If
        ElseIf _moving Then
            _moveIsInterNal = Not _moveIsInterNal
            If Not _moveIsInterNal Then
                Dim x As Integer = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + control.Left
                Dim y As Integer = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + control.Top
                control.Location = New Point(x, y)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub StopDragOrResizing()
        _resizing = False
        _moving = False
        Cntlx.Capture = False
        UpdateMouseCursor(Cntlx)
    End Sub

#Region "Save And Load"

    Private Shared Function GetAllChildControls(control As Control, list As List(Of Control)) As List(Of Control)
        Dim controls As List(Of Control) = control.Controls.Cast(Of Control)().ToList()
        list.AddRange(controls)
        Return controls.SelectMany(Function(ctrl) GetAllChildControls(ctrl, list)).ToList()
    End Function

    Friend Shared Function GetSizeAndPositionOfControlsToString(container As Control) As String
        Dim controls As New List(Of Control)()
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls)
        Dim cultureInfo As New CultureInfo("en")
        Dim info As String = String.Empty
        For Each control As Control In controls
            info += control.Name & ":" & control.Left.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Top.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Width.ToString(cultureInfo) & "," & control.Height.ToString(cultureInfo) & "*"
        Next
        Return info
    End Function
    Friend Shared Sub SetSizeAndPositionOfControlsFromString(container As Control, controlsInfoStr As String)
        Dim controls As New List(Of Control)()
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls)
        Dim controlsInfo As String() = controlsInfoStr.Split("*")
        Dim controlsInfoDictionary As New Dictionary(Of String, String)()
        For Each controlInfo As String In controlsInfo
            Dim info As String() = controlInfo.Split(":")
            controlsInfoDictionary.Add(info(0), info(1))
        Next
        For Each control As Control In controls
            Dim propertiesStr As String
            controlsInfoDictionary.TryGetValue(control.Name, propertiesStr)
            Dim properties As String() = propertiesStr.Split(",")
            If properties.Length = 4 Then
                control.Left = Integer.Parse(properties(0))
                control.Top = Integer.Parse(properties(1))
                control.Width = Integer.Parse(properties(2))
                control.Height = Integer.Parse(properties(3))
            End If
        Next
    End Sub

#End Region
End Class

I like this code a lot. I have used the code with the end() in it but it never comes into this method, what do I do wrong?

thank you for use from codes.
I test End() again, it worked good for me. use that like sample form.

Hi,

I downloaded the source and modified it with the End() in it, but also with your source code it never comes in the End() method.
What could it be that it doesn't enter the End() method?

Already thanks.

A great project..thanks so much for sharing! Is there a way to prevent control from going to 0 size and being lost, like setting a minimum width/height? Thanks.
Smile | :)

modified 22-May-14 20:14pm.

I'm using this on a display that is similar to a calendar. The user moves or resizes a label that represents a project. When it is finished I want the app to recognize where the edges of the control now are and update my DB that holds the start and end dates of the project.

But I am having trouble determining when the operation is over. I tried to add some code to the StopDragOrResizing(control) function but it seems to fire multiple times while the control is being resized or moved. I guess I would need something that would fire on MouseUp.

Any idea how I can make this happen?

Thanks,

hi ,
how could i remove this feature from the control ?

(like the dispose method like the init method ... is there ?)

Rose | [Rose]

mbs

hi i added a "end" method to class, use that. i will update article later.

internal class ControlMoverOrResizer
{
    private static bool _moving;
    private static Point _cursorStartPoint;
    private static bool _moveIsInterNal;
    private static bool _resizing;
    private static Size _currentControlStartSize;
    internal static bool MouseIsInLeftEdge { get; set; }
    internal static bool MouseIsInRightEdge { get; set; }
    internal static bool MouseIsInTopEdge { get; set; }
    internal static bool MouseIsInBottomEdge { get; set; }

    internal enum MoveOrResize
    {
        Move,
        Resize,
        MoveAndResize,
        None
    }

    internal static MoveOrResize WorkType { get; set; }

    internal static void Init(Control control)
    {
        Init(control, control);
    }

    internal static void Init(Control control, Control container)
    {
        _moving = false;
        _resizing = false;
        _moveIsInterNal = false;
        _cursorStartPoint = Point.Empty;
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = false;
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = false;
        MouseIsInRightEdge = false;
        MouseIsInTopEdge = false;
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = false;
        WorkType = MoveOrResize.MoveAndResize;
        control.MouseDown += (sender, e) => StartMovingOrResizing(control, e);
        control.MouseUp += (sender, e) => StopDragOrResizing(control);
        control.MouseMove += (sender, e) => MoveControl(container, e);
    }

    internal static void End()
    {
        WorkType = MoveOrResize.None;
    }

    private static void UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(Control control, Point mouseLocationInControl)
    {
        if (WorkType == MoveOrResize.Move)
        {
            return;
        }
        MouseIsInLeftEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X) <= 2;
        MouseIsInRightEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.X - control.Width) <= 2;
        MouseIsInTopEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y ) <= 2;
        MouseIsInBottomEdge = Math.Abs(mouseLocationInControl.Y - control.Height) <= 2;
    }

    private static void UpdateMouseCursor(Control control)
    {
        if (WorkType == MoveOrResize.Move)
        {
            return;
        }
        if (MouseIsInLeftEdge )
        {
            if (MouseIsInTopEdge)
            {
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE;
            }
            else if (MouseIsInBottomEdge)
            {
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW;
            }
            else
            {
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE;
            }
        }
        else if (MouseIsInRightEdge)
        {
            if (MouseIsInTopEdge)
            {
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNESW;
            }
            else if (MouseIsInBottomEdge)
            {
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNWSE;
            }
            else
            {
                control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeWE;
            }
        }
        else if (MouseIsInTopEdge || MouseIsInBottomEdge)
        {
            control.Cursor = Cursors.SizeNS;
        }
        else
        {
            control.Cursor = Cursors.Default;
        }
    }

    private static void StartMovingOrResizing(Control control, MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        if (_moving || _resizing || WorkType== MoveOrResize.None)
        {
            return;
        }
        if ((WorkType==MoveOrResize.Resize || WorkType== MoveOrResize.MoveAndResize) &&
            (MouseIsInRightEdge || MouseIsInLeftEdge || MouseIsInTopEdge || MouseIsInBottomEdge))
        {
            _resizing = true;
            _currentControlStartSize = control.Size;
        }
        else if (WorkType==MoveOrResize.Move || WorkType == MoveOrResize.MoveAndResize)
        {
            _moving = true;
            control.Cursor = Cursors.Hand;
        }
        _cursorStartPoint = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
        control.Capture = true;
    }

    private static void MoveControl(Control control, MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        if (WorkType == MoveOrResize.None)
        {
            control.Cursor = Cursors.Default;
            return;
        }
        if (!_resizing && ! _moving)
        {
            UpdateMouseEdgeProperties(control, new Point(e.X, e.Y));
            UpdateMouseCursor(control);
        }
        if (_resizing)
        {
            if (MouseIsInLeftEdge)
            {
                if (MouseIsInTopEdge)
                {
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X);
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X);
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y);
                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y);
                }
                else if (MouseIsInBottomEdge)
                {
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X);
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X);
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height;
                }
                else
                {
                    control.Width -= (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X);
                    control.Left += (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) ;
                }
            }
            else if (MouseIsInRightEdge)
            {
                if (MouseIsInTopEdge)
                {
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width;
                    control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y);
                    control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y);

                }
                else if (MouseIsInBottomEdge)
                {
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + _currentControlStartSize.Width;
                    control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height;
                }
                else
                {
                    control.Width = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X)+_currentControlStartSize.Width;
                }
            }
            else if (MouseIsInTopEdge)
            {
                control.Height -= (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y);
                control.Top += (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y);
            }
            else if (MouseIsInBottomEdge)
            {
                control.Height = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + _currentControlStartSize.Height;
            }
            else
            {
                 StopDragOrResizing(control);
            }
        }
        else if (_moving)
        {
            _moveIsInterNal = !_moveIsInterNal;
            if (!_moveIsInterNal)
            {
                int x = (e.X - _cursorStartPoint.X) + control.Left;
                int y = (e.Y - _cursorStartPoint.Y) + control.Top;
                control.Location = new Point(x, y);
            }
        }
    }

    private static void StopDragOrResizing(Control control)
    {
        _resizing = false;
        _moving = false;
        control.Capture = false;
        UpdateMouseCursor(control);
    }

    #region Save And Load

    private static List<Control> GetAllChildControls(Control control, List<Control> list)
    {
        List<Control> controls = control.Controls.Cast<Control>().ToList();
        list.AddRange(controls);
        return controls.SelectMany(ctrl => GetAllChildControls(ctrl, list)).ToList();
    }

    internal static string GetSizeAndPositionOfControlsToString(Control container)
    {
        List<Control> controls = new List<Control>();
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls);
        CultureInfo cultureInfo = new CultureInfo("en");
        string info = string.Empty;
        foreach (Control control in controls)
        {
            info += control.Name + ":" + control.Left.ToString(cultureInfo) + "," + control.Top.ToString(cultureInfo) + "," +
                    control.Width.ToString(cultureInfo) + "," + control.Height.ToString(cultureInfo) + "*";
        }
        return info;
    }
    internal static void SetSizeAndPositionOfControlsFromString(Control container, string controlsInfoStr)
    {
        List<Control> controls = new List<Control>();
        GetAllChildControls(container, controls);
        string[] controlsInfo = controlsInfoStr.Split(new []{"*"},StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries );
        Dictionary<string, string> controlsInfoDictionary = new Dictionary<string, string>();
        foreach (string controlInfo in controlsInfo)
        {
            string[] info = controlInfo.Split(new [] { ":" }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
            controlsInfoDictionary.Add(info[0], info[1]);
        }
        foreach (Control control in controls)
        {
            string propertiesStr;
            controlsInfoDictionary.TryGetValue(control.Name, out propertiesStr);
            string[] properties = propertiesStr.Split(new [] { "," }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
            if (properties.Length == 4)
            {
                control.Left = int.Parse(properties[0]);
                control.Top = int.Parse(properties[1]);
                control.Width = int.Parse(properties[2]);
                control.Height = int.Parse(properties[3]);
            }
        }
    }

    #endregion
}

Thanks
i'll test it ASAP.

mbs

I was also originally having a lot of difficulties stopping the events once they were initialized for my controls in my app but I have come up with what I believe to be a pretty nice solution.

I am new to coding however dissecting this bit of code was a learning experience and in my opinion a must for new aspiring coders if they are wishing to learn Delegates, Events and Lambda expressions. I see here that the original poster added an End method which simply updates the WorkType enum but this doesn't actually stop the events from running in the background. I believe my way of stopping/shutting off this functionality by Unsubscribing from the events should be added to the original code as it's working beautifully in my WinForms app. This code was awesome to begin with and I'm thankful I found it here on Code Project. See my additions to the code below.

In order for your code to reference back to the original events you need an object that contains those events to reference back to. To accomplish this I took out ALL of the Static fields and made all of the fields Private except for the enum MoveOrResize and MoveOrResize WorkType. With this change I replaced the Static Init(Control control) function by adding a Class Constructor so that I would have the ability to new up each instance of the ControlMoverOrResizer class for each Control I wanted to add this functionality to. See below an example:

C#

internal enum MoveOrResize...

public MoveOrResize WorkType { get; set; }

// Constructor: Takes in a Control object
public ControlMoverOrResizer(Control control)
{
    Init(control, control);
}

The original code uses lambda expressions and as a newbie this was my first time ever seeing them. The way in which the events are subscribed leaves out a pointer to those events and once the events are Subscribed you are not provided with a way to Unsubscribe from them within the class.

First you must Declare the MouseEventHandlers globally within the ControlMoverOrResizer Class. I declared these just below the now private MouseEdge booleans like this:

C#

// Declare the Handlers globally so we can access them later in order to shut them off aka Unsubscribe the Event
private MouseEventHandler msDownHandler;
private MouseEventHandler msUpHandler;
private MouseEventHandler msMoveHandler;

Next I set these events to the Delegates in the same manner as seyyed hamed monem did in the original code however I am not Subscribing these events just yet. The events are now pointers to their corresponding Delegate (From what I know this is true however I could be slightly incorrect as I'm still learning this stuff). I accomplish this within the Init(Control control, Control container) method like this:

C#

msDownHandler = (sender, e) => StartMovingOrResizing(control, e);
msUpHandler = (sender, e) => StopDragOrResizing(control);
msMoveHandler = (sender, e) => MoveControl(container, e);

Also within the same Init() method I now Subscribe the events to the handlers like this:

C#

control.MouseDown += msDownHandler; // Uses StartMovingOrResizing
control.MouseUp += msUpHandler;     // Uses StopDragOrResizing
control.MouseMove += msMoveHandler; // Uses MoveControl

Lastly I created a method that can be used just like the Init() method only it turns off the events for the control provided to it. I struggled with a name for this method but ended up simply calling it StopMove():

C#

internal void StopMove(Control control)
{
     // Unsubscribe from these events using the original Handler
     control.MouseDown -= msDownHandler;
     control.MouseUp -= msUpHandler;
     control.MouseMove -= msMoveHandler;
}

So now you have both a way to turn the functionality On and Off.

Turn On:

C#

// Global reference to moverResizer
ControlMoverOrResizer moverResizer;

// Using the Class Constructor pass in a Control object to create a new instance of a ControlMoverOrResizer object
moverResizer = new ControlMoverOrResizer(Control);

Turn Off:

C#

moverResizer.StopMove(Control);

I hope this helps! And please... let me know if I'm wrong about the terminology I used to describe items such as the Events, Delegates and Handlers. Other improvements suggestions are of course welcome.

modified 3-Mar-16 18:35pm.

I am attempting to add sizing handle to the selected control on the form. Any idea on this? Would like to do that on your sample code. Thanks.

hi,
sorry, i am doing a ponderous project this days and unfortunately i have not enough time for that. Frown | :(

To add little triangle - sizing handle on the bottom left handle OnPaint event for your desired control. Replace picAvatar with your control name.

C#

private void picAvatar_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(0, 0, this.picAvatar.Width, this.picAvatar.Height);
            ControlPaint.DrawSizeGrip(e.Graphics, SystemColors.Control, rect.Width - 10, rect.Height - 10, 10, 10);
        }

Running both your sample application and the source code, I observed the application is not working well for textbox and label control. For textbox, you can only resize to the top and left, meanwhile for label control, it is not resizing at all? How can resizing on all edges be achieved for textbox and label controls. Thanks.

Sorry, I have got it working for both textbox and label control. The code is okay and does not need any change. For the label control, set the autosize property to false and set the bordersize to FixedSingle and it will be resizable. For the textbox, set the bordersize to FixedSingle and it will be resizable as well. Thumbs up for a job well done.

thanks

Move and Resize Controls on a Form at Runtime (With Mouse)

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