Why isn't setdesktoplocation working? (Visual basic 2010)

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I'm having some trouble setting up my SetDesktopLocation coordinates for my program, specifically the X-position. It's supposed to be used in a dual screen setup where it will open on the 2nd monitor/TV.

The X-position value is stored in a separate XML Configuration File, along with SQL connection string and other values which changes that changes the program's label text. It can be changed by opening the file as Notepad document, then edit and save.

Here's the code snippet for SetDesktopLocation:

Private Sub frmMain_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

Try
'
'
'
'

'Xpos is the name for X-position value'          
Me.SetDesktopLocation(ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings.Get("Xpos"), 0) 
Me.Location = New Point(ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings.Get("Xpos"), 0)
Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized

'
'
'
'
End Try

End Sub

In the XML Configuration File, Xpos value is 1280. But when I debug the program, it still opens on my 1st screen.

What I have tried:

I first thought maybe the code couldn't read the XML Config File, so I tested by changing the label text reference to Xpos value. The label can show the Xpos value - 1280, fine. Also the SQL connection string is still working fine.

Then I tried setting the coordinates directly with numbers alone, thinking maybe the original code couldn't read Xpos as value:

Me.SetDesktopLocation(1280, 0) 
Me.Location = New Point(1280, 0)
Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized

That didn't work too.

Posted 16-Mar-23 14:24pm

Hannes1993

Updated 16-Mar-23 14:54pm

v3

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Graeme_Grant · Answer 1 · 2023-03-16T14:54:00

Solution 1

Why are you using both SetDesktopLocation and Location? They both do the same thing in subtly different ways:"

1. SetDesktopLocation[^]

Quote:
Sets the location of the form in desktop coordinates.

2. Location[^]

Quote:
The Point that represents the upper-left corner of the Form in screen coordinates.

Choose the right one, do not use both.

For multiple Screens you need to work with the Screen Class (System.Windows.Forms) | Microsoft Learn[^]

You can check the number of screens available:

VB

Dim screenCount = Screen.AllScreens.Count()

Then you can set the location in the approriate screen based on the number of screens available:

VB

Dim x = 200
Dim y = 200

Dim screenLocation = Screen.AllScreens(screenCount - 1).WorkingArea.Location
Me.Location = New Point(x + screenLocation.X, y + screenLocation.Y)

UPDATE

I do not have a second screen to test with, however, looking at Screen.Bounds Property (System.Windows.Forms) | Microsoft Learn[^], an alternative would be to set the Form.DesktopBounds Property (System.Windows.Forms) | Microsoft Learn[^].

VB

Dim x = 200
Dim y = 200

Dim monitor = Screen.AllScreens _
        .Where(Function(scr) Not scr.Primary) _
        .FirstOrDefault()

' no secondary?
If monitor Is Nothing Then
    monitor = Screen.AllScreens _
        .Where(Function(scr) scr.Primary) _
        .First()
End If

Me.DesktopBounds = monitor.WorkingArea
Me.Location = New Point(x, y)

Hope this helps.

Posted 16-Mar-23 14:54pm

Graeme_Grant

Updated 16-Mar-23 15:11pm

v4

Comments

Hannes1993 16-Mar-23 21:40pm

Ok. I will use Location for this one. I tried Screen Class 1st. It says Count is not a member of 'System.Array', so I had to modify it slightly:

Dim screenCount = Screen.AllScreens.ToString()

            Dim x = 1280
            Dim y = 0
            Dim screenlocation = Screen.AllScreens(screenCount - 1).WorkingArea.Location
            Me.Location = New Point(x + screenlocation.x, y + screenlocation.y)
            Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized

No changes as before, maybe using ToString doesn't work?

Then for Form.DesktopBounds, it says Where is not a member of 'System Array'.

Graeme_Grant 16-Mar-23 23:46pm

Ran fine on my system. I would use the updated version. That way, if the secondary monitor is not available, it will default back to the primary. More bounds checking is required, but that is for you to do.

Hannes1993 17-Mar-23 1:50am

Right. I did explain what happen on the last reply. When declaring monitor variable, I got an error saying 'where' is not a member of 'System.Array'. Unlike the previous code where I knew how to work around it, I don't know the work araound for this one..

Dave Kreskowiak 17-Mar-23 0:15am

Why are you even calling .ToString on a numeric value when you're going to be doing a little math with it? You cannot do math with a string.

Also, your calls to AppSettings.Get() return strings, not integer values. In VB.NET, it'll do implicit conversions for you, but it is not something you want to get into the habit of. Other languages do not do this.

Hannes1993 17-Mar-23 1:53am

Noted. I added another variable to convert to integer.

Dim screenCount = Screen.AllScreens.ToString()
Dim xPos = Convert.ToInt32(screenCount.text)

And changed all references to screenCount to xPos. But I still get the same problem.

Graeme_Grant 17-Mar-23 6:06am

Again, look at my Updated solution. The code has been tested before it was posted. Then test it as I have given you, then fix your AppSettings configuration issues. One step at a time...

Hannes1993 19-Mar-23 20:09pm

I am using the updated solution now, the `screenCount` method is commented out, so its not in use. But VB is telling me `where` is not a member of `System.Array` on lines with Screen.AllScreens.Where

Graeme_Grant 19-Mar-23 21:54pm

You need Syste.Linq

Hannes1993 20-Mar-23 0:15am

Ok. So I added Imports System.Linq together with my other import namespaces. Now all Screen.AllScreens.Where are no longer giving me errors and I can execute. I set the coordinates values directly in Dim x = 1280 and Dim y = 0, and have my laptop screen (screen 1, 1280*720) open along with my monitor (screen 2, 1280*720). But still the same result, it opens on 1st screen...

Graeme_Grant 20-Mar-23 8:45am

I posted links to the documentation. My code follows that. I only have one screen, so I cannot fully test however I can't see how the documentation is wrong.

Hannes1993 20-Mar-23 20:40pm

Would it be fine if I post the full code snippet in the comments? Just in case if I missed something?

Ralf Meier 20-Mar-23 5:29am

Because, as Dave allready mentioned, Screen.AllScreens.ToString return a string into ScreenCount.
I have no idea what happend if you use the sample from Grame_Grant with a string - but I suppose that you allways will work with Screen(0) - that means your primary Screen.
Perhaps you look carefully at the sample you got and try it with the posted version ...

Hannes1993 20-Mar-23 5:35am

I'm not using Screen.AllScreens.ToString anymore. I'm following exactly as the code as given by Grant, now that I added Imports System.Linq.

Ralf Meier 20-Mar-23 5:37am

👍

Dave Kreskowiak 17-Mar-23 8:15am

And again, you're needlessly calling .ToString(). Stop calling that! In VB, you almost never need it.

Ralf Meier 19-Mar-23 4:02am

Because, as Dave allready mentioned, Screen.AllScreens.ToString return a string into ScreenCount.
I have no idea what happend if you use the sample from Grame_Grant with a string - but I suppose that you allways will work with Screen(0) - that means your primary Screen.
Perhaps you look carefully at the sample you got and try it with the posted version ...

Graeme_Grant 19-Mar-23 21:55pm

You replied to me, was that intentional? No strings used by me...

Ralf Meier 20-Mar-23 5:29am

No ... sorry ... I pushed the wrong Reply-Button.
My Reply should point to Hannes who is still on his "own" course ...

Why isn't setdesktoplocation working? (Visual basic 2010)

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