Developing an Application Tools and Naming Conventions

Developing an Application

• In a Windows Forms application in C#, a property is a configurable attribute of a control or form that influences its appearance or behavior.
• Examples of properties include Text, Size, and others that can be set either at design time or programmatically to customize the control or form's characteristics.

Naming Controls

• Follow a naming convention with a short, meaningful prefix indicating the control type (e.g., lbl for labels, txt for textboxes).
• Use CamelCase for the remainder of the name, starting with an uppercase letter.
• Examples: lblFirstName, txtLastName, btnSubmit, cbRememberMe, lstItems, dgCustomerData.

Controls for Displaying and Entering Text

• Label: primarily used to display static text, providing information, describing controls, serving as titles, or presenting error/status messages on the user interface.
• Textbox: versatile and commonly used for tasks such as data entry, password input, search functionality, text display, and multiline text input.
• Button: used to create clickable elements that trigger specific actions when clicked, providing a visual representation of a command or operation within the application's user interface.

Steps in Developing an Application

Creating the Interface

• The interface serves as the graphical user interface (GUI) of the application, allowing users to interact with the software.
• Forms play a pivotal role in constructing this visual aspect, providing a canvas on which various controls (buttons, text boxes, etc.) are placed to create an intuitive and user-friendly layout.

Drawing Controls

• To draw a control using the Toolbox:
  • Click the tool for the control you choose to draw
  • Move the pointer onto your form
  • Place the cross hair where you want the upper-left corner of the control
  • Drag the cross hair until the control is the size you want
  • Release the mouse button
• Alternatively, draw a control to a form by double-clicking the button for that control in the Toolbox.

Setting Properties

• After placing controls on the form, use the Properties window to customize the appearance and behavior of these objects.
• Set attributes such as size, color, font, and alignment to ensure the interface aligns with the design specifications and meets usability standards.

Writing Code

• Employ a programming language, such as C# or Visual Basic, to implement the desired behavior.
• Handle events triggered by user interactions (e.g., button clicks) and use logic to process data, make decisions, and execute specific actions.
• The code integrates seamlessly with the interface, transforming the static layout into a dynamic and responsive application.

Learn about setting properties of tools and naming conventions for a better coding experience in Windows Forms application development using C#. This course note covers the usage of specific controls like textbox, label, and button.