How to Size Controls Using the Visual Class Designer

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use the Visual Class Designer and its child window to size controls.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use Visual Class Designer in Visual FoxPro to design custom controls for use in applications. The Class Designer consists of a parent window and a child window in which you can adjust the size and dimensions of a given control.

The child window contains the control. This is not to be confused with a container object. The child window is an editing region for the control being manipulated.

For this reason, the control assumes the dimensions of the child window. For example, if you drag the child window by the lower-right corner, the control resizes to fill the frame of the child window. This is by design.

The control can be independently resized by holding down the shift key and pressing the appropriate cursor key on the keyboard.

Step-by-Step Example

1. Create a new class using the Class Designer by choosing New from the File menu and clicking Class. Then click the New File command button to activate the Visual Class Designer tool.

2. Type in a name for this class. Under Based on, choose CommandButton. Type Temp in the Store In text box.

The size of the window equals the size of the control. The control can be resized inside the child window by holding the SHIFT key down and repeatedly pressing the UP ARROW or LEFT ARROW key. When the class is saved and placed on a form, it is displayed using the dimensions it had when it was saved, not the dimensions of the child window it was in. If the class is then reopened in the Visual Class Designer, the child window will have the exact boundary dimensions of the control.