How to: Associate a ContextMenuStrip with a Control

After creating your controls and shortcut menus, use the following procedures to display a given shortcut menu when the user right-clicks the control. These procedures associate a ContextMenuStrip with a Windows Form and with a ToolStrip control.

To associate a ContextMenuStrip with a Windows Form

  • Set the ContextMenuStrip property to the name of the associated ContextMenuStrip.

To associate a ContextMenuStrip with a ToolStrip control

  • Set the control's ContextMenuStrip property to the name of the associated ContextMenuStrip.

Example

The following code example creates a Windows Form and a ToolStrip, and associates a different ContextMenuStrip control with each of them.

Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public Class Form1
   Inherits Form
   Private toolStripButton1 As ToolStripButton
   Private toolStripButton2 As ToolStripButton
   Private toolStripButton3 As ToolStripButton
   Private contextMenuStrip1 As ContextMenuStrip
   Private components As IContainer
   Private toolStripMenuItem1 As ToolStripMenuItem
   Private toolStripMenuItem2 As ToolStripMenuItem
   Private contextMenuStrip2 As ContextMenuStrip
   Private rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem As ToolStripMenuItem
   Private selectIconsToolStripMenuItem As ToolStripMenuItem
   Private toolStrip1 As ToolStrip
   
   
   Public Sub New()
        InitializeComponent()
    End Sub

    <STAThread()> _
    Public Sub Main()
        Application.EnableVisualStyles()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub

    Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        Me.components = New System.ComponentModel.Container()
        Dim resources As New System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager(GetType(Form1))
        Me.toolStrip1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip()
        Me.toolStripButton1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton()
        Me.toolStripButton2 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton()
        Me.toolStripButton3 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton()
        Me.contextMenuStrip1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip(Me.components)
        Me.contextMenuStrip2 = New System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip(Me.components)
        Me.toolStripMenuItem1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem()
        Me.toolStripMenuItem2 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem()
        Me.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem()
        Me.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem()
        Me.toolStrip1.SuspendLayout()
        Me.contextMenuStrip1.SuspendLayout()
        Me.contextMenuStrip2.SuspendLayout()
        Me.SuspendLayout()
        '
        ' Associate contextMenuStrip2 with toolStrip1.
        ' toolStrip1 property settings follow.
        '
        Me.toolStrip1.ContextMenuStrip = Me.contextMenuStrip2
        Me.toolStrip1.Items.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem() {Me.toolStripButton1, Me.toolStripButton2, Me.toolStripButton3})
        Me.toolStrip1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(0, 0)
        Me.toolStrip1.Name = "toolStrip1"
        Me.toolStrip1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 25)
        Me.toolStrip1.TabIndex = 0
        Me.toolStrip1.Text = "toolStrip1"
        ' 
        ' toolStripButton1
        ' 
        Me.toolStripButton1.DisplayStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemDisplayStyle.Image
        Me.toolStripButton1.Image = CType(resources.GetObject("toolStripButton1.Image"), System.Drawing.Image)
        Me.toolStripButton1.ImageTransparentColor = System.Drawing.Color.Magenta
        Me.toolStripButton1.Name = "toolStripButton1"
        Me.toolStripButton1.Text = "toolStripButton1"
        ' 
        ' toolStripButton2
        ' 
        Me.toolStripButton2.DisplayStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemDisplayStyle.Image
        Me.toolStripButton2.Image = CType(resources.GetObject("toolStripButton2.Image"), System.Drawing.Image)
        Me.toolStripButton2.ImageTransparentColor = System.Drawing.Color.Magenta
        Me.toolStripButton2.Name = "toolStripButton2"
        Me.toolStripButton2.Text = "toolStripButton2"
        ' 
        ' toolStripButton3
        ' 
        Me.toolStripButton3.DisplayStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemDisplayStyle.Image
        Me.toolStripButton3.Image = CType(resources.GetObject("toolStripButton3.Image"), System.Drawing.Image)
        Me.toolStripButton3.ImageTransparentColor = System.Drawing.Color.Magenta
        Me.toolStripButton3.Name = "toolStripButton3"
        Me.toolStripButton3.Text = "toolStripButton3"
        ' 
        ' contextMenuStrip1
        ' 
        Me.contextMenuStrip1.Items.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem() {Me.toolStripMenuItem1, Me.toolStripMenuItem2})
        Me.contextMenuStrip1.Name = "contextMenuStrip1"
        Me.contextMenuStrip1.RightToLeft = System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft.No
        Me.contextMenuStrip1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(131, 48)
        ' 
        ' contextMenuStrip2
        ' 
        Me.contextMenuStrip2.Items.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem() {Me.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem, Me.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem})
        Me.contextMenuStrip2.Name = "contextMenuStrip2"
        Me.contextMenuStrip2.RightToLeft = System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft.No
        Me.contextMenuStrip2.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(162, 48)
        ' 
        ' toolStripMenuItem1
        ' 
        Me.toolStripMenuItem1.Name = "toolStripMenuItem1"
        Me.toolStripMenuItem1.Text = "&Resize"
        ' 
        ' toolStripMenuItem2
        ' 
        Me.toolStripMenuItem2.Name = "toolStripMenuItem2"
        Me.toolStripMenuItem2.Text = "&Keep on Top"
        ' 
        ' rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem
        ' 
        Me.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem"
        Me.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "R&earrange Buttons"
        ' 
        ' selectIconsToolStripMenuItem
        ' 
        Me.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "selectIconsToolStripMenuItem"
        Me.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Select Icons"
        ' 
        ' Associate contextMenuStrip1 with Form1.
        ' Form1 property settings follow.
        '
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 266)
        Me.ContextMenuStrip = Me.contextMenuStrip1
        Me.Controls.Add(toolStrip1)
        Me.Name = "Form1"
        Me.toolStrip1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.contextMenuStrip1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.contextMenuStrip2.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.PerformLayout()
    End Sub
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace WindowsApplication10
{
    public class Form1 : Form
    {
        private ToolStripButton toolStripButton1;
        private ToolStripButton toolStripButton2;
        private ToolStripButton toolStripButton3;
        private ContextMenuStrip contextMenuStrip1;
        private IContainer components;
        private ToolStripMenuItem toolStripMenuItem1;
        private ToolStripMenuItem toolStripMenuItem2;
        private ContextMenuStrip contextMenuStrip2;
        private ToolStripMenuItem rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem;
        private ToolStripMenuItem selectIconsToolStripMenuItem;
        private ToolStrip toolStrip1;
    
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            Application.EnableVisualStyles();
            Application.Run(new Form1());
        }

        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();
            System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager resources = new System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager(typeof(Form1));
            this.toolStrip1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip();
            this.toolStripButton1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton();
            this.toolStripButton2 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton();
            this.toolStripButton3 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton();
            this.contextMenuStrip1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip(this.components);
            this.contextMenuStrip2 = new System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip(this.components);
            this.toolStripMenuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
            this.toolStripMenuItem2 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
            this.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
            this.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
            this.toolStrip1.SuspendLayout();
            this.contextMenuStrip1.SuspendLayout();
            this.contextMenuStrip2.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            //
            // Associate contextMenuStrip2 with toolStrip1.
            // toolStrip1 property settings follow.
            //
            this.toolStrip1.ContextMenuStrip = this.contextMenuStrip2;
            this.toolStrip1.Items.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {
            this.toolStripButton1,
            this.toolStripButton2,
            this.toolStripButton3});
            this.toolStrip1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);
            this.toolStrip1.Name = "toolStrip1";
            this.toolStrip1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 25);
            this.toolStrip1.TabIndex = 0;
            this.toolStrip1.Text = "toolStrip1";
            // 
            // toolStripButton1
            // 
            this.toolStripButton1.DisplayStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemDisplayStyle.Image;
            this.toolStripButton1.Image = ((System.Drawing.Image)(resources.GetObject("toolStripButton1.Image")));
            this.toolStripButton1.ImageTransparentColor = System.Drawing.Color.Magenta;
            this.toolStripButton1.Name = "toolStripButton1";
            this.toolStripButton1.Text = "toolStripButton1";
            // 
            // toolStripButton2
            // 
            this.toolStripButton2.DisplayStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemDisplayStyle.Image;
            this.toolStripButton2.Image = ((System.Drawing.Image)(resources.GetObject("toolStripButton2.Image")));
            this.toolStripButton2.ImageTransparentColor = System.Drawing.Color.Magenta;
            this.toolStripButton2.Name = "toolStripButton2";
            this.toolStripButton2.Text = "toolStripButton2";
            // 
            // toolStripButton3
            // 
            this.toolStripButton3.DisplayStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemDisplayStyle.Image;
            this.toolStripButton3.Image = ((System.Drawing.Image)(resources.GetObject("toolStripButton3.Image")));
            this.toolStripButton3.ImageTransparentColor = System.Drawing.Color.Magenta;
            this.toolStripButton3.Name = "toolStripButton3";
            this.toolStripButton3.Text = "toolStripButton3";
            // 
            // contextMenuStrip1
            // 
            this.contextMenuStrip1.Items.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {
            this.toolStripMenuItem1,
            this.toolStripMenuItem2});
            this.contextMenuStrip1.Name = "contextMenuStrip1";
            this.contextMenuStrip1.RightToLeft = System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft.No;
            this.contextMenuStrip1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(131, 48);
            // 
            // contextMenuStrip2
            // 
            this.contextMenuStrip2.Items.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {
            this.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem,
            this.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem});
            this.contextMenuStrip2.Name = "contextMenuStrip2";
            this.contextMenuStrip2.RightToLeft = System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft.No;
            this.contextMenuStrip2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 48);
            // 
            // toolStripMenuItem1
            // 
            this.toolStripMenuItem1.Name = "toolStripMenuItem1";
            this.toolStripMenuItem1.Text = "&Resize";
            // 
            // toolStripMenuItem2
            // 
            this.toolStripMenuItem2.Name = "toolStripMenuItem2";
            this.toolStripMenuItem2.Text = "&Keep on Top";
            // 
            // rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem
            // 
            this.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem";
            this.rearrangeButtonsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "R&earrange Buttons";
            // 
            // selectIconsToolStripMenuItem
            // 
            this.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "selectIconsToolStripMenuItem";
            this.selectIconsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Select Icons";
            // 
            // Associate contextMenuStrip1 with Form1.
            // Form1 property settings follow.
            //
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);
            this.ContextMenuStrip = this.contextMenuStrip1;
            this.Controls.Add(this.toolStrip1);
            this.Name = "Form1";
            this.toolStrip1.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.contextMenuStrip1.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.contextMenuStrip2.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.PerformLayout();

        }
    }
}

Compiling the Code

This example requires:

  • References to the System, System.Data, System.Drawing and System.Windows.Forms assemblies.

For information about building this example from the command line for Visual Basic or Visual C#, see Building from the Command Line (Visual Basic) or Command-Line Building. You can also build this example in Visual Studio by pasting the code into a new project. How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio

See Also

Tasks

How to: Add Menu Items to a ContextMenuStrip

Reference

ContextMenuStrip
ContextMenuStrip
ToolStrip

Other Resources

ContextMenuStrip Control