Tutorial 1: Create a Picture Viewer

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In this tutorial, you build a program that loads a picture from a file and displays it in a window. You learn how to drag controls like buttons and picture boxes on your form, set their properties, and use containers to smoothly resize the form. You also get started writing code. You learn how to:

  • Create a new project.

  • Test (debug) an application.

  • Add basic controls like check boxes and buttons to a form.

  • Position controls on a form using layouts.

  • Add Open File and Color dialog boxes to a form.

  • Write code using IntelliSense and code snippets.

  • Write event handler methods.

When you finish, your program will look like the following picture.

Picture that you create in this tutorial

Picture that you create in this tutorial

link to videoFor a video version of this topic, see How Do I: Create a Picture Viewer in Visual Basic? or How Do I: Create a Picture Viewer in C#?.

Note

In this tutorial, both Visual C# and Visual Basic are covered, so focus on information specific to the programming language that you're using.

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Description

Step 1: Create a Windows Forms Application Project

Begin by creating a Windows Forms application project.

Step 2: Run Your Program

Run the Windows Forms application program that you created in the previous step.

Step 3: Set Your Form Properties

Change the way your form looks using the Properties window.

Step 4: Lay Out Your Form with a TableLayoutPanel Control

Add a TableLayoutPanel control to your form.

Step 5: Add Controls to Your Form

Add controls, such as a PictureBox control and a CheckBox control, to your form. Add buttons to your form.

Step 6: Name Your Button Controls

Rename your buttons to something more meaningful.

Step 7: Add Dialog Components to Your Form

Add an OpenFileDialog component and a ColorDialog component to your form.

Step 8: Write Code for the Show a Picture Button Event Handler

Write code using the IntelliSense tool.

Step 9: Review, Comment, and Test Your Code

Review and test your code. Add comments as needed.

Step 10: Write Code for Additional Buttons and a Check Box

Write code to make other buttons and a check box work using IntelliSense.

Step 11: Run Your Program and Try Other Features

Run your program and set the background color. Try other features, such as changing colors, fonts, and borders.