Question

I want to setup my WinForm to look like the Delphi7 IDE. Basically that means the window has no background (the desktop shows through), and child windows float around.

Here’s a sample image:

I can handle the floating windows, but how would I go for the main window (the menu bar and the toolbar)? What are the WinForm properties required to get this layout? I can’t seem to be able to get rid of the window’s client area.

Thank you

Answer 1

Why can’t you get rid of the client area? Just resize the main form so that it’s as thin as you can make it.

You may be implementing the floating windows as UserControls in the main form’s Controls collection. If so, there are two ways you can deal with this:

1. Implement the floating windows as actual windows. Show them using “frmToolWindows.Show(this);” (this will keep them always on top of your main form).
2. If you need to keep the floaters as UserControls, you can make the client area of your main form transparent by setting the form’s TransparencyKey property to some arbitrary color (Color.Red, for example) and then setting the form’s BackColor property to the same color. This will make your form transparent and able to be clicked through.