Question

Is it possible to have a Windows Form read it’s properties from a file, be it.txt, .ini, or .xml?

For example, I want Button.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(382, 328); to be read from a file, so I can customize the size without editing the source.

How could this be done, if possible include an example.

Thank you.

Answer 1

You have two three decent options:

1. Create a single class which you serialize/deserialize
2. Use the app.config to save your form configuration
3. Settings

With a single class, you might have something like:

[XmlRoot]
public class FormProperties
{
    // store as public properties
    [XmlElement]
    public Point myButtonLocation {get; set;}
}

Then using XmlSerialization, you can save the settings. Note, any properties you store in this class must be serializable to Xml. Check datatypes like System.Drawing.Point to determine what can be serialized.

Alternatively, store your form properties in your application’s app.config.

Added #3 – Settings
In VS you can use the Settings.Settings to store form control properties.