Question

Using .NET 4, what is the best way to save an app’s window size and position at closing and use these values to start the app’s window next time it is run?

I prefer not to have to touch any kind of registry but don’t know if there is some kind of app.config (similar to web.config for ASP.NET apps) that I can use for Windows Presentation Foundation apps.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Description

Windows Forms

• Create Properties in Application Settings LocationX, LocationY, WindowWidth, WindowHeight (of type int)
• Save Location and Size in Form_FormClosed
• Load and apply Location and Size in Form_Load

Sample

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    this.Location = new Point(Properties.Settings.Default.LocationX, Properties.Settings.Default.LocationY);
    this.Width = Properties.Settings.Default.WindowWidth;
    this.Height = Properties.Settings.Default.WindowHeight;
}

private void Form1_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
{
    Properties.Settings.Default.LocationX = this.Location.X;
    Properties.Settings.Default.LocationY = this.Location.Y;
    Properties.Settings.Default.WindowWidth = this.Width;
    Properties.Settings.Default.WindowHeight = this.Height;
    Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
}

More Information

• Application Settings for Windows Forms
• MSDN – Form.Load Event
• MSDN – Form.Closed Event

WPF

• Create Properties in Application Settings LocationX, LocationY, WindowWidth, WindowHeight (of type double)
• Save Location and Size in MainWindow_Closed
• Load and apply Location and Size in MainWindow_Loaded

Sample

void MainWindow_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    this.Left = Properties.Settings.Default.LocationX;
    this.Top = Properties.Settings.Default.LocationY;
    this.Width = Properties.Settings.Default.WindowWidth;
    this.Height = Properties.Settings.Default.WindowHeight;
}

void MainWindow_Closed(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Properties.Settings.Default.LocationX = this.Left;
    Properties.Settings.Default.LocationY = this.Top;
    Properties.Settings.Default.WindowWidth = this.Width;
    Properties.Settings.Default.WindowHeight = this.Height;
    Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
}

More Information

• Application Settings
• MSDN – FrameworkElement.Loaded Event
• MSDN – Window.Closed Event

I have tested both, WinForms and WPF.