How to set Z-order of a Control using WinForms

Question

I'm writing a custom TextBox that upon gaining focus changes its border style.

As adding a border causes the control to overlap with those neighbouring it, I temporarily bring the text box to the front of the dialog (using textBox.BringToFront()).

However, once editing is complete and focus is lost, I would like to send the control back to its original position in the Z-order.

Is this possible (preferably in a simple way!)

score 50 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 09 '10 at 14:03

50

Call the GetChildIndex and SetChildIndex methods of the parent's Controls collection.

answered Jul 09 '10 at 14:03

SLaks

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Great - Led astray by BringToFront() I looked in the wrong place for these methods: at the control's methods, not the parent's controls' methods. Thanks. – g t Jul 09 '10 at 14:45
No need example, the answer it self it's enough! – Caverna May 01 '16 at 15:19
1

From reference: "The control with an index value of zero is at the top of the z-order, and higher numbers are closer to the bottom." – Ivan P. May 06 '19 at 08:44
Interestingly enough, BringToFront() relies on SetChildIndex() if the control's parent is not null – Patrick from NDepend team Feb 06 '20 at 04:04

Iain Ward · Answer 2 · 2015-10-21T12:31:42.130

30

There is no Z-order as there was in VB, but you can use the GetChildIndex and SetChildIndex methods to get and set their indexes manually.

Here there's an example of how to use it. You will probably need to keep a record of each controls index though so you can set it back to it when it's finished with.

Something like this is probably what you're after:

// Get the controls index
int zIndex = parentControl.Controls.GetChildIndex(textBox);
// Bring it to the front
textBox.BringToFront();
// Do something...
// Then send it back again
parentControl.Controls.SetChildIndex(textBox, zIndex);

edited Oct 21 '15 at 12:31

answered Jul 09 '10 at 14:03

Iain Ward

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Everything changes when you dynamically make controls (in)visible. Set 'textbox.Visible = true' and it will have index 0. It complete ignores the order from the document outline. This took me a while to figure :) – FrankyHollywood Sep 05 '16 at 07:04
Was trying to figure this out too. This comment helped me out. Thx – baron_bartek Mar 05 '18 at 13:33

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 04 '18 at 17:01

When used with the FlowLayoutPanel this will move a control up or down

    /// <summary>
    /// When used with the FlowLayoutPanel this will move a control up or down
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="sender"></param>
    /// <param name="UpDown"></param>
    private void C_On_Move(object sender, int UpDown)
    {
        //If UpDown = 1 Move UP, If UpDown = 0 Move DOWN
        Control c = (Control)sender;
        // Get the controls index
        int zIndex = _flowLayoutPanel1.Controls.GetChildIndex(c);
        if (UpDown==1 && zIndex > 0)
        {
            // Move up one
            _flowLayoutPanel1.Controls.SetChildIndex(c, zIndex - 1);
        }
        if (UpDown == 0 && zIndex < _flowLayoutPanel1.Controls.Count-1)
        {
            // Move down one
            _flowLayoutPanel1.Controls.SetChildIndex(c, zIndex + 1);
        }
    }

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 29 '22 at 15:54

0

In C Sharp

Control.SetValue(Panel.ZIndexProperty,0);

Control is your control. 0 is index of ZIndex. 0 is default value.

answered Sep 29 '22 at 15:54

Gabriel Jesus Munoz Mussons

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Looks like WPF, not WinForms – g t Sep 30 '22 at 06:34
Make sure to use code formatting! – benicamera Oct 04 '22 at 07:33

How to set Z-order of a Control using WinForms

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