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How to save state of Windows Form Application (or save data in text boxes with arrays)

I have been working a program that is used as a guide/way to memorize items when studying terms for whatever (test, exam, etc.). It generates a set amount of textboxes inside of a group box (which has the subject name set as its text property) in which you can write the term name and definition. I was wondering how I would save what was written in the text boxes after being generated. Perhaps being able to save the state of the application after pressing save and being able to set the application to its previous state when wanted (Kind of like snapshots that you use in virtual machines). Another way I thought of is to perhaps make a group of each subject somehow and within that store an array of text in each term name box and the associated term definition. Here is the code inside of the button I press to generate the text boxes. There is also a photo of the form: Photo of form Here is one of the program running: Image of Program running Edit: I am not asking for the straight up entire code. I would like just a guideline/idea of how I would go about doing this.
GroupBox groupBox1 = new GroupBox();
TextBox textTest = new TextBox();
textTest.Location = new Point(15, 40);
groupBox1.Controls.Add(textTest);
Button buttonForBoxes = new Button();
NumericUpDown numberUpDown1 = new NumericUpDown();
groupBox1.Controls.Add(buttonForBoxes);
buttonForBoxes.Location = new Point(140, 40);
buttonForBoxes.Text = "moretext";
numberUpDown1.Location = new Point(15, 15);
groupBox1.Controls.Add(numberUpDown1);
groupBox1.AutoSize = true;
var numVal = numericUpDown1.Value;
var numDo2 = 40;
var numDo1 = 120;
var inSubjectBox = subjectBox.Text;
//Makes boxes however many times you specify
for (int i = 0; i < numVal; i++)
{
numDo2 += 110;
TextBox text1 = new TextBox();
text1.Location = new Point(15, numDo1);
groupBox1.Controls.Add(text1);
numDo1 += 110;
TextBox textThing = new TextBox();
textThing.Location = new Point(15, numDo2);
textThing.Multiline = true;
textThing.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(600, 60);
groupBox1.Controls.Add(textThing);
}
// Set the Text and Dock properties of the GroupBox.
groupBox1.Text = inSubjectBox;
groupBox1.Dock = DockStyle.Top;
// Enable the GroupBox (which disables all its child controls)
groupBox1.Enabled = true;
// Add the Groupbox to the form.
this.Controls.Add(groupBox1);

Maybe you can try to save the textbox info into Settings.
First, go to Project -> Properties -> Settings and add new items(type of StringCollection) in Settings.
Then, modify the code like this(save the location of the TextBox in the format of "x;y"):
private void Addtextbox_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Properties.Settings.Default.text1Collection.Clear();
Properties.Settings.Default.textThingCollection.Clear();
var numVal = 2;
// code omitted
// ...
for (int i = 0; i < numVal; i++)
{
numDo2 += 110;
TextBox text1 = new TextBox();
text1.Location = new Point(15, numDo1);
groupBox1.Controls.Add(text1);
// save info to Settings
Properties.Settings.Default.text1Collection.Add(String.Format("{0};{1}", text1.Location.X, text1.Location.Y));
numDo1 += 110;
TextBox textThing = new TextBox();
textThing.Location = new Point(15, numDo2);
textThing.Multiline = true;
textThing.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(600, 60);
groupBox1.Controls.Add(textThing);
// save info to Settings
Properties.Settings.Default.textThingCollection.Add(String.Format("{0};{1}", textThing.Location.X, textThing.Location.Y));
// call Save()
Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
}
// code omitted
// ...
}
private void LoadtextboxFromSettings_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
foreach (string text1str in Properties.Settings.Default.text1Collection)
{
TextBox text1 = new TextBox
{
Location = new Point(Convert.ToInt32(text1str.Split(';')[0]), Convert.ToInt32(text1str.Split(';')[1]))
};
groupBox1.Controls.Add(text1);
}
foreach (string textThingstr in Properties.Settings.Default.textThingCollection)
{
TextBox textThing = new TextBox
{
Multiline = true,
Location = new Point(Convert.ToInt32(textThingstr.Split(';')[0]), Convert.ToInt32(textThingstr.Split(';')[1])),
Size = new Size(600, 60)
};
groupBox1.Controls.Add(textThing);
}
}
Besides, if you get the exception System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.', try to add a default value for each "setting".
Update:
The way to set Settings default value.

I used to do something similar when storing the positions of forms and the size of some controls on them. Then it was necessary for the application to open on restart in the same form as it was last used.
All forms and controls data I saved to XML file, when closing application. When then application has been started I read this XML file and set positions of forms and controls.

C# Custom ComboBox - DropDown Position

I'm creating a ComboBox control using ToolStripControlHost and ToolStripDropDown that can host any kind of control in the DropDown window. For example, the DropDown window might display a listview or treeview or even another usercontrol.
I'm posting a simplified code below where dropdown host a usercontrol with a listview and a button like this:
The problem occurs when the control is positioned at the bottom of the screen in such a way that the dropdown window will extrapolate the lower boundary of the screen. When this occurs, the dropdown ends up hiding the control.
In this case, I'd like to fix the _dropDown.Show method call to show dropdown window as follows:
To repeat the problem, just run the code below and drag the window to the bottom of the screen and open the dropdown.
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
public class CustomComboBox : UserControl
{
ToolStripDropDown _dropDown;
public CustomComboBox()
{
var textbox = new TextBox();
textbox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);
textbox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(this.Width - 22, 20);
textbox.Anchor = AnchorStyles.Left | AnchorStyles.Right | AnchorStyles.Top;
this.Controls.Add(textbox);
var button = new Button();
button.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(this.Width - 22, -1);
button.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(22, 22);
button.Text = "\u2BC6";
button.Anchor = AnchorStyles.Right | AnchorStyles.Top;
button.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.Button_Click);
this.Controls.Add(button);
var dropDownControl = new DropDownControlTest();
var controlHost = new ToolStripControlHost(dropDownControl);
_dropDown = new ToolStripDropDown();
_dropDown.AutoSize = true;
_dropDown.Items.Add(controlHost);
}
void Button_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
_dropDown.Show(this, 0, this.Height);
}
}
public class DropDownControlTest : UserControl
{
public DropDownControlTest()
{
var listview = new ListView();
listview.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 1);
listview.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(400,300);
listview.View = View.Details;
listview.Columns.Add("Col 1",100);
listview.Columns.Add("Col 2",100);
this.Controls.Add(listview);
var button = new Button();
button.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 305);
button.Text = "More...";
this.Controls.Add(button);
}
}
public class Form1 : Form
{
private static void Main(string[] args)
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
Application.Run(new Form1());
}
public Form1 ()
{
CustomComboBox ccBox = new CustomComboBox();
ccBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(10, 10);
ccBox.Height = 20;
this.Text = "Test CustomComboBox";
this.Controls.Add(ccBox);
}
}

You can use the ToolStripDropDown.Show Method (Control, Point, ToolStripDropDownDirection) overload to control the drop direction. The code will need to perform bounds checking to decide whether to place the dropdown above or below the textbox.
The following is a simplistic method for doing the bounds checking and was only tested on a single screen configuration.
First, make textbox a class level variable.
private TextBox textbox;
public CustomComboBox()
{
//var textbox = new TextBox();
textbox = new TextBox();
The display logic is as follows.
void Button_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Point textBoxScreenLocation = textbox.PointToScreen(textbox.Location);
// try to position _dropDown below textbox
Point pt = textBoxScreenLocation;
pt.Offset(0, textbox.Height);
// determine if it will fit on the screen below the textbox
Size dropdownSize = _dropDown.GetPreferredSize(Size.Empty);
Rectangle dropdownBounds = new Rectangle(pt, dropdownSize);
if (dropdownBounds.Bottom <= Screen.GetWorkingArea(dropdownBounds).Bottom)
{ // show below
_dropDown.Show(pt, ToolStripDropDownDirection.BelowRight);
}
else
{ // show above
_dropDown.Show(textBoxScreenLocation, ToolStripDropDownDirection.AboveRight);
}
}
}

I can not comment that is why I am answering your question. You can use the reflection and then re-position you control. I have found a custom combobox control same as you developed. Please check this. At least, you will get some idea what you need to do.

C# delete dynamically added textbox and move all other textboxes down

I have really been struggling with this question for a long time.
I add a textbox and a button on tab press . I put text inside the textboxes:
Now, my question, how do I remove the textbox next to the button I click and move all the textboxes down, so I won't get any open space. If I press on the button next to the 7th textbox, I want it to look like this:
here's my code:
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//creates a textbox(t0) and a button(b0) on load
TextBox t0 = new TextBox();
t0.Name = "t0";
t0.Location = new Point(16, 12);
t0.Width = 200;
t0.PreviewKeyDown += new PreviewKeyDownEventHandler(PreviewKeyDown);
Button b0 = new Button();
b0.TabStop = false;
b0.Text = "x";
b0.Location = new Point(216, 11);
b0.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(20, 22);
b0.Click += new EventHandler(buttonclicked);
panel1.Controls.Add(t0);
panel1.Controls.Add(b0);
}
private new void PreviewKeyDown(object sender, PreviewKeyDownEventArgs e)
{
//if I press tab in the last textbox it creates a new textbox(t + amount of textboxes) and button(b + amount of textboxes)
if (e.KeyData == Keys.Tab)
{
int counter2 = 0;
foreach (TextBox box in panel1.Controls.OfType<TextBox>())
{
counter2++;
}
counter2 = counter2 - 1;
string Name = "t" + Convert.ToString(counter2);
counter2++;
foreach (TextBox box in panel1.Controls.OfType<TextBox>())
{
if (Name == box.Name && box.Focused)
{
TextBox t0 = new TextBox();
Button b0 = new Button();
t0.Location = new Point(16, 12 + counter - panel1.VerticalScroll.Value);
t0.Width = 200;
t0.Name = "t" + Convert.ToString(counter2);
t0.PreviewKeyDown += new PreviewKeyDownEventHandler(PreviewKeyDown);
b0.TabStop = false;
b0.Text = "x";
b0.Name = "b" + Convert.ToString(counter2);
b0.Location = new Point(216, 11 + counter - panel1.VerticalScroll.Value);
b0.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(20, 22);
b0.Click += new EventHandler(buttonclicked);
panel1.Controls.Add(t0);
panel1.Controls.Add(b0);
counter = counter + 25;
}
}
}
}
private void buttonclicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//Remove the textbox next to it.
}
Any help is appreciated

I suggest you use a TableLayoutPanel. Set the GrowStyle on the TableLayoutPanel to AddRows or AddColumns and then you can add/remove controls to it and it will resize automatically. Set the height of each row to a number a little bigger than the height of the textbox. Set the column widths to a value so the textbox and the button can fit in them. You need 2 columns in it.
You do not need to set the location of the controls to a static location. They will be handled by the TableLayoutPanel for you.
Here is how you can add new controls to it.
yourTableLayoutPanel.Controls.Add(yourTextbox1, 0 /* Column Index */, 0 /* Row index */);

Removing textbox/label on button click C#

I am trying to remove textboxes and labels one by one by pressing a button.
I have a list of textboxes called inputTextBoxes.
Here is the code for adding :
private void onClickAdd(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
inputTextBoxes = new List<TextBox>();
Label label1 = new Label();
label1.Name = "label1";
label1.Text = "w" + i;
label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(5, 10 + (20 * i));
label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(30, 20);
this.Controls.Add(label1);
TextBox text1 = new TextBox();
text1.Name = "text1";
text1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(35, 10 + (20 * i));
text1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(25, 20);
inputTextBoxes.Add(text1);
this.Controls.Add(text1);
i++;
}
For removing I am trying this :
private void onClickRemove(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
foreach(TextBox text1 in inputTextBoxes)
{
this.Controls.Remove(text1);
}
}
But it removes only the last textbox added,clicking againg on the button doesn't do anything.

You are constantly creating a new list in your OnClickAdd() method:
inputTextBoxes = new List<TextBox>();
Try to check if the inputTextBoxes is null and only then do this line of code. Otherwise, just let the rest of the code run.
Also, remember about clearing the inputTextBoxes list after the onClickRemove() method finishes removing textboxes/labels.

You want to remove only one TextBox at a time, why do you need a foreach loop? just grab the last or first TextBox and if it is not null remove it from the Controls:
private void onClickRemove(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
var textBoxToRemove = inputTextBoxes.LastOrDefault();
// or
// var textBoxToRemove = inputTextBoxes.FirstOrDefault();
if (textBoxToRemove != null)
{
this.Controls.Remove(textBoxToRemove);
inputTextBoxes.Remove(textBoxToRemove);
}
}
Make sure you remove it from inputTextBoxes also so the next time you will ask to remove a TextBox it will not try to remove it again and go on to the next one.
Edit
#Piotr Nowak has pointed one more problem you have, you allocate a new list for inputTextBox every time you add a new TextBox, you should allocate the list only once when you create your class.
Remove this from onClickAdd method:
inputTextBoxes = new List<TextBox>();
And use this when you declare the list as a field it your class:
private readonly inputTextBoxes = new List<TextBox>();

Adding UI components dynamically to my Winform

I'm trying to create components on the fly, so, I know how to make this, but, how can I access this component on the fly?
For example:
public Form1
{
Label label1 = new Label();
label1.AutoSize = true;
label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(e.X, e.Y);
label1.Name = string.Format("label{0}", labelsCount.ToString());
label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 13);
label1.TabIndex = 2;
label1.Text = string.Format("Label -> {0}", labelsCount.ToString());
label1.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.label1_Click);
this.Controls.Add(label1);
label1.BringToFront();
label1.Show();
labelsCount++;
}
When I click on the label, I want to get the label's information (like position, text and name)
How I can do this? Or, what is the best way to do this?
And, to access the component based on position of the panel, inside of form, how I can do this?

Sender of event is your lablel. Simply cast sender object to Label type:
void label1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Label label = (Label)sender;
// use
// label.Name
// label.Location
}