I am trying to create a button in Xamarin android with an image above it. doing some googling i found that there is something in the axml u can use called drawabletop. however my buttons are created programmatically, so in want to know how i can fill in this parameter outside of the axml. button.drawabletop does not exist.
private async void LoadCardList(string code)
{
CardDataService cardDataService = new CardDataService(new CardRepo());
Cards = await cardDataService.GetCardsAsync(code);
TableLayout ll = View.FindViewById<TableLayout>(Resource.Id.cardlist);
TableRow.LayoutParams lp = new TableRow.LayoutParams(LinearLayout.LayoutParams.MatchParent, LinearLayout.LayoutParams.MatchParent);
var i = 0;
var row = new TableRow(this.Activity);
row.WeightSum = 2;
var sortedCards = Cards.OrderBy(o => o.number).ToList();
foreach (var cards1 in sortedCards)
{
var b = new Button(this.Activity);
b.Text = cards1.name;
lp.Weight = 1;
b.LayoutParameters = lp;
row.AddView(b);
i++;
if (i > 1)
{
ll.AddView(row, new TableLayout.LayoutParams(TableLayout.LayoutParams.MatchParent, TableLayout.LayoutParams.WrapContent));
row = new TableRow(this.Activity);
row.LayoutParameters = lp;
i = 0;
}
}
this is my method where i do everything. those buttons i create are the ones i want to have an image. the sortedCards list also contains an image.
regards,
Bjorn
Try
b.SetCompoundDrawables(left, top, right, bottom);
or
b.SetCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(left, top, right, bottom);
as mentioned here:
How to set property "android:drawableTop" of a button at runtime
Related
I'm trying to create some checkboxes dynamically in the flowLayoutPanel control.
I have managed to create it but they seem to be disabled inside the panel. I can't check/uncheck them. They are grey and not active.
I suppose there is some flowLayoutPanel property that prevents these checkboxes to be enabled that I'm missing.
Here is my code for flowLayoutPanel:
//
// flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes
//
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.Controls.Add(this.SomeCheckBox);
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.AutoScroll = true;
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(132, 8);
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.Name = "flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes";
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(546, 38);
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.TabIndex = 28;
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.WrapContents = false;
For generating checkboxes:
private List<CheckBox> GetGeneratedCheckboxes()
{
var generatedCheckboxes = new List<CheckBox>();
var valuesForCheckboxes = GetCheckboxValuesFromDb(); //it returns dictionary<int, string>
// with some numbers and text. I think this method is not as important
if (valuesForCheckboxes != null && valuesForCheckboxes.Count != 0)
{
int index = 0;
foreach (var chbx in valuesForCheckboxes)
{
var checkboxToAdd = new System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox();
checkboxToAdd.AutoSize = true;
checkboxToAdd.Enabled = true;
checkboxToAdd.Checked = true;
checkboxToAdd.CheckState = System.Windows.Forms.CheckState.Checked;
checkboxToAdd.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(84, 21);
checkboxToAdd.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
checkboxToAdd.Name = "chboxCountry" + chbx.Key;
checkboxToAdd.Text = chbx.Value;
checkboxToAdd.TabIndex = index + 1;
index++;
generatedCheckboxes.Add(checkboxToAdd);
}
}
return generatedCheckboxes;
}
And it's used in the FormLoad method:
var checkboxesForPanel = GetGeneratedCheckboxes();
foreach (var checkbox in checkboxesForPanel)
{
this.flowLayoutPanelForCheckBoxes.Controls.Add(checkbox);
}
Code looks fine for me. It has no issue. Check if your flow layout panel is in disabled state some how. Check in designer or check your code if its getting in disabled state.
I have searched everywhere, but the procedure are so painful. How to put multiple RadioButton into a panel programatically without using toolbox. I'm using WinForms. After several suggestion/s, I still can't add the radiobuttons inside the panel.
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
RadioButton[] RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes = new RadioButton[100];
RadioButton[] RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No = new RadioButton[100];
Panel[] Panel_WallFirstStorey = new Panel[100];
int CheckBoxWidth = 100;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
//code
//procedure
}
private void InitializeRadioButton_Wall(RadioButton RadioButtonX)
{
RadioButtonX.AutoSize = true;
RadioButtonX.Font = SystemFonts.DefaultFont;
RadioButtonX.BackColor = Color.Transparent;
Controls.Add(RadioButtonX);
}
private void InitializePanel_Wall(Panel PanelX)
{
PanelX.BackColor = Color.PaleTurquoise;
PanelX.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
PanelX.BringToFront();
Controls.Add(PanelX);
}
private void MyProcedure()
{
int i;
for (i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
{
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i] = new Panel();
InitializePanel_Wall(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i]);
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location = new Point(Label_SeparatorLineVertical[ColumnMinimum + i].Location.X, Label_SeparatorLineHorizontal[RowMinimum + i].Location.Y);
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width = (Label_SeparatorLineVertical[ColumnMaximum].Location.X - Label_SeparatorLineVertical[ColumnMinimum].Location.X) / (ColumnMaximum - ColumnMinimum);
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Height = CheckBoxWidth;
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].SendToBack();
}
for (i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
{
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i] = new RadioButton();
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i] = new RadioButton();
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Controls.Add(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i]);//I add this stuff
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Controls.Add(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i]);//I add this stuff
InitializeRadioButton_Wall(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i]);
InitializeRadioButton_Wall(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i]);
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Text = "Yes";
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].Text = "No";
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width / 3, 0);
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width * 2 / 3, 0);
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Font = SystemFonts.DefaultFont;
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].Font = SystemFonts.DefaultFont;
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].BringToFront();
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].BringToFront();
}
}
}
Wow, your code is wrong in so many ways.... It creates controls over and over whenever a panel is painted, but it never really adds them anywere.
To add a radio button b to a panel p, it would be enough to do this:
RadioButton b = new RadioButton();
// Set properties for button here (text, location, handlers, etc.)
p.Controls.Add(b);
I'd try the following procedure instead of yours:
private void MyProcedure()
{
for (i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
{
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i] = new RadioButton();
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i] = new RadioButton();
InitializeRadioButton_Wall(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i]);
InitializeRadioButton_Wall(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i]);
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Text = "Yes";
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].Text = "No";
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location.X + Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width / 3, Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location.Y);
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location.X + Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width * 2 / 3, Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location.Y);
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Controls.Add(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i]);
Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Controls.Add(RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i]);
}
}
The following code indicates you're still doing it wrong, adding the radio buttons to the form itself, but positioning them as if you had added them to the panel:
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location.X + Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width / 3, Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Location.Y);
If you added the button to the panel, it would most probably be invisible because it is outside the panel. If you added the button to the panel, you'd have to use coordinates relative to the panel's client area.
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_Yes[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width / 3, 0);
RadioButton_WallFirstStorey_No[i].Location = new Point(Panel_WallFirstStorey[i].Width * 2 / 3, 0);
Your update code shows clearly where your error is:
private void InitializeRadioButton_Wall(RadioButton RadioButtonX)
{
RadioButtonX.AutoSize = true;
RadioButtonX.Font = SystemFonts.DefaultFont;
RadioButtonX.BackColor = Color.Transparent;
// REMOVE THIS LINE!!
Controls.Add(RadioButtonX);
}
The last line adds the radio button to the form. As we've been telling you all the time. Remove the line I marked above. Then, the radio buttons will be added to the panels only. After that it is a question of getting the positions right.
You can for example create a panel (or a GroupBox) and in a loop add the RadioButtons.
It should work like with any other control in Winforms.
// Adds 10 Radiobuttons with the name "Radio <number>"
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
for (int n = 0; n < 10; n++)
{
// First instantiate a new RadioButton.
RadioButton button = new RadioButton();
// Now the name of the button.
button.Text = "Radio" + n;
// Dock the button to the top of the GroupBox (to put them in order)
button.Dock = DockStyle.Top;
// Add the button to the GroupBox.
this.groupBoxRadio.Controls.Add(button);
}
}
Your question is not very clear, and no code for context, but you should be able to create an instance of a new radiobutton and add it to the controls of the panel.
It may also be best to use RadioButtonList like Harvey has mentioned, but to try to answer your question:
var someRadioBtn = new RadioButton();
// set properties...
pnlMyPanel.Controls.Add(someRadioBtn);
I have made a sidebar that I dock on the left side of my application.
Now I'm wondering what's the best way to show a form based on the menu option they've selected from my sidebar.
This is basically what I want to do:
http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/176782-building-an-application-poscash-register-part-one/
On the left is my menu bar, on the right side I want to have a form based on the option clicked on the left.
I have looked into MDI but when I do that I always get a ControlBox even though I've disabled it in the child form.
Update: Seems that this works as well:
Looks like you can also create your own user controls to do it:
User controls
If you want second wont allow you to access your main form unless its closed.then use this...
second_form_name sfn = new second_form_name();
sfn.ShowDialog();
If you want second allow you to access your main form unless its closed.then use
second_form_name sfn = new second_form_name();
sfn.Show();
First create a panel in your form that will hold your current form's contents (add it to the form but leave it empty for now).
Panel active = new Panel();
this.Controls.Add(active);
Then create a panel containing controls for each form you want to display.
Panel firstFormPanel = new Panel();
firstFormPanel.Add(new Button());
Panel secondFormPanel = new Panel();
secondFormPanel.Add(new Button());
Now assign which panel you want by default:
active = firstFormPanel;
Then when you want to change to a new form (click event in sidebar), assign one of the panels to the active panel like so:
active.Visible = false;
active = secondFormPanel;
active.Visible = true;
Here's a little example i have of a sidebar from my game im making being able to slide a new submenu into visual range. I use a timer to control movement and a list of submenus also a index to determine which to show. as far as i've gotten along theres only one so far so not a prime example.
public List<UserControl> Submenus = new List<UserControl>();
Multiplayer_Menu MPM;
enum At { Left, Right }
At Current = At.Right;
At Go_to = At.Right;
int Submenu_Index = 0;
bool done = false;
public void Load_Submenus()
{
Multiplayer_Menu MM = new Multiplayer_Menu(this);
MainMenu.Controls.Add(MM);
MM.Location = new Point(MainMenu.Size.Width, 0);
MM.Visible = false;
Submenus.Add(MM);
PictureBox PB = new PictureBox();
MainMenu.Controls.Add(PB);
PB.Location = new Point(MainMenu.Size.Width, 0);
PB.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(924, 736);
PB.SizeMode = PictureBoxSizeMode.StretchImage;
PB.ImageLocation = "http://www.taloreal.com/Earth%20Rotation/Rotating.gif";
PB.Visible = true;
}
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Load_Submenus();
}
public void MML_Multiplayer_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Submenus[Submenu_Index].Visible = false;
if (Current == At.Left)
Go_to = At.Right;
if (Current == At.Right)
Go_to = At.Left;
ShowHideMenus.Enabled = true;
Submenu_Index = 0;
}
private void ShowHideMenus_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Point P = new Point(MainMenu.Location.X, MainMenu.Location.Y);
Size S = new Size(MainMenu.Size.Width, MainMenu.Size.Height);
if (Go_to == At.Left)
{
P = new Point(P.X - 30, P.Y);
S = new Size(S.Width + 30, S.Height);
if (P.X == 0)
{
Submenus[Submenu_Index].Visible = true;
ShowHideMenus.Enabled = false;
Current = Go_to;
}
}
if (Go_to == At.Right)
{
P = new Point(P.X + 30, P.Y);
S = new Size(S.Width - 30, S.Height);
if (P.X == 930)
{
ShowHideMenus.Enabled = false;
Current = Go_to;
}
}
Reposition_Menu(P, S);
}
void Reposition_Menu(Point P, Size S)
{
MainMenu.Location = P;
MainMenu.Size = S;
}
I'm looking to implement a Visual Studio-style undo drop-down button:
I've looked all over the internet, and can't seem to find any real implementations of this.
I've started by deriving from ToolStripSplitButton, but don't really know where to go from there. Its DropDown property is a ToolStripDropDown, but that doesn't seem to have anything regarding multiple items being selected, much less scrolling, and the text at the bottom.
So instead of the default ToolStripDropDown, I'm thinking maybe the whole drop down part should be a custom control, based on a combobox. The question then, is how to cause the right-side (drop down arrow) button to do something other than show its default drop down?
Am I on the right track here? Thanks!
Yes, I think you're on the right track. And in this case, ToolStripControlHost is your friend.
You don't necessarily need to derive from it (unless you are making your own control), but try just subscribing to the ToolStripSplitButton's DropDownOpening event:
Working example:
private ListBox listBox1;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
listBox1 = new ListBox();
listBox1.IntegralHeight = false;
listBox1.MinimumSize = new Size(120, 120); \\ <- important
listBox1.Items.Add("Item 1");
listBox1.Items.Add("Item 2");
}
private void toolStripSplitButton1_DropDownOpening(object sender, EventArgs e) {
ToolStripControlHost toolHost = new ToolStripControlHost(listBox1);
toolHost.Size = new Size(120, 120);
toolHost.Margin = new Padding(0);
ToolStripDropDown toolDrop = new ToolStripDropDown();
toolDrop.Padding = new Padding(0);
toolDrop.Items.Add(toolHost);
toolDrop.Show(this, new Point(toolStripSplitButton1.Bounds.Left,
toolStripSplitButton1.Bounds.Bottom));
}
Here is the result:
For your application, you would need to replace the ListBox with your own UserControl, so you can contain whatever your want in it. The ToolStripControlHost can only hold one control, and it's important to set the MinimumSize property, or else the dropped control isn't sized correctly.
Extra thanks to LarsTech! (I didn't know about ToolStripControlHost a few hours ago)
Here is my implementation, which is really close to the VS drop down...
You should be able to just drop this delegate & function into your Form:
public delegate void UndoRedoCallback(int count);
private void DrawDropDown(ToolStripSplitButton button, string action, IEnumerable<string> commands, UndoRedoCallback callback)
{
int width = 277;
int listHeight = 181;
int textHeight = 29;
Panel panel = new Panel()
{
Size = new Size(width, textHeight + listHeight),
Padding = new Padding(0),
Margin = new Padding(0),
BorderStyle = BorderStyle.FixedSingle,
};
Label label = new Label()
{
Size = new Size(width, textHeight),
Location = new Point(1, listHeight - 2),
TextAlign = ContentAlignment.MiddleCenter,
Text = String.Format("{0} 1 Action", action),
Padding = new Padding(0),
Margin = new Padding(0),
};
ListBox list = new ListBox()
{
Size = new Size(width, listHeight),
Location = new Point(1,1),
SelectionMode = SelectionMode.MultiSimple,
ScrollAlwaysVisible = true,
Padding = new Padding(0),
Margin = new Padding(0),
BorderStyle = BorderStyle.None,
Font = new Font(panel.Font.FontFamily, 9),
};
foreach (var item in commands) { list.Items.Add(item); }
if (list.Items.Count == 0) return;
list.SelectedIndex = 0;
ToolStripControlHost toolHost = new ToolStripControlHost(panel)
{
Size = panel.Size,
Margin = new Padding(0),
};
ToolStripDropDown toolDrop = new ToolStripDropDown()
{
Padding = new Padding(0),
};
toolDrop.Items.Add(toolHost);
panel.Controls.Add(list);
panel.Controls.Add(label);
toolDrop.Show(this, new Point(button.Bounds.Left + button.Owner.Left, button.Bounds.Bottom + button.Owner.Top));
// *Note: These will be "up values" that will exist beyond the scope of this function
int index = 1;
int lastIndex = 1;
list.Click += (sender, e) => { toolDrop.Close(); callback(index); };
list.MouseMove += (sender, e) =>
{
index = Math.Max(1, list.IndexFromPoint(e.Location) + 1);
if (lastIndex != index)
{
int topIndex = Math.Max(0, Math.Min(list.TopIndex + e.Delta, list.Items.Count - 1));
list.BeginUpdate();
list.ClearSelected();
for (int i = 0; i < index; ++i) { list.SelectedIndex = i; }
label.Text = String.Format("{0} {1} Action{2}", action, index, index == 1 ? "" : "s");
lastIndex = index;
list.EndUpdate();
list.TopIndex = topIndex;
}
};
list.Focus();
}
You can set it up and test like this, assuming you have a blank form (Form1) with a toolStrip that has 1 ToolStripSplitButton (toolStripSplitButton1) added:
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
// Call DrawDropDown with:
// The clicked ToolStripSplitButton
// "Undo" as the action
// TestDropDown for the enumerable string source for the list box
// UndoCommands for the click callback
toolStripSplitButton1.DropDownOpening += (sender, e) => { DrawDropDown(
toolStripSplitButton1,
"Undo",
TestDropDown,
UndoCommands
); };
}
private IEnumerable<string> TestDropDown
{
// Provides a list of strings for testing the drop down
get { for (int i = 1; i < 1000; ++i) { yield return "test " + i; } }
}
private void UndoCommands(int count)
{
// Do something with the count when an action is clicked
Console.WriteLine("Undo: {0}", count);
}
Here is a better example using the Undo/Redo system from: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/AutomatingUndoRedo.aspx
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
// Call DrawDropDown with:
// The Undo ToolStripSplitButton button on the Standard tool strip
// "Undo" as the action name
// The list of UndoCommands from the UndoRedoManager
// The Undo method of the UndoRedoManager
m_TSSB_Standard_Undo.DropDownOpening += (sender, e) => { DrawDropDown(
m_TSSB_Standard_Undo,
"Undo",
UndoRedoManager.UndoCommands,
UndoRedoManager.Undo
); };
}
*Note: I did modify the Undo & Redo methods in the UndoRedoManager to accept a count:
// Based on code by Siarhei Arkhipenka (Sergey Arhipenko) (http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/AutomatingUndoRedo.aspx)
public static void Undo(int count)
{
AssertNoCommand();
if (CanUndo == false) return;
for (int i = 0; (i < count) && CanUndo; ++i)
{
Command command = history[currentPosition--];
foreach (IUndoRedo member in command.Keys)
{
member.OnUndo(command[member]);
}
}
OnCommandDone(CommandDoneType.Undo);
}
I'd suggest implementing the popup separately from the toolbar button. Popups are separate windows with a topmost-flag which auto-close when losing focus or pressing escape. If you code your own popup window that frees you from having to fit your behaviour to a preexisting model (which is going to be hard in your case). Just make a new topmost window with a listbox and status bar, then you are free to implement the selection behavior on the listbox like you need it.
Vs 2010 is a WPF application. If you are in the beginning of this application development than use WPF as a core technology. WPF drop down button is implemented in WPF ribbon. Source code is available on CodePlex.
I wish to add a button for every line in a file to a panel.
My code so far is:
StreamReader menu = new StreamReader("menu.prefs");
int repetition = 0;
while(!menu.EndOfStream)
{
Button dynamicbutton = new Button();
dynamicbutton.Click += new System.EventHandler(menuItem_Click);
dynamicbutton.Text = menu.ReadLine();
dynamicbutton.Visible = true;
dynamicbutton.Location = new Point(4+repetition*307, 4);
dynamicbutton.Height = 44;
dynamicbutton.Width = 203;
dynamicbutton.BackColor = Color.FromArgb(40,40,40);
dynamicbutton.ForeColor = Color.White;
dynamicbutton.Font = new Font("Lucida Console", 16);
dynamicbutton.Show();
menuPanel.Controls.Add(dynamicbutton);
repetition++;
MessageBox.Show(dynamicbutton.Location.ToString());
}
menu.Close();
The problem is that only the first control gets created.
The code looks fine but there could be a following situations.
1.You might have only one entry in the file, so you are experiencing only One Button added to the panel.
2.Your panel width is smaller than the sum of all the dynamic buttons width.
I suspect no 2 is the main reason that is causing problem.
So, I recommend that you use FlowLayoutPanel. To add a dynamic content as it automatically layout all the child controls.
Each time it is generating the same name for dynamic controls. That's the reason why it is showing only the last one. It simply overwrites the previous control each time.
int x = 4;
int y = 4;
foreach(PhysicianData pd in listPhysicians)
{
x = 4;
y = panPhysicians.Controls.Count * 30;
RadioButton rb = new RadioButton();
rb.CheckedChanged += new System.EventHandler(rbPhysician_CheckedChanged);
rb.Text = pd.name;
rb.Visible = true;
rb.Location = new Point(x, y);
rb.Height = 40;
rb.Width = 200;
rb.BackColor = SystemColors.Control;
rb.ForeColor = Color.Black;
rb.Font = new Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 10);
rb.Show();
rb.Name = "rb" + panPhysicians.Controls.Count;
panPhysicians.Controls.Add(rb);
}
Try this code
StreamReader menu = new StreamReader("menu.prefs");
var str = menu.ReadToEnd();
var items = str.Split(new string[] {"\r\n" } , StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
foreach (var item in items)
{
Button dynamicbutton = new Button();
dynamicbutton.Click += new System.EventHandler(menuItem_Click);
dynamicbutton.Text = item;
dynamicbutton.Visible = true;
dynamicbutton.Location = new Point(4+repetition*307, 4);
dynamicbutton.Height = 44;
dynamicbutton.Width = 203;
dynamicbutton.BackColor = Color.FromArgb(40,40,40);
dynamicbutton.ForeColor = Color.White;
dynamicbutton.Font = new Font("Lucida Console", 16);
dynamicbutton.Show();
menuPanel.Controls.Add(dynamicbutton);
repetition++;
}
The problem with Panel and similar controls other than the FlowLayoutPanel is when you create a control and a second one, the second is created at the same position if you are not changing it's location dynamically or setting it according to the other already added controls. Your control is there, it's in the back of the first control.
A flowLayoutPanel is better as it will add the controls next to each other as you add them while compromising more finer control at their positioning.
I also have similar problems with panels. For what you are doing it could be useful to just add strings to a listbox rather than using labels and a panel. That should be simpler.