How to Design a Windows Forms Application

From the Microsoft Visual Studio Start Page, select File → New Project as indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-7: Visual Studio File → New Project

If C# is not your preferred language in Visual Studio, you must indicate that you wish to develop a project in C# rather than Visual Basic or Visual C++. C# is found under Other Languages in the Project Dialog Window as indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-8: Microsoft Visual Studio Other Languages

Double-clicking on other Languages will bring up Microsoft Visual C#/C++ in Visual Studio. Select the Visual C# template menu by double-clicking on the Microsoft Visual C# option as indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-9: Microsoft Visual C# Template Selector

The Visual C# New Project Template Selector is indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-10: Microsoft Visual C# New Project Form Application

Perform the following steps to bring up a C# Windows Form Application Startup Template:

Select Visual C#: Make sure C# is the development language selected.
Select Windows: Select a Visual type application.
Select Windows Form Applications: The program will run as a PC application.
Name Project: Invoice Total will be the name we choose for our first project.
OK: Select OK when all the proper options have been selected.

Make sure your Control Toolbox is enabled by selecting:

View → Toolbox

as indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-10A: Enable Visual Studio Toolbox

Some terms that we will be referencing at a later point in the guide are illustrated in Figure CS-11 are:

File Selection Menu: Menu options performing system actions such as Save Project
Debug Program: Icon to test our C# program.
Design Tabs: Selectors to move between Source code and Forms
Design Form: User Interface.
Control Toolbox: Templates for control to be placed on the form.

After performing the preceding steps - the C# Design View window will appear on your screen as indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-11: Visual C# Design View Screen

Select Toolbox → Common Controls as indicated in the diagram below:

Figure CS-12: Visual C# Toolbox Common Controls

Left-Click the Toolbox: to make it visible.
Left-Click the '+' on Common Controls: to expand the Common Control Toolbox Menu.

Select the Next button below to continue this tutorial: