C Sharp Multiple Forms in One Panel

Summary

The presenter demonstrates how to display different Windows Forms inside a single panel in a C# application. The example uses Form1 as the main form, with a panel and buttons that load Form2, Form3, or Form4 into that panel.

Method 1: Write the code in each button handler

For each button’s click event:

1. Clear the panel with panel1.Controls.Clear() to remove the previously displayed form.
2. Create an instance of the form to display, such as new Form2().
3. Set the form’s TopLevel property to false, allowing it to be hosted inside another control.
4. Add the form to the panel’s controls.
5. Call Show() to display it.

The presenter repeats this pattern for Forms 3 and 4, changing the form instance for each button.

Method 2: Use a reusable helper function

To avoid repeating the same code in every button handler, create a function that accepts a Form parameter. Inside the function:

• Clear the panel.
• Add the supplied form to the panel.
• Set its TopLevel property to false.
• Show it.

Each button’s click handler can then call the helper and pass a new instance of the desired form, such as new Form2().

This approach keeps the button handlers shorter and centralizes the form-loading logic.

Key takeaway

Multiple forms can be displayed in the same panel by clearing the panel, configuring each form as a non-top-level form, adding it to the panel, and showing it.

Speakers and sources

• Presenter/narrator: One speaker gives the tutorial; the subtitles do not state their name. The video is associated with the Jorge Resurreccion channel.
• Other source mentioned: The presenter refers viewers to a separate Visual Basic tutorial on displaying multiple forms in one panel.