UNIT – IV

ADVANCED FEATURES OF
VB.NET
SYLLABUS
4.1 Dialog Boxes
4.1.1 Open File Dialog
4.1.2 Save File Dialog
4.1.3 Font Dialog
4.1.4 Color Dialog
4.1.5 Print Dialog
4.2 Sub Routine and Function
4.2.1 Sub Routine
4.2.2 Function
4.2.3 Pass by value and pass by reference

2
SYLLABUS

 4.3Exception Handling
4.3.1 What is error?
4.3.2 Categories of error
4.3.3 Categories of exception handling
4.3.3.1 Structure exception handling
4.3.3.2 Try…Catch ….Finally
4.3.3.3 Common exception handling
4.3.3.4 Message property and to string
method

3
CONT…
4.3.3.5 Throw
4.3.4 Unstructured exception handling
4.3.3.1 On error statement
4.3.3.2 Err object
4.3.3.3 Resume Next
4.4 SDI/MDI

4
4.1DIALOG BOXES
 There are many built-in dialog boxes to be used in
Windows forms for various tasks like opening and
saving files, printing a page, providing choices for
colors, fonts, page setup, etc., to the user of an
application.

 The ShowDialog method is used to display all the

dialog box controls at run-time.

5
CONT…

6
4.1.1 OPEN FILE DIALOG
 It prompts the user to open a file and allows the
user to select a file to open.
 The user can check if the file exists and then open
it.

7
CONT…
Property Description

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box

AddExtension automatically adds an extension to a file name if the user
omits the extension.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box
CheckFileExists displays a warning if the user specifies a file name that
does not exist.

DefaultExt Gets or sets the default file name extension.

Gets or sets a string containing the file name selected in

FileName
the file dialog box.
Gets or sets the current file name filter string, which
Filter determines the choices that appear in the "Save as file
type" or "Files of type" box in the dialog box.
Gets or sets the initial directory displayed by the file
InitialDirectory
dialog box. 8

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box

Multiselect
allows multiple files to be selected.
CONT…

Method Name Description

Opens the file selected by the user, with read-only

OpenFile permission. The file is specified by the FileName
property.

Reset Resets all options to their default value.

9
 EXAMPLE
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
Handles Button1.Click
If OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog < >
Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Cancel Then
PictureBox1.Image =
Image.FromFile(OpenFileDialog1.FileName)
End If
End Sub

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CONT…

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4.1.2 SAVE FILE DIALOG
 The Save File Dialog control prompts the user to
select a location for saving a file and allows the user to
specify the name of the file to save data.

12
CONT…
Property Description
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box
AddExtension automatically adds an extension to a file name if the
user omits the extension.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box
CheckFileExists displays a warning if the user specifies a file name that
does not exist.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box
CheckPathExists displays a warning if the user specifies a path that does
not exist.
DefaultExt Gets or sets the default file name extension.
Gets or sets a string containing the file name selected in
FileName
the file dialog box.
Gets or sets the initial directory displayed by the file
InitialDirectory
dialog box.
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OverwritePrompt Gets or sets a value indicating whether the Save As
dialog box displays a warning if the user specifies a file
name that already exists.
CONT…

Method Name Description

Open File Opens the file with read/write permission.

Reset Resets all dialog box options to their default values..

14
 EXAMPLE
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
Handles Button1.Click
SaveFileDialog1.Filter = "TXT Files (*.txt*)|*.txt"
If SaveFileDialog1.ShowDialog =
Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
My.Computer.FileSystem.WriteAllText(SaveFileDialog
1.FileName, RichTextBox1.Text, True)
End If
End Sub

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CONT…

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4.1.3 FONTDIALOG
 It prompts the user to choose a font from among those
installed on the local computer and lets the user
select the font, font size, and color.
 It returns the Font and Color objects.

17
CONT…
Property Description
Color Gets or sets the selected font color.

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box

AllowVerticalFonts displays both vertical and horizontal fonts, or only
horizontal fonts.

Font Gets or sets the selected font.

MaxSize Gets or sets the maximum point size a user can select.
MinSize Gets or sets the minimum point size a user can select.

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box

ShowColor
displays the color choice.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box
ShowEffects contains controls that allow the user to specify
strikethrough, underline, and text color options.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box
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ShowApply contains an Apply button
CONT…
Method Name Description

Reset Resets all options to their default values.

When overridden in a derived class, specifies a

RunDialog
common dialog box.

ShowDialog Runs a common dialog box with a default owner.

EVENTS OF THE FONTDIALOG CONTROL

Event Name Description

Occurs when the Apply button on the font dialog19

Apply
box is clicked.
EXAMPLE
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As
EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
If FontDialog1.ShowDialog <>
Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Cancel Then
RichTextBox1.ForeColor = FontDialog1.Color
RichTextBox1.Font = FontDialog1.Font
End If
End Sub

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CONT…

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4.1.4 COLOR DIALOG
 The Color Dialog control class represents a common
dialog box that displays available colors along with
controls that enable the user to define custom colors.
 It lets the user select a color.

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CONT…

Property Description
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the user can
AllowFullOpen use the dialog box to define custom colors.

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box

AnyColor
displays all available colors in the set of basic colors.

Color Gets or sets the color selected by the user.

Gets or sets the set of custom colors shown in the

CustomColors dialog box.

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the controls

FullOpen used to create custom colors are visible when the dialog
box is opened

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the dialog box23

SolidColorOnly will restrict users to selecting solid colors only.
CONT…
Method Name Description

Resets all options to their default values, the last

Reset selected color to black, and the custom colors to
their default values.

When overridden in a derived class, specifies a

RunDialog common dialog box.

ShowDialog Runs a common dialog box with a default owner.

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EXAMPLE
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles
Button1.Click
If ColorDialog1.ShowDialog <> Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Cancel Then
Label1.ForeColor = ColorDialog1.Color
End If
End Sub

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4.1.5 PRINT DIALOG
 The Print Dialog control lets the user to print
documents by selecting a printer and choosing which
sections of the document to print from a Windows
Forms application.

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CONT…

27
CONT…

Property Description

Gets or sets a value indicating whether

AllowCurrentPage
the Current Page option button is displayed.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether the Print
AllowPrintToFile
to file check box is enabled.
Gets or sets a value indicating whether
AllowSelection the Selectionoption button is enabled.

Gets or sets a value indicating whether

AllowSomePages the Pagesoption button is enabled.

PrintToFile Gets or sets a value indicating whether the Print

to file check box is selected.

PrinterSettings Gets or sets the printer settings the dialog box

modifies. 28
METHODS OF THE PRINT DIALOG CONTROL
Method Name Description

Reset Resets all options to their default values.

When overridden in a derived class, specifies a

RunDialog common dialog box.

ShowDialog Runs a common dialog box with a default owner.

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EXAMPLE
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
Handles Button1.Click
PrintDialog1.Document = PrintDocument1
PrintDialog1.PrinterSettings = PrintDocument1.PrinterSettings
PrintDialog1.AllowSomePages = True
If PrintDialog1.ShowDialog = DialogResult.OK Then
PrintDocument1.PrinterSettings =
PrintDialog1.PrinterSettings PrintDocument1.Print()
End If
End Sub

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CONT…

31
4.2 SUB PROCEDURE & FUNCTIONS
 A procedure is a group of logically related statements
that is used to perform a specific task.
 Using procedure, large application can be divided into
smaller units.

 Types of Procedure
 Sub Procedure
 Function Procedure
 Pass by value and Pass by reference

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4.1.1 SUB PROCEDURES
 They're the handy blocks of code that can organize
your code into single-purpose sections to make
programming easier.
 Unlike functions, Sub procedures do not return values,
but like functions.
 We can pass values to Sub procedures in an argument
list.

33
CONT…
 A general procedure is a group of logically related
statements that are used to perform a specific task.
 It is also known as sub procedure.

 We can pass arguments to the sub procedure.

 Sub procedure does not return any value.

 An Event procedure is invoked automatically when user

interacts with particular control.
 Sub procedure does not invoke automatically. Sub
procedure is called explicitly.
 Calling of Sub Procedure

 Call ProcedureName ([Argument List])

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 ProcedureName [Argument List]
CONT…
 Syntax:
[Scope] Sub ProcedureName ([Argument List])
procedure statements
End Sub
 Scope:
 It is optional.
 It can be either Public, Private or Protected scope.
 Default is Public.
 Procedure Name:
• It specify the name of procedure
 Argument List:
 It is optional. 35
CONT…
 Example:
Sub MaximumNo (ByVal a As Integer, ByVal b As
Integer)
If a > b Then
MsgBox (“ A is Maximum Number”)
Else
MsgBox (“ B is Maximum Number”)
End if
End Sub

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CONT…
 Calling of Above Function
Call MaximumNo(txtNo1.Text, txtNo2.Text)
or
MaximumNo(txtNo1.Text, txtNo2.Text)

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4.2.2 FUNCTION PROCEDURE
 A Function procedure is a group of logically related
statements that are used to perform a specific task.
 We can pass arguments to the function procedure.

 A function procedure can return a value.

 A sub procedure can not return a value while a

function procedure can return a value.
 Function procedure can be defined using Function
and End Function keywords.

 Calling of Function Procedure

 Call FunctionName ([Argument List])
 FunctionName [Argument List] 38
CONT…
 Syntax:

[Scope] Function FunctionName ([Argument List])

[As ReturnType]
Function statements
[Return Statements]
End Function
 Scope:

 It is optional.
 It can be either Public, Private or Protected scope.
 Default is Public.
 Function Name: 39

• It specify the name of function procedure.

CONT…
 Return Type:
 It is optional. If function procedure returns
any value then user has to specify return
type.
 Argument List:

 It is optional.

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CONT…
 Example:
Function MaximumNo (ByVal a As Integer, ByVal b As
Integer)
If a > b Then
Return a
Else
Return b
End if
End Function

 Calling of Above Function

txtMax.Text = MaximumNo(txtNo1.Text, txtNo2.Text)
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4.2.3 PASSING PARAMETERS BY VALUE
 This is the default mechanism for passing parameters
to a method.
 In this mechanism, when a method is called, a new
storage location is created for each value parameter.
 The values of the actual parameters are copied into
them.
 So, the changes made to the parameter inside the
method have no effect on the argument.
 In VB.Net, you declare the reference parameters using
the ByVal keyword.

42
CONT…
Module paramByval
Sub swap(ByVal x As Integer, ByVal y As Integer)
Dim temp As Integer
temp = x
x=y
y = temp
End Sub
Sub Main()
Dim a As Integer = 100
Dim b As Integer = 200
Console.WriteLine("Before swap, value of a : {0}", a)
Console.WriteLine("Before swap, value of b : {0}", b)
swap(a, b)
Console.WriteLine("After swap, value of a : {0}", a)
Console.WriteLine("After swap, value of b : {0}", b)
Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
End Module 43
CONT…
Output:

Before swap, value of a :100

Before swap, value of b :200
After swap, value of a :100
After swap, value of b :200

44
PASSING PARAMETERS BY REFERENCE
 A reference parameter is a reference to a memory
location of a variable.
 When you pass parameters by reference, unlike value
parameters, a new storage location is not created for
these parameters.
 The reference parameters represent the same memory
location as the actual parameters that are supplied to
the method.
 In VB.Net, you declare the reference parameters using
the ByRef keyword.

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EXAMPLE:
Module paramByref
Sub swap(ByRef x As Integer, ByRef y As Integer)
Dim temp As Integer
temp = x
x=y
y = temp
End Sub
Sub Main()
Dim a As Integer = 100
Dim b As Integer = 200
Console.WriteLine("Before swap, value of a : {0}", a)
Console.WriteLine("Before swap, value of b : {0}", b)
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CONT…
swap(a, b)
Console.WriteLine("After swap, value of a : {0}",
a) Console.WriteLine("After swap, value of b :
{0}", b) Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
End Module

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CONT…

Output:
Before swap, value of a :100
Before swap, value of b :200
After swap, value of a :200
After swap, value of b :100

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4.3 EXCEPTION HANDLING
 4.3.1 What is error?
 An exception is a problem that arises during the
execution of a program. An exception is a
response to an exceptional circumstance that
arises while a program is running, such as an
attempt to divide by zero.
 Exceptions provide a way to transfer control from
one part of a program to another.VB.Net
exception handling is built upon four keywords:
 Try, Catch, Finally and Throw.

49
4.3.2 CATEGORIES OF ERRORS
 1.Syntax error
 2.Logical error

 3.Runtime error

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CONT…
1. Syntax error
 Syntax Errors. ... Visual Basic checks your code
as you type it in the Code Editor window and
alerts you if you make a mistake, such as
misspelling a word or using a language element
improperly.
 Syntax errors are the most common type
of errors. You can fix them easily in the coding
environment as soon as they occur

51
CONT…
 2.Logical error
 In computer programming, a logic error is
a bug in a program that causes it to operate
incorrectly, but not to terminate abnormally (or
crash).
 A logic error produces unintended or undesired
output or other behavior, although it may not
immediately be recognized as such.

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EXAMPLE

 Dim x As Integer
Dim y As Integer
Dim answer As Integer
x = 10.5
y=3
answer = x * y
TextBox1.Text = answer
 When you've added the code to your button, run
your program and test it out.
 You'd think that 10.5 multiplied by 3 would give
you the answer 31.5. Click your button. The
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answer that appears in your textbox is 30!
4.3.3 CATEGORIES OF EXCEPTION HANDLING

 .NET provides two types of Exception Handling

 1.Structured Error Handling

 2.Unstructured Error Handling

1) On Error Goto Line

2) On Error Resume Next
3) On Error Goto 0 or -1
4) Err Object
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1.STRUCTURED ERROR HANDLING
 Structured Error Handling can be managed using
Try…Catch…Finally structure in VB.NET.
 Syntax:

Try
[ tryStatements ]
[ Exit Try ]
[ Catch [ exception [ As type ] ]
[ When expression ] [ catchStatements ]
[ Exit Try ] ]
[ Catch ... ]
[ Finally
m,.[ finallyStatements ] ]
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End Try
4.3.3.1 EXCEPTION HANDLING
 An exception is a problem that arises during the
execution of a program.
 An exception is a response to an exceptional
circumstance that arises while a program is running,
such as an attempt to divide by zero.
 Whenever an Exception is encountered the application
is crashed and its execution is terminated.

56
CONT…

57
4.3.3.2
1) Try
 it contains that you want to execute.
 It is optional Try statement block may contain
one or more statements.
2) Catch
 The exception that is thrown from Try block is
caught by catch block.
 Catch block contains code that handles the
Exception.
3) Finally
 It contains statements that must execute before
exit from the Try….catch …block 58
CONT…
 Example:
 Try [ try Statements ]

 [ Exit Try ]

 [ Catch [ exception [ As type ] ] [ When expression]

 [ catch Statements ]

 [ Exit Try ] ]

 [ Catch ... ]

 [ Finally [ finally Statements ] ]

 End Try

59
4.3.3.3 COMMON EXCEPTION CLASS
Exception Class Description

System.IO.IOException Handles I/O errors.

System.IndexOutOfRange Handles errors

Exception generated when a
method refers to an
array index out of
range.

System.ArrayTypeMismat Handles errors

chException generated when type is
mismatched with the
array type. 60
4.3.3.4 MESSAGE PROPERTY AND TO
STRING METHOD

 Message Property
 using try..catch for error handling and getting
the message displayed as:
Message box. show (ex. to string)
 But it gives very long message.
Is it possible just to get only the actual error or
could give my own modified message.

61
CONT…
 To String method
 To String is often useful in VB.NET programs. It
allows us to provide a custom To String function
on a VB.NET class.
 By using an Overrides To String function, we
specify how an instance renders itself as a String.

62
EXAMPLE:
Public Overrides Function To String() As String
Return String. Format("[{0}, {1}]", _a, _b)
End Function
End Class
Sub Main()
Dim p As Perl = New Perl(2, 3)
Console.WriteLine(p)
End Sub
End Module
Output [2, 3]
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4.3.3.5 THROW
 Throwing Objects
 You can throw an object if it is either directly or
indirectly derived from the System. Exception
class.
 You can use a throw statement in the catch block
to throw the present object as:
 Throw

 [ expression ]

64
EXAMPLE

 Module exceptionProg
Sub Main()
Try
Throw New ApplicationException("A custom
exception _
is being thrown here...")
Catch e As Exception
Console.WriteLine(e.Message)
Finally
Console.WriteLine("Now inside the Finally
Block")
End Try
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub 65
End Module
2.UNSTRUCTURED ERROR HANDLING
 Unstructured Error Handling
1) On Error Goto Line
2) On Error Resume Next
3) On Error Goto 0 or -1
4) Err Object

1) On Error Goto Line

 On Error Goto Line statement is used to turn
ON the error trapping facility.
 Syntax:
On error goto line
Here Line indicate any valid label Name. 66
4.3.4.1
 On Error statement
 Once an error is handled by an error handler in
any procedure, execution resumes in the current
procedure at the point designated by
the Resume statement.
 An error-handling routine is not a Sub
procedure or a Function procedure. It is a section
of code marked by a line label or a line number.

67
EXAMPLE:

68
4.3.4.2 Err Object

Err object is the in built object supported by

vb.net.
Err object contains information abut run time
errors encountered during execution of
application.
Err object has several properties ans methods
like Number, Description, Erl,
clear(),raise() etc.

69
4.3.4.3 RESUME NEXT
2) On Error Goto 0 and -1
 On Error Goto 0 and -1 statement is used
to disable the error trapping mechanism.
 It is used to turned ON and OFF of error
trapping mechanism.

3)On Error Resume Next

 Specifies that when an exception occurs,
execution skips over the Statement that
caused the problem and goes to the
statement immediately following. 70
Execution continues from that point.
2.UNSTRUCTURED ERROR HANDLING
4) Err Object
Err object is the in built object supported by
vb.net.
 Err object contains information abut run
time errors encountered during execution of
application.
 Err object has several properties ans
methods like Number, Description, Erl,
clear(),raise() etc.

71
EXAMPLE OF THE UNSTRUCTURED ERROR
HANDLING
Public Class Form1
Private Sub btnDivison_Click(ByVal sender As
System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles
btnDivison.Click
Dim int1, int2, ans As Integer
int1 = Num1txt.Text
int2 = Num2txt.Text
On Error GoTo Handle 'Global
Error Handling
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ans = int1 \int 2
EXAMPLE OF THE UNSTRUCTURED ERROR
HANDLING
“On Error GoTo 0 ' If any error is there which is in this
particular statement then at that
time we can use this statement”
“On Error GoTo -1 'It ignore the particular type of
exception.”

anstxt.Text = ans
Num1txt.Text = ""
Num2txt.Text = ""
Handle:
73
EXAMPLE OF THE UNSTRUCTURED ERROR
HANDLING
If (TypeOf Err.GetException() Is DivideByZeroException)
Then
MsgBox("Error Caught..!!")
Resume Next
End If
End Sub
End Class

74
4.4 SDI/MDI
1. Create a Windows Application.

2. In the Properties window, set

the IsMDIContainer property to true.

3. From the Toolbox, drag

a MainMenu component to the form. Create a
top-level menu item with the Text property set
to &File with submenu items
called &New and &Close. Also create a top-
level menu item called &Window.
75
TO CREATE AN MDI PARENT FORM AT
DESIGN TIME

The first menu will create, and hide menu items

at run time, and the second menu will keep
track of the open MDI child windows. At this
point, you have created an MDI parent window.
For more information on creating menus and
menu items

4. Press F5 to run the application. For information

about creating MDI child windows that operate
within the MDI parent form

76
CREATING MDI CHILD FORMS

1.Create an MDI parent form that has a menu

structure containing File and Window top-
level menu items and New and Close menu
items. For more information on creating MDI
parent forms.

2. In the drop-down list at the top of the Properties

window, select the menu item that corresponds to
the &Window menu item and set
the MdiList property to true.

This will enable the Window menu to maintain a

list of open MDI child windows with a check 77
mark next to the active child window.
CREATING MDI CHILD FORMS
3. In Solution Explorer, right-click the project, point
to Add, and then select Add New Item.

This form will be the template for your MDI child

forms.

Note : The MDI child form you create in this step is a

standard Windows Form. As such, it has
an Opacity property, which allows you to control
the transparency of the form. However,
the Opacity property was designed for top-level
windows. Do not use it with MDI child forms, as
painting problems can occur. 78
CREATING MDI CHILD FORMS
4. In the Add New Item dialog box, select Windows
Form (in Visual Basic or in Visual C#) or Windows
Forms Application (.NET) (in Visual C++) from
the Templates pane. In the Name box, name the
form Form2. Click the Open button to add the form
to the project.

The Windows Forms Designer opens,

displaying Form2.

5. Drag a RichTextBox control from the Toolbox to

the form.

6. In the Properties window, set the Anchor property

to Top, Left and the Dock property to fill.
79
CREATING MDI CHILD FORMS
This causes the RichTextBox control to
completely fill the area of the MDI child
form, even when the form is resized.
7. Create a Click event handler for the new menu
item. For more information about creating event
handlers.

8.Insert code similar to the following to create a

new MDI child form when the user clicks
the New menu item
80
MDI VS. SDI
MDI SDI
MDI stand for Multiple SDI stand for Single Document
Document Interface Interface.
In MDI you can work with In SDI you can not work with
more then one form in the more then one form in the
same workspace. same workspace.
In MDI application there is a In SDI there is no relationship
relationship between MDI and between SDI forms.
SDI forms which is known as
parent child relationship.
It is best for the application It is best for the application
that contains more than one that contains only single form.
forms.
Example: Microsoft World Example: Microsoft Note Pad.
81