Making A FlowLayoutPanel have a transparent background

Question

I have a button that dynamically adds up to 24 labels to the form. The problem is their location.

I figured out that instead of manually setting a specific location for each, I can have them automatically arranged like a FlowLayoutPanel does. But the FLP will be on top and hide controls under it. And sending it to back is worse. So i want to bring it to front but keep it transparent, so that it doesn't hide the other controls under it.

Any suggestions will be great

Thanks.

Answer 1

I can have them automatically arranged like a FlowLayoutPanel does. But I can't use one because it will be on top and hide the images in my pic's.

Well, you can use a FlowLayoutPanel with a transparent background so it doesn't hide the other controls you have. How to do that? Well, this answer shows you how to make a transparent Panel. You should be able to easily adjust it to work with a FlowLayoutPanel using something like this:

Public Class TransparentFLP
    Inherits FlowLayoutPanel

    Protected Overrides ReadOnly Property CreateParams() As System.Windows.Forms.CreateParams
        Get
            Dim cp As CreateParams = MyBase.CreateParams
            cp.ExStyle = cp.ExStyle Or &H20 ''#WS_EX_TRANSPARENT
            Return cp
        End Get
    End Property
    Protected Overrides Sub OnPaintBackground(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs)
        ''#MyBase.OnPaintBackground(e) --> Don't uncomment this orelse
                                          'it will cause the BackColor to be redrawn.
    End Sub

End Class

• Add a new Class to your project.
• Paste the above code into it.
• Rebuild your project.
• Drop the new control from the top of the toolbox onto your form (instead of using the original FlowLayoutPanel).
• You're good to go.

P.S. I'm not sure about the use of your 4 panels, but you might consider using a TableLayoutPanel instead.

Hope that helps :)