Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms 3.0.3

🖼️ Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms

Windows Forms UI framework and component library providing data binding controls, database connection panels, validation components, and presentation utilities for desktop applications.

Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms enables rapid Windows desktop application development with pre-built UI components for database connectivity, data display, user input validation, and common desktop patterns.

📦 Installation

dotnet add package Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms

⚡ 10-Second Example

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;

// Create a database connection panel that adapts to selected DBMS
var connectionPanel = new DatabaseConnectionPanel();
connectionPanel.SelectedDBMSType = DBMSType.SQLServer;

// Get connection string and DAC from the panel
string connectionString = connectionPanel.ConnectionString;
IDAC dac = connectionPanel.GetDAC();

🏗️ Core Concepts

Database Connection Controls: DatabaseConnectionPanel dynamically loads appropriate UI based on selected database type (SQLite, SQL Server, Firebird).

Custom Controls: Enhanced controls like PathSelectorControl, ProgressBarEx, PropertyGridEx, RadioGroupBox, and validation indicators.

Data Binding: Enhanced data binding with validation and change notification.

Wizard Framework: Multi-step wizard UI pattern implementation.

Source Grid: Advanced data grid component for tabular data display.

🔧 Core Components

DatabaseConnectionPanel

Dynamic database connection UI that loads appropriate controls based on selected provider:

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;
using Sphere10.Framework.Data;

public class MainForm : Form {
    private DatabaseConnectionPanel _connectionPanel;
    
    public MainForm() {
        InitializeComponent();
        
        _connectionPanel = new DatabaseConnectionPanel();
        
        // Optionally hide certain database types
        _connectionPanel.IgnoreDBMS = new[] { DBMSType.FirebirdFile };
        
        // Handle DBMS type changes
        _connectionPanel.DBMSTypeChanged += OnDBMSChanged;
        
        Controls.Add(_connectionPanel);
    }
    
    private void OnDBMSChanged(DatabaseConnectionPanel sender, DBMSType newType) {
        // Panel automatically loads correct connection UI:
        // - SQLServer: MSSQLConnectionPanel
        // - Sqlite: SqliteConnectionPanel  
        // - Firebird: FirebirdConnectionPanel
        // - FirebirdFile: FirebirdEmbeddedConnectionPanel
    }
    
    private async void TestConnection() {
        var result = await _connectionPanel.TestConnection();
        if (result.IsSuccess) {
            MessageBox.Show("Connection successful!");
            
            // Get the DAC for database operations
            using var dac = _connectionPanel.GetDAC();
            // Use dac...
        } else {
            MessageBox.Show($"Connection failed: {result.ErrorMessages.First()}");
        }
    }
}

PathSelectorControl

File/folder path selection with browse button:

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;

var pathSelector = new PathSelectorControl();
pathSelector.Mode = PathSelectionMode.File;  // or Folder
pathSelector.Path = @"C:\Data\file.txt";

// User can type path or browse
string selectedPath = pathSelector.Path;

ProgressBarEx

Enhanced progress bar with text display:

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;

var progressBar = new ProgressBarEx();
progressBar.DisplayStyle = ProgressBarDisplayText.Percentage;
progressBar.Value = 75;  // Shows "75%"

ValidationIndicator

Visual validation state indicator:

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;

var validator = new ValidationIndicator();
validator.State = ValidationState.Valid;    // Green checkmark
validator.State = ValidationState.Invalid;  // Red X
validator.State = ValidationState.Pending;  // Yellow

RadioGroupBox

Group box with built-in radio button management:

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;

var radioGroup = new RadioGroupBox();
// Radio buttons inside are mutually exclusive

ServiceStatusControl

Display Windows service status:

using Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms;

var serviceStatus = new ServiceStatusControl();
serviceStatus.ServiceName = "MyService";
// Displays: Running, Stopped, Starting, etc.

🛠️ Tools.WinForms Namespace

using Tools;

// Create custom cursor from bitmap
Cursor cursor = WinForms.CreateCursor(bitmap, hotspotX, hotspotY);

// Load cursor from raw bytes
Cursor rawCursor = WinForms.LoadRawCursor(cursorBytes);

📋 Available Components

Controls

Database Components

Other

📦 Dependencies

• Sphere10.Framework: Core framework
• Sphere10.Framework.Data: Database abstraction
• System.Windows.Forms: Windows Forms (.NET built-in)
• System.Drawing: Graphics support

📖 Related Projects

• Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms.Sqlite - SQLite connection panel
• Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms.MSSQL - SQL Server connection panel
• Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms.Firebird - Firebird connection panel
• Sphere10.Framework.Windows - Windows platform integration
• Sphere10.Framework.Data - Database abstraction layer

✅ Status & Compatibility

• Maturity: Production-tested for Windows desktop applications
• .NET Target: .NET 8.0+ (Windows), .NET Framework 4.7+ (legacy)
• Platform: Windows only (Windows Forms)

⚖️ License

Distributed under the MIT NON-AI License.

See the LICENSE file for full details. More information: Sphere10 NON-AI-MIT License

👤 Author

Herman Schoenfeld - Software Engineer