The goals of this component are:
- Implementing the WebBrowser Control
- Having the following button: back, forward, home, refresh and stop
- Being able to have multiple Web pages open that the user can rapidly switch between without having to navigate back and forth (Use container controls)
Implementing the WebBrowser Control
In the implementation of the Web Browser, I use a Tab Control, that I explain below. In the TabPage I will load each website. In the project I give an option to add new tab, or close tab.
private void NewWeb()
{ // Add a new tab control, and load the web control in it.
// Define a maxium of 5 tabs, you can change the number.
if (currentTabCount == 5) return;
// Create the new tab page
TabPage newpage = new TabPage("Loading...");
tabControl1.TabPages.Add(newpage);
// Keep track of how many pages are open.
currentTabCount++;
// Create a new WebBrowser control.
WebBrowser webpage = new WebBrowser();
webPages.Add(webpage);
webpage.Parent = newpage;
webpage.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
// When the site has been displayed, and updated the name of the Tab with the site title.
webpage.DocumentCompleted += new WebBrowserDocumentCompletedEventHandler(webpage_DocumentCompleted);
// Select the new site as the foreground
tabControl1.SelectedTab = newpage;
}
Have the following button: back, forward, home, refresh and stop
I use the toolStripButton control where I place all the button for the browser. It gives facilities to add an image and/or a text. In the code-behing, I implemented these snipets.
private void toolStripButtonForward_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
// Go Forward - if the web control can go back.
WebBrowser thiswebpage = GetCurrentWebBrowser();
if (thiswebpage.CanGoForward)
thiswebpage.GoForward();
}
private void toolStripButtonBack_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{ // Go Back - if the web control can go back.
WebBrowser thiswebpage = GetCurrentWebBrowser();
if (thiswebpage.CanGoBack)
thiswebpage.GoBack();
}
private void toolStripButtonGoHome_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{ // Go Home - go to the default home page.
toolStripComboBox1.Text = "about:blank";
// Update the Tab Control too tabControl1.SelectedTab.Text = "Blank Page";
WebBrowser thiswebpage = (WebBrowser)webPages[tabPages.IndexOf(tabControl1.SelectedTab)];
thiswebpage.Navigate("about:blank");}
private void toolStripButtonRefresh_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{ // Refresh - cause the browser to reload and redisplay the current page
WebBrowser thiswebpage = GetCurrentWebBrowser();
thiswebpage.Refresh();
}
private void toolStripButtonStop_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
WebBrowser thiswebpage = GetCurrentWebBrowser();
thiswebpage.Stop();
}
In this case, I use a TreeView Control to bookmark my favorites pages. By default, the root is named Favorites, but you can create your own groups. I created another form and the user can select the node to save the page.
private void toolStripButtonAddFavorite_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (GetCurrentWebBrowser().Url != null)
{
// Show the AddFavorites dialog
AddFavorites dlgFavorite = new AddFavorites(GetCurrentWebBrowser().Url.ToString());
TreeNodeCollection nodes = this.treeViewFavorite.Nodes;
foreach (TreeNode node in nodes)
dlgFavorite.comboBoxFFolder.Items.Add(node.Text);
DialogResult resFavorite = dlgFavorite.ShowDialog();
bool findNode = false;
// If the user clicks OK
if (resFavorite == DialogResult.OK)
{
if (dlgFavorite.comboBoxFFolder.Text.Equals("Favorites"))
{
TreeNode newChild = new TreeNode(dlgFavorite.textBoxFName.Text);
treeViewFavorite.Nodes[0].Nodes.Add(newChild);
newChild.ToolTipText = dlgFavorite.textBoxFName.Text;
treeViewFavorite.ExpandAll();
}
else
{
// Search if the node exists, add the child
foreach (TreeNode node in treeViewFavorite.Nodes)
{
if (node.Text == dlgFavorite.comboBoxFFolder.Text)
{
// Node exist, add the new child
node.Nodes.Add(new TreeNode(dlgFavorite.textBoxFName.Text));
node.ToolTipText = dlgFavorite.textBoxFName.Text;
treeViewFavorite.ExpandAll();
findNode = true;
break;
}
}
if (!findNode)
{
// Node doen't exists, add the parent Node and the child
TreeNode newNode = new TreeNode(dlgFavorite.comboBoxFFolder.Text);
TreeNode newChild = new TreeNode(dlgFavorite.textBoxFName.Text);
newNode.Nodes.Add(newChild);
newChild.ToolTipText = dlgFavorite.textBoxFName.Text;
treeViewFavorite.Nodes.Add(newNode);
treeViewFavorite.ExpandAll();
}
dlgFavorite.Close();
}
}
}
}
Being able to have multiple Web pages open
I use in the project a TabControl that allow the user rapidly switch between sites without having to navigate back and forth. The code to use is below.
private void tabControl1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{ if (GetCurrentWebBrowser().Url != null)
toolStripComboBox1.Text = GetCurrentWebBrowser().Url.ToString();
}
private WebBrowser GetCurrentWebBrowser()
{
// This method returns the currently display WebControl, use
// an array to find the active one by getting the index of the current tab.
TabPage current_tab = tabControl1.SelectedTab;
WebBrowser thiswebpage = (WebBrowser)webPages[tabPages.IndexOf(current_tab)];
return thiswebpage;
}
The sample application and source
The sample application demonstrate the use of differents controls to show the WebBrowser Control functionality. The code is commented, and hopefully gives enough information for helping you put your own solution together. I am able to shareand email you all the source, please let me know.
This is my first blog. Thanks for reading! If you can add any comment or have suggestions or tips, please post a message below. I would appreciate that.
About the Author:
Jenny Coca. NET Software/Web Developer
I was born in Havana, Cuba
I live in Toronto, Canada
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (Windows and Web)
MCITP on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (Database Developer and Administrator)
I work with C#, VB.Net and PHP
Share is the key!
I need the codes and step by step procedure please
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