How to Build a Simple Calculator App in Windows Forms
When learning how to code, it can be useful to gain experience by re-creating apps that already exist. One common beginner app that you may start with is a calculator.
You can create a desktop calculator app using a Windows Forms project in Visual Studio. In a Windows Forms application, you can click and drag UI elements onto a canvas, to visualize the design of your calculator.
it’s possible to then add code logic to the underlying C# files to determine what should happen when the user clicks on a number, operator, clear, or equals button.
How to Add UI Elements to the Calculator
Start bycreating a new Windows Form Application in Visual Studio. Then, add UI elements to the canvas to create the calculator’s user interface.
How to Add the Number and Operator Buttons
Add buttons to represent the numbers and operators (+, -, etc.) that the user will click on.
Name Property
Text Property
buttonAddition
Subtraction
buttonSubtraction
Multiplication
buttonMultiplication
buttonDivision
Decimal Point
buttonDecimal
Equals Sign
buttonEquals
Right Bracket
buttonRightBracket
Left Bracket
buttonLeftBracket
buttonClear
Clear Entry
buttonClearEntry
How to Add the Output Result Label
Add a textbox UI element to represent the result that the calculator will display to the user.
textBoxOutput
BorderStyle
How to Add the Calculation Logic
Add code to execute the calculation logic when the user clicks on the buttons.
How to Calculate the Result and Display It to the User
Create another function to calculate the final result when the user clicks on the equals button.
How to Clear the Calculator
Add the functionality for the C (Clear) and CE (Clear Entry) buttons. TheClearbutton will completely erase the current calculation. TheClear Entrybutton will only erase the last entered number or operator.
How to Run the Calculator Application
You can run the calculator in Visual Studio to test its functionality.
Creating Desktop Applications Using Windows Forms
You can create a desktop calculator app using a Windows Forms project in Visual Studio. Use the canvas and Toolbox to drag and drop UI elements to make up the design of the calculator. Add your code logic and functionality in the C# code behind files.
A calculator is just one of many simple beginner apps that you can make while learning to code. Other beginner apps you can create include converters, file managers, dice games, or flag generators. You can create these from scratch using a Windows Forms application.
Learn to develop Windows Forms applications by re-creating clone apps.
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