---
title: "How to: Align a Control to the Edges of Forms at Design Time"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "custom controls [Windows Forms], docking using designer"
  - "Dock property [Windows Forms], aligning controls (using designer)"
ms.assetid: 51f08998-5e3b-4330-be58-a4edd0eb60f4
---
# How to: Align a Control to the Edges of Forms at Design Time

You can make your control align to the edge of your forms by setting the value of the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Dock%2A> property. This property designates where your control resides in the form. The <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Dock%2A> property can be set to the following values:

|Setting|Effect on your control|
|-------------|----------------------------|
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Bottom>|Docks to the bottom of the form.|
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill>|Fills all remaining space in the form.|
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Left>|Docks to the left side of the form.|
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.None>|Does not dock anywhere, and it appears at the location specified by its <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Location%2A>.|
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Right>|Docks to the right side of the form.|
|<xref:System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Top>|Docks to the top of the form.|

These values can also be set in code. For more information, see [How to: Align a Control to the Edges of Forms](how-to-align-a-control-to-the-edges-of-forms.md).

## Set the Dock property for your control at design time

1. In the Windows Forms Designer in Visual Studio, select your control.

2. In the **Properties** window, click the drop-down box next to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Dock%2A> property.

     A graphical interface representing the six possible <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Dock%2A> settings is displayed.

3. Choose the appropriate setting.

4. Your control will now dock in the manner specified by the setting.

## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Dock%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Anchor%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType>
- [How to: Align a Control to the Edges of Forms](how-to-align-a-control-to-the-edges-of-forms.md)
- [Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using Snaplines](walkthrough-arranging-controls-on-windows-forms-using-snaplines.md)
- [How to: Anchor Controls on Windows Forms](how-to-anchor-controls-on-windows-forms.md)
- [How to: Anchor and Dock Child Controls in a TableLayoutPanel Control](how-to-anchor-and-dock-child-controls-in-a-tablelayoutpanel-control.md)
- [How to: Anchor and Dock Child Controls in a FlowLayoutPanel Control](how-to-anchor-and-dock-child-controls-in-a-flowlayoutpanel-control.md)
- [Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using a TableLayoutPanel](walkthrough-arranging-controls-on-windows-forms-using-a-tablelayoutpanel.md)
- [Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using a FlowLayoutPanel](walkthrough-arranging-controls-on-windows-forms-using-a-flowlayoutpanel.md)
- [Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time](developing-windows-forms-controls-at-design-time.md)