---
title: Design a localization-friendly layout
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
dev_langs:
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "TableLayoutPanel control [Windows Forms]"
  - "application design [Windows Forms], localization"
  - "Windows Forms, localization"
  - "localization [Windows Forms], Windows Forms layout"
ms.assetid: d13eff2d-701c-4b6e-8838-3885cbfb7223
---
# How to: Design a Windows Forms Layout that Responds Well to Localization

Creating forms that are ready to be localized greatly speeds development for international markets. You can use the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel> control to implement layouts that respond gracefully as controls resize due to changes in their <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.Text%2A> property values.

## Example

 This form demonstrates how to create a layout that proportionally adjusts when you translate displayed string values into other languages. This process of translation is called *localization*. For more information, see [Localization](/dotnet/standard/globalization-localization/localization).

 There is extensive support for this task in Visual Studio.  See also [Walkthrough: Creating a Layout That Adjusts Proportion for Localization](/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/7k9fa71y(v=vs.100)).

 [!code-csharp[System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel.LocalizableForm#1](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Winforms/System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel.LocalizableForm/CS/localizableform.cs#1)]
 [!code-vb[System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel.LocalizableForm#1](~/samples/snippets/visualbasic/VS_Snippets_Winforms/System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel.LocalizableForm/VB/localizableform.vb#1)]

## Additional resources

1. [How to: Align and Stretch a Control in a TableLayoutPanel Control](how-to-align-and-stretch-a-control-in-a-tablelayoutpanel-control.md)

2. [Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using a FlowLayoutPanel](walkthrough-arranging-controls-on-windows-forms-using-a-flowlayoutpanel.md)

3. [How to: Span Rows and Columns in a TableLayoutPanel Control](how-to-span-rows-and-columns-in-a-tablelayoutpanel-control.md)

4. [How to: Edit Columns and Rows in a TableLayoutPanel Control](how-to-edit-columns-and-rows-in-a-tablelayoutpanel-control.md)

5. [Walkthrough: Perform common tasks using designer actions](perform-common-tasks-design-actions.md)

6. [Walkthrough: Arranging Controls on Windows Forms Using a TableLayoutPanel](walkthrough-arranging-controls-on-windows-forms-using-a-tablelayoutpanel.md)

7. [Walkthrough: Laying Out Windows Forms Controls with Padding, Margins, and the AutoSize Property](windows-forms-controls-padding-autosize.md)

8. [How to: Support Localization on Windows Forms Using AutoSize and the TableLayoutPanel Control](/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/1zkt8b33(v=vs.100))

9. [Walkthrough: Creating a Resizable Windows Form for Data Entry](/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/991eahec(v=vs.100))

## Compiling the Code

 This example requires:

- References to the System, System.Data, System.Drawing and System.Windows.Forms assemblies.

## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.FlowLayoutPanel>
- [Localization](/dotnet/standard/globalization-localization/localization)