Text and Placeholder Config.

Text and Placeholder Management provides extensive control over text input, transformation, and placeholder display.

Overview

This section documents the properties and behaviors related to managing the text content, placeholder text, alignment, case transformations, and text formatting within the control. Developers can customize how text is displayed, edited, and transformed to meet application requirements.

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Key Points

Aspect	Description
Text Content	Controls the actual text displayed in the control and supports dynamic updates with events to track changes.
Placeholder Handling	Manages the display of placeholder text when no user input is present, including its text, color, and fade animation behavior.
Text Alignment & Layout	Offers options to align text horizontally (left, center, right) and control internal padding for proper layout.
Text Transformation	Supports automatic transformation of text to upper, lower, or normal case via the TextCaseMode property.
Font Styling	Provides toggles for bold, italic, underline, and strike-through formatting to emphasize or modify the visual style of the text.

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Best Practices

Practice Area	Recommendation
Consistent Input Design	Use consistent text formatting and placeholder styles across controls for a uniform user experience.
Clarity in Placeholder	Ensure that the placeholder text is clear and contrasts well with the background so that it is easily distinguishable when the control is empty.
Appropriate Transformations	Choose the appropriate TextCaseMode to match the desired user experience; for example, enforcing uppercase for specific types of input.
Use Formatting Sparingly	Apply bold, italic, underline, and strike-through formatting only when necessary to avoid visual clutter.

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Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Description
Misleading Placeholder	A placeholder that is too similar in color or font style to the actual text can confuse users about whether input has been entered.
Overuse of Text Formatting	Excessive use of font styling (e.g., bold, italic, underline) may reduce readability and lead to a cluttered interface.
Incorrect Text Alignment	Setting text alignment or padding improperly may result in misaligned or truncated text, especially when the control is resized.
Inconsistent Case Handling	Failing to apply text case transformations consistently can result in unexpected behavior when comparing or processing input text.

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Real Life Usage Scenarios

Scenario	Description
Data Entry Forms	Use placeholder text to guide users in entering information and apply text case transformations to ensure consistency (e.g., converting to uppercase).
Search Boxes	Implement clear placeholder text and text alignment to enhance usability and provide immediate feedback as users type.
Customizable Input Fields	Enable formatting options (bold, italic, underline) to allow users to emphasize parts of their input when needed, such as in rich text editors.
Validation-Driven Interfaces	Combine text management with input validation to ensure that the text meets specific criteria before processing or storing it.

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Troubleshooting Tips

Issue	Suggested Solution
Placeholder Not Fading Properly	Check that the PlaceholderFadeInterval and PlaceholderFadeStep properties are set to appropriate values and that the control’s text is empty.
Text Not Transforming Correctly	Verify that the TextCaseMode property is configured properly (Normal, Upper, or Lower) and that any external text modifications are not conflicting.
Misaligned Text or Placeholder	Adjust the TextPadding and review the TextAlign settings to ensure the content is positioned correctly within the control's boundaries.
Inconsistent Font Formatting	Confirm that the properties for IsBold, IsItalic, IsUnderline, and IsStrikeThrough are updated and applied consistently when text changes.

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Property Reference

Below is a reference table of key properties for text and placeholder management:

Property Name	Type	Description
Text	string	The primary text content of the control; setting this property updates the display and triggers events.
PlaceholderText	string	The text displayed when the control is empty, providing guidance for the expected input.
PlaceholderColor	Color	The color applied to the placeholder text, which can be animated using the fade settings.
TextAlign	TextAlignment	Specifies the horizontal alignment of the text (Left, Center, or Right).
MaxLength	int	The maximum number of characters allowed in the text content.
TextCaseMode	TextCase	Determines whether the text is displayed in normal, upper, or lower case.
IsBold, IsItalic, IsUnderline, IsStrikeThrough	bool	Toggles for applying specific font styles to the text content.
TextPadding	Padding	Defines the internal spacing between the text and the control’s boundaries.
PlaceholderFadeInterval	int	The interval (in milliseconds) between steps in the placeholder fade animation.
PlaceholderFadeStep	double	The incremental step size used in the placeholder fade animation to control the smoothness of the transition.

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Code Examples

Below are several code examples that demonstrate how to use the Text & Placeholder Management properties.

Example 1: Basic Text and Placeholder Configuration

This example shows how to set basic text properties and configure placeholder text, color, and alignment.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

public class BasicTextPlaceholderForm : Form
{
    public BasicTextPlaceholderForm()
    {
        // Create an instance of the custom text box control
        var customTextBox = new SiticoneTextBox
        {
            // Set the primary text content (initially empty)
            Text = "",
            
            // Configure placeholder properties
            PlaceholderText = "Enter your text here...",
            PlaceholderColor = Color.Gray,
            PlaceholderFadeInterval = 20,
            PlaceholderFadeStep = 0.05,
            
            // Set text alignment and padding
            TextAlign = TextAlignment.Left,
            TextPadding = new Padding(10, 5, 10, 5),
            
            // Set maximum allowed characters
            MaxLength = 100,
            
            // Location and size
            Location = new Point(20, 20),
            Size = new Size(300, 40)
        };

        Controls.Add(customTextBox);
        Text = "Basic Text & Placeholder Management";
        Size = new Size(360, 120);
    }

    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new BasicTextPlaceholderForm());
    }
}

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Example 2: Dynamic Text Transformation and Formatting

This example demonstrates updating text formatting properties (case transformation and font styles) at runtime.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

public class DynamicTextFormattingForm : Form
{
    private SiticoneTextBox customTextBox;
    private Button formatButton;

    public DynamicTextFormattingForm()
    {
        customTextBox = new SiticoneTextBox
        {
            Text = "Sample Text",
            PlaceholderText = "Enter text...",
            TextAlign = TextAlignment.Center,
            MaxLength = 200,
            TextPadding = new Padding(12, 6, 12, 6),
            Location = new Point(20, 20),
            Size = new Size(300, 40)
        };

        formatButton = new Button
        {
            Text = "Apply Formatting",
            Location = new Point(20, 80),
            Size = new Size(300, 30)
        };
        formatButton.Click += FormatButton_Click;

        Controls.Add(customTextBox);
        Controls.Add(formatButton);
        Text = "Dynamic Text Formatting";
        Size = new Size(360, 160);
    }

    private void FormatButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Toggle text case between Upper and Normal
        customTextBox.TextCaseMode = customTextBox.TextCaseMode == TextCase.Upper ? TextCase.Normal : TextCase.Upper;
        
        // Toggle formatting styles
        customTextBox.IsBold = !customTextBox.IsBold;
        customTextBox.IsItalic = !customTextBox.IsItalic;
        customTextBox.IsUnderline = !customTextBox.IsUnderline;
    }

    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new DynamicTextFormattingForm());
    }
}

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Example 3: Combining Text Transformation with Placeholder Animation

This example demonstrates the interplay between text transformations, placeholder behavior, and fade animations.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

public class TransformPlaceholderForm : Form
{
    public TransformPlaceholderForm()
    {
        var customTextBox = new SiticoneTextBox
        {
            // Initially empty text to show placeholder
            Text = "",
            
            // Placeholder properties
            PlaceholderText = "Type here...",
            PlaceholderColor = Color.LightGray,
            PlaceholderFadeInterval = 20,
            PlaceholderFadeStep = 0.05,
            
            // Text transformation: auto-convert text to lower case
            TextCaseMode = TextCase.Lower,
            
            // Padding and alignment settings
            TextAlign = TextAlignment.Left,
            TextPadding = new Padding(10, 5, 10, 5),
            
            // Location and size
            Location = new Point(20, 20),
            Size = new Size(300, 40)
        };

        Controls.Add(customTextBox);
        Text = "Text Transformation & Placeholder Animation";
        Size = new Size(360, 120);
    }

    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new TransformPlaceholderForm());
    }
}

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
How do I switch between gradient and solid borders?	Set the UseBorderGradient property to true for gradients or false for a solid border, and adjust the respective color properties accordingly.
Can I animate the appearance changes?	Yes, properties such as shadow opacity and border color transitions are animated via internal timers; ensure that animation duration properties (like ShadowAnimationDuration) are set appropriately.
What should I do if my text appears misaligned?	Adjust the TextPadding property to ensure that the text is centered and spaced correctly within the control.
How can I improve performance if animations are too heavy?	Consider reducing the animation durations or disabling certain animated effects such as shadow blinking if performance becomes an issue.
Is it possible to change the corner radii at runtime?	Yes, the corner radius properties (CornerRadiusTopLeft, etc.) can be updated at runtime to change the shape of the control dynamically.
How do I ensure my control adheres to the overall application theme?	Use the gradient and color properties in combination with dynamic state changes (such as focus and hover events) to match your application's design standards.
What is the recommended approach for responsive design?	Use relative padding and dynamic adjustments of corner radii and border sizes to ensure that the control scales well across different resolutions and sizes.
How can I verify that state-specific styling (hover/focus) is working?	Test the control by simulating hover and focus events in your application and observe the changes in border color or gradient transitions as defined by the properties.

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Integration Checklist

Step	Verification
Border and Fill Configuration	Confirm that properties such as ShowBorder, BorderSize, SolidBorderColor, FillColor1, and FillColor2 are correctly set.
Gradient Setup	Verify that UseBorderGradient and UseFillGradient are enabled when needed and that gradient colors and modes are defined correctly.
Shadow and Corner Settings	Ensure that EnableDropShadow, ShadowBlur, and corner radius properties meet the desired design specifications.
Text Padding and Layout	Adjust the TextPadding values to guarantee that text is properly aligned and spaced within the control.
Runtime Behavior	Test dynamic changes by updating properties at runtime and observing their effects on hover, focus, and read-only states.
System Theme Integration (if used)	Check that dynamic theme changes (if using TrackSystemTheme) update the control’s appearance consistently with the system settings.
Event Handling Verification	Ensure that any changes trigger the appropriate events (e.g., focus changes, theme changes) and that visual feedback is provided as expected.
Accessibility Compliance	Verify that color choices and text alignments meet accessibility standards for contrast and readability.
Cross-Platform Consistency	Confirm that the control renders consistently across different versions of Windows and with various DPI settings if applicable.

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Review

Review Aspect	Details
Customization Flexibility	The code provides an extensive range of properties that allow deep customization of text content and placeholder behavior.
Integration Simplicity	With clear property names and grouped configuration options, integrating and managing text and placeholder properties is straightforward.
Visual Consistency	Proper usage of text alignment, padding, and transformation properties ensures a professional and consistent user interface design.

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Summary

The Text & Placeholder Management feature of the control offers extensive customization options covering text content, placeholder behavior, alignment, case transformation, and font styling.

By adjusting these properties, developers can create a clear and consistent input experience tailored to the design requirements of their applications.