Windows Forms Splash Panel (SplashPanel)

The Syncfusion Windows Forms SplashPanel control enables creation of custom splash screens that display during application startup or as non-obtrusive notification windows. It supports animations, child controls, timed auto-close, and flexible positioning.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Display splash screens during application startup or loading
• Show progress information or branding during initialization
• Create notification popups similar to MSN Messenger or email notifications
• Implement loading indicators with custom content and animations
• Show timed messages that auto-close after a specified duration
• Display modal dialogs with custom splash content
• Add animated transitions (slide, fade, marquee) to splash windows
• Position splash windows at specific desktop locations (center, corners, system tray area, custom)
• Include child controls (buttons, labels, images) in splash screens
• Handle splash lifecycle events (before display, displayed, closing, closed)

Component Overview

Key Features:

• Animation styles: Slide (horizontal/vertical/directional), Fade, Marquee
• Desktop alignment: Center, SystemTray, corners (LeftTop, LeftBottom, RightTop, RightBottom), Custom
• Display methods: ShowSplash (modeless), ShowDialogSplash (modal), HideSplash
• Auto-close timer: Configurable interval or manual control (-1 for no auto-close)
• Child controls: Add any Windows Forms controls to the splash panel
• Appearance: Gradient backgrounds, images, borders, transparency
• Behavior: AllowMove, AllowResize, CloseOnClick options
• Events: BeforeSplash, SplashDisplayed, SplashClosing, SplashClosed, mouse events

Documentation and Navigation Guide

Getting Started

📄 Read: references/getting-started.md

Read this reference when you need to:

• Install SplashPanel via NuGet or configure in designer
• Add SplashPanel to a Windows Forms project
• Create a SplashPanel instance programmatically
• Add child controls to the splash panel
• Call ShowSplash() method for basic display
• Understand assembly requirements and deployment

Display Methods

📄 Read: references/display-methods.md

Read this reference when you need to:

• Show splash panel with ShowSplash() method and parameters
• Hide splash panel with HideSplash() method
• Display as modal dialog with ShowDialogSplash()
• Check if splash is currently showing with IsShowing()
• Configure TimerInterval for auto-close duration
• Set splash location and owner form
• Display splash in taskbar with custom icon/text

Animation and Appearance

📄 Read: references/animation-appearance.md

Read this reference when you need to:

• Enable and configure animation speed
• Set SlideStyle (Horizontal, Vertical, FadeIn, etc.)
• Show splash as topmost window
• Customize background with gradients or images
• Configure border styles and transparency
• Set desktop alignment (Center, SystemTray, corners)
• Enable behavior options (AllowMove, AllowResize, CloseOnClick)
• Suspend auto-close when mouse is over splash

Slide Transitions

📄 Read: references/slide-transitions.md

Read this reference when you need to:

• Configure AnimationDirection (Default, LeftToRight, RightToLeft)
• Implement marquee transitions that traverse the screen
• Set MarqueeDirection (LeftToRight, RightToLeft, TopToBottom, BottomToTop)
• Combine slide transitions with desktop alignment
• Create advanced animation effects

Events

📄 Read: references/events.md

Read this reference when you need to:

• Handle BeforeSplash event (cancel splash display)
• Respond to SplashDisplayed event
• Handle SplashClosing event (cancel closing)
• Respond to SplashClosed event (get close type)
• Handle mouse enter/leave events on splash
• Implement custom logic during splash lifecycle

Quick Start

Basic Splash Screen

using Syncfusion.Windows.Forms.Tools;

// Create splash panel
SplashPanel splashPanel = new SplashPanel();
splashPanel.Size = new Size(400, 300);
splashPanel.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Center;
splashPanel.TimerInterval = 3000; // Show for 3 seconds
splashPanel.ShowAnimation = true;
splashPanel.SlideStyle = SlideStyle.FadeIn;

// Add to form
this.Controls.Add(splashPanel);

// Show splash
splashPanel.ShowSplash();

VB.NET:

Imports Syncfusion.Windows.Forms.Tools

' Create splash panel
Dim splashPanel As New SplashPanel()
splashPanel.Size = New Size(400, 300)
splashPanel.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Center
splashPanel.TimerInterval = 3000 ' Show for 3 seconds
splashPanel.ShowAnimation = True
splashPanel.SlideStyle = SlideStyle.FadeIn

' Add to form
Me.Controls.Add(splashPanel)

' Show splash
splashPanel.ShowSplash()

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Startup Splash with Branding

// Application startup splash
SplashPanel startupSplash = new SplashPanel();
startupSplash.Size = new Size(500, 350);
startupSplash.BackgroundImage = Image.FromFile("splash_image.png");
startupSplash.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Center;
startupSplash.TimerInterval = 5000;
startupSplash.ShowAnimation = true;
startupSplash.AnimationSpeed = 20;

// Add label with version info
Label versionLabel = new Label();
versionLabel.Text = "Version 2.0";
versionLabel.Location = new Point(20, 300);
versionLabel.AutoSize = true;
startupSplash.Controls.Add(versionLabel);

this.Controls.Add(startupSplash);
startupSplash.ShowSplash();

Pattern 2: Notification-Style Popup

// Non-obtrusive notification (like MSN Messenger)
SplashPanel notificationPanel = new SplashPanel();
notificationPanel.Size = new Size(300, 100);
notificationPanel.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.RightBottom;
notificationPanel.SlideStyle = SlideStyle.BottomToTop;
notificationPanel.AnimationDirection = AnimationDirection.Default;
notificationPanel.TimerInterval = 5000;
notificationPanel.ShowAnimation = true;
notificationPanel.CloseOnClick = true;
notificationPanel.SuspendAutoCloseWhenMouseOver = true;

// Add notification content
Label messageLabel = new Label();
messageLabel.Text = "New message received!";
messageLabel.Location = new Point(10, 40);
notificationPanel.Controls.Add(messageLabel);

this.Controls.Add(notificationPanel);
notificationPanel.ShowSplash();

Pattern 3: Modal Loading Dialog

// Modal splash dialog that blocks interaction
SplashPanel modalSplash = new SplashPanel();
modalSplash.Size = new Size(400, 200);
modalSplash.TimerInterval = -1; // No auto-close
modalSplash.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Center;

// Add progress indicator
Label loadingLabel = new Label();
loadingLabel.Text = "Loading, please wait...";
loadingLabel.Location = new Point(120, 90);
loadingLabel.AutoSize = true;
modalSplash.Controls.Add(loadingLabel);

this.Controls.Add(modalSplash);

// Show as modal dialog (blocks until closed)
modalSplash.ShowDialogSplash(this);

Pattern 4: Animated Splash with Gradient

// Splash with gradient background and animation
SplashPanel animatedSplash = new SplashPanel();
animatedSplash.Size = new Size(450, 300);
animatedSplash.BackgroundColor = new BrushInfo(
    GradientStyle.Vertical, 
    Color.DarkBlue, 
    Color.LightBlue);
animatedSplash.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Center;
animatedSplash.SlideStyle = SlideStyle.Horizontal;
animatedSplash.ShowAnimation = true;
animatedSplash.AnimationSpeed = 30;
animatedSplash.TimerInterval = 4000;
animatedSplash.ShowAsTopMost = true;

this.Controls.Add(animatedSplash);
animatedSplash.ShowSplash();

Pattern 5: Custom Positioned Splash

// Splash at custom screen location
SplashPanel customSplash = new SplashPanel();
customSplash.Size = new Size(350, 250);
customSplash.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Custom;
customSplash.TimerInterval = 3000;

// Show at mouse position
Point mousePos = Control.MousePosition;
customSplash.ShowSplash(mousePos, this, false);

Pattern 6: Splash with Lifecycle Events

// Splash with event handlers
SplashPanel eventSplash = new SplashPanel();
eventSplash.Size = new Size(400, 250);
eventSplash.DesktopAlignment = SplashAlignment.Center;
eventSplash.TimerInterval = 5000;

// Subscribe to events
eventSplash.BeforeSplash += (s, e) => {
    Console.WriteLine("About to show splash");
};

eventSplash.SplashDisplayed += (s, e) => {
    Console.WriteLine("Splash is now visible");
};

eventSplash.SplashClosing += (s, e) => {
    Console.WriteLine("Splash is closing");
    // e.Cancel = true; // Uncomment to prevent closing
};

eventSplash.SplashClosed += (s, e) => {
    Console.WriteLine($"Splash closed: {e.SplashCloseType}");
};

this.Controls.Add(eventSplash);
eventSplash.ShowSplash();

Key Properties

Property	Type	Description
TimerInterval	int	Duration in milliseconds to display splash (-1 for no auto-close)
DesktopAlignment	SplashAlignment	Position on desktop (Center, SystemTray, corners, Custom)
SlideStyle	SlideStyle	Animation style (Horizontal, Vertical, FadeIn, etc.)
AnimationSpeed	int	Speed of animation transition (higher = faster)
ShowAnimation	bool	Enable/disable animation on display
ShowAsTopMost	bool	Display splash as topmost window
BackgroundColor	BrushInfo	Gradient or solid background color
BackgroundImage	Image	Background image for splash
AllowMove	bool	Allow user to move splash at runtime
AllowResize	bool	Allow user to resize splash at runtime
CloseOnClick	bool	Close splash when user clicks on it
SuspendAutoCloseWhenMouseOver	bool	Suspend auto-close timer when mouse is over splash
AnimationDirection	AnimationDirection	Direction of slide animation
MarqueeDirection	MarqueeDirection	Direction of marquee transition
BorderStyle	Border3DStyle	3D border style for splash
TransparentColor	Color	Transparent color for background
ShowInTaskbar	bool	Display splash in Windows taskbar

Key Methods

Method	Description
ShowSplash()	Display the splash panel
ShowSplash(Point, Form, bool)	Display at specific location with owner form
ShowDialogSplash(Form)	Display as modal dialog
ShowDialogSplash(Point, Form)	Display as modal dialog at specific location
HideSplash()	Hide the splash panel
IsShowing()	Check if splash is currently displayed
SuspendAutoCloseMode()	Suspend auto-close timer
RestoreAutoCloseMode()	Restore auto-close timer

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Application Startup Screen

Display branding and version information while the application initializes.

Use Case 2: Loading Indicator

Show a splash panel with progress information during lengthy operations.

Use Case 3: Notification Popup

Display non-obtrusive messages (new mail, updates) that auto-close or close on click.

Use Case 4: About/Info Dialog

Show application information as a modal splash dialog.

Use Case 5: Custom Message Window

Create themed message windows with custom controls and animations.

Best Practices

1. Set appropriate TimerInterval: Use 2000-5000ms for startup splashes, 3000-8000ms for notifications
2. Enable ShowAsTopMost: Ensure splash appears above other windows during startup
3. Use CloseOnClick for notifications: Allow users to dismiss notification-style popups
4. Handle BeforeSplash event: Initialize data or cancel display based on conditions
5. Choose appropriate animations: FadeIn for subtle, Slide for dynamic, Marquee for attention-grabbing
6. Add child controls carefully: Ensure controls are visible and properly positioned within splash bounds
7. Test different alignments: Verify splash appears correctly on different screen resolutions
8. Dispose properly: Ensure splash panel is properly disposed when form closes

Related Components

• MessageBoxAdv: For standard message dialogs
• ProgressBarAdv: For progress indication within splash screens
• StatusBarAdv: For application status information