Syncfusion Winforms Splash Panel

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

Key Methods

Key Events

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