`InitializeComponent`

In Windows Forms we create programs visually. Behind the scenes, Visual Studio adds code to InitializeComponent, which is called in the Form constructor.

It is recommended that you do not modify the InitializeComponent method. Sometimes, deleting lines from InitializeComponent can fix a compile-time error.

Example

We see the InitializeComponent method when a new program is created. Then, we see InitializeComponent after adding a Button control using the Designer.

Also We see that statements for button1 were added to the contents. Visual Studio added the SuspendLayout and ResumeLayout method calls.

/// <summary>
/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
/// </summary>
private void InitializeComponent()
{
    this.components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();
    this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
    this.Text = "Form1";
}
/// <summary>
/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
/// </summary>
private void InitializeComponent()
{
    this.button1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
    this.SuspendLayout();
    //
    // button1
    //
    this.button1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(13, 13);
    this.button1.Name = "button1";
    this.button1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(75, 23);
    this.button1.TabIndex = 0;
    this.button1.Text = "button1";
    this.button1.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
    //
    // Form1
    //
    this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
    this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
    this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 273);
    this.Controls.Add(this.button1);
    this.Name = "Form1";
    this.Text = "Form1";
    this.ResumeLayout(false);
}

Do not modify

It is best not to modify the InitializeComponent method. Sometimes, you may remove a Control and the InitializeComponent method will no longer compile.

And In this case, you can find the compilation error and fix it, usually by removing lines.

Question

Should you add code before or after InitializeComponent() in the Form1 constructor? If the code doesn't interact with the controls, either location is fine.

However If the code does interact with the controls, you will want to put the code after the InitializeComponent call.

Also You can create a Form1_Load event handler. This is a good way to separate your code from the InitializeComponent call.

We looked at the InitializeComponent method. The InitializeComponent method call is implemented with a partial class to make your part of the code easier to edit.