Customizing RadDropDownList Pop-Up Location Across Dual Monitors in UI for WinForms

Updated on Jun 12, 2025

Environment

Product Version	Product	Author
2025.2.520	RadDropDownList for WinForms	Nadya Todorova

Description

When RadDropDownList is stretched across two monitors, the dropdown part may exhibit unexpected behavior, such as shifting upon opening. This behavior occurs because controls like RadDropDownList are designed to operate within one monitor, scaling automatically to the monitor's DPI and resolution settings. Stretching the form across two monitors introduces complexities that may require custom handling.

Solution

To customize the behavior of RadDropDownList when stretched across two monitors, you can create a custom solution to control the pop-up location. Follow these steps:

1. Create a custom class that inherits from RadDropDownList.
2. Override the following methods to customize the dropdown pop-up behavior.

Example Implementation

C#

public class CustomDropDownList : RadDropDownList
{
    protected override RadDropDownListElement CreateDropDownListElement()
    {
        return new CustomDropDownListElement();
    }
    public override string ThemeClassName
    {
        get
        {
            return typeof(RadDropDownList).FullName;
        }
        set
        {
            base.ThemeClassName = value;
        }
    }
}

public class CustomDropDownListElement : RadDropDownListElement
{
    protected override Type ThemeEffectiveType
    {
        get
        {
            return typeof(RadDropDownListElement);
        }
    }

    public class MyDropDownPopupForm : DropDownPopupForm
    {
        public MyDropDownPopupForm(RadDropDownListElement ownerDropDownListElement) : base(ownerDropDownListElement)
        {
        }

        public override string ThemeClassName
        {
            get
            {
                return typeof(RadSizablePopupControl).FullName;
            }
            set
            {
                base.ThemeClassName = value;
            }
        }

        protected override Point GetCorrectedLocation(Screen currentScreen, Rectangle alignmentRectangle, Size popupSize)
        {
            // MyBase.GetCorrectedLocation(currentScreen, alignmentRectangle, popupSize)
            return alignmentRectangle.Location;
        }
    }

    protected override RadPopupControlBase CreatePopupForm()
    {
        MyDropDownPopupForm popup = new MyDropDownPopupForm(this);

        popup.VerticalAlignmentCorrectionMode = AlignmentCorrectionMode.SnapToOuterEdges;
        popup.SizingMode = this.DropDownSizingMode;
        popup.Height = this.DropDownHeight;
        popup.HorizontalAlignmentCorrectionMode = AlignmentCorrectionMode.Smooth;
        this.WirePopupFormEvents(popup);

        this.Popup = popup;
        return popup;
    }

    protected override Point GetPopupLocation(RadPopupControlBase popup)
    {
        var form1 = this.ElementTree.Control.FindForm();
        var formBounds = form1.Bounds;
        var controlLocationInScreen = this.ElementTree.Control.Location;
        Control parentControl = this.ElementTree.Control.Parent;
        while (parentControl != null)
        {
            controlLocationInScreen.X += parentControl.Location.X;
            controlLocationInScreen.Y += parentControl.Location.Y;
            parentControl = parentControl.Parent;
        }

        controlLocationInScreen.X += form1.Size.Width - form1.ClientSize.Width;
        controlLocationInScreen.Y += form1.Size.Height - form1.ClientSize.Height;

        controlLocationInScreen.Y += this.Bounds.Height;

        return controlLocationInScreen;
    }
    protected override Size GetPopupSize(RadPopupControlBase popup, bool measure)
    {
        Size size = base.GetPopupSize(popup, measure);
        size.Width = this.BoundingRectangle.Width;
        // Adjust the size as needed
        return size;
    }
}

3. Replace the standard RadDropDownList with the custom class CustomDropDownList in your project.

This solution allows you to define a custom location for the dropdown pop-up and adjust its size as needed, ensuring proper behavior when stretched across dual monitors.

See Also

• RadDropDownList Documentation