Conclusion

The technologies discussed in this chapter and the functionality they provide are taken for granted by the user: users expect a toolbar, they expect copy and paste support, and they expect to be able to open a file they’ve dragged from Windows Explorer to your application. Fortunately, adding the necessary implementation is easy with Visual C#, especially compared to drag and drop implementation in the days before the .NET Framework.

Toolbars and menus should be created following the style guidelines of your operating system. Don’t reinvent the wheel—people are used to the location of the Save button and to how the Cut, Copy, and Paste buttons look on the toolbar. The more standard your application’s appearance, the easier it will be for your users to find their way in your application. A good application is easy to use.

This advice holds true for clipboard and drag and drop support as well. Users expect these features, and they expect them to work the way they’re used to. Don’t try to outsmart your users with your own private clipboard implementation—the average user won’t be pleased. When implementing drag and drop, think of the big picture—drag and drop takes places not only between applications, but also between controls and even inside a control. Drag and drop can also make your applications easier to use.