Welcome Sign in
.NET Framework Developer Center
Click to Rate and Give Feedback
MSDN
MSDN Library
.NET Development
Previous Versions
.NET Framework 2.0
LinkLabel Class
This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/.NET Framework 2.0

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
LinkLabel Class

Represents a Windows label control that can display hyperlinks.

Namespace: System.Windows.Forms
Assembly: System.Windows.Forms (in system.windows.forms.dll)

Visual Basic (Declaration)
<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
<ClassInterfaceAttribute(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDispatch)> _
Public Class LinkLabel
    Inherits Label
    Implements IButtonControl
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As LinkLabel
C#
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
[ClassInterfaceAttribute(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDispatch)] 
public class LinkLabel : Label, IButtonControl
C++
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
[ClassInterfaceAttribute(ClassInterfaceType::AutoDispatch)] 
public ref class LinkLabel : public Label, IButtonControl
J#
/** @attribute ComVisibleAttribute(true) */ 
/** @attribute ClassInterfaceAttribute(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDispatch) */ 
public class LinkLabel extends Label implements IButtonControl
JScript
ComVisibleAttribute(true) 
ClassInterfaceAttribute(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDispatch) 
public class LinkLabel extends Label implements IButtonControl

The ToolStripLabel control replaces and adds functionality to the Label and LinkLabel controls. However, the Label and LinkLabel controls are retained for both backward compatibility and future use, if you choose.

The LinkLabel control is similar to a Label control with the exception that it can display a hyperlink. Multiple hyperlinks can be specified in the text of the control. Each hyperlink can perform a different task within an application. For example, you can use a hyperlink to display a Web site in Microsoft Internet Explorer or to load a log file associated with an application.

Each hyperlink displayed in the LinkLabel control is an instance of the LinkLabel.Link class. The LinkLabel.Link class defines display information, state, and location of the hyperlink. In addition, the LinkData property of the LinkLabel.Link class enables you to associate information, such as a URL to display, with the hyperlink. When a user clicks a hyperlink within the control, the LinkClicked event is raised, and the LinkLabel.Link object representing the hyperlink that was clicked is passed as part of the LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs object that is passed as a parameter to the event handler. You can use this object to obtain the LinkLabel.Link object associated with the hyperlink that was clicked by the user. All hyperlinks contained within the LinkLabel control are stored in the LinkLabel.LinkCollection class instance for the control.

There are two ways to add a hyperlink to the LinkLabel control. The quickest way is to specify a LinkArea and assign it to the LinkArea property. This enables you to specify a single hyperlink within the text of the control. To add multiple hyperlinks, you can use the Add method of the LinkLabel.LinkCollection class by accessing the collection through the Links property.

When a LinkLabel control is created, a default hyperlink that contains all the text within the LinkLabel control is added to the LinkLabel.LinkCollection. You can override this default link by specifying a new link area with the LinkArea property, or specify a link using the Add method of the LinkLabel.LinkCollection. You can also remove the default hyperlink by using the Remove method of the LinkLabel.LinkCollection class.

The LinkLabel provides a number of properties that enable you to define the display appearance of hyperlinks in the control. The ActiveLinkColor, DisabledLinkColor, LinkColor, and VisitedLinkColor properties define the colors used when displaying a hyperlink in various states. The LinkBehavior property defines the display of the underline that is associated with a hyperlink.

The following example demonstrates using the LinkLabel class, with multiple LinkArea sections defined, to display a label on a form. The example demonstrates setting the AutoSize, LinkBehavior, DisabledLinkColor, LinkColor, and VisitedLinkColor properties to customize the look of the LinkLabel. The first LinkArea is specified using the LinkLabel.LinkArea property. Additional links are added to the LinkLabel using the LinkLabel.LinkCollection.Add method. The example handles the LinkClicked event by starting the Web browser for hyperlinks, and displaying a MessageBox for other links.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public NotInheritable Class Form1
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

    Friend WithEvents LinkLabel1 As System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel

    <System.STAThread()> _
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run(New Form1)
    End Sub 'Main

    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New()


        Me.LinkLabel1 = New System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel

        ' Configure the LinkLabel's size and location. Specify that the
        ' size should be automatically determined by the content.
        Me.linkLabel1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(34, 56) 
        Me.linkLabel1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(224, 16) 
        Me.linkLabel1.AutoSize = True 

        ' Configure the appearance.
        ' Set the DisabledLinkColor so that a disabled link will show up against the form's background.
        Me.linkLabel1.DisabledLinkColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red 
        Me.linkLabel1.VisitedLinkColor = System.Drawing.Color.Blue 
        Me.linkLabel1.LinkBehavior = System.Windows.Forms.LinkBehavior.HoverUnderline 
        Me.linkLabel1.LinkColor = System.Drawing.Color.Navy 
        
        Me.linkLabel1.TabIndex = 0 
        Me.linkLabel1.TabStop = True 
        
        ' Identify what the first Link is.
        Me.linkLabel1.LinkArea = New System.Windows.Forms.LinkArea(0, 8)

        ' Identify that the first link is visited already.
        Me.linkLabel1.Links(0).Visited = true
        
        ' Set the Text property to a string.
        Me.linkLabel1.Text = "Register Online.  Visit Microsoft.  Visit MSN."

        ' Create new links using the Add method of the LinkCollection class.
        ' Underline the appropriate words in the LinkLabel's Text property.
        ' The words 'Register', 'Microsoft', and 'MSN' will 
        ' all be underlined and behave as hyperlinks.

        ' First check that the Text property is long enough to accommodate
        ' the desired hyperlinked areas.  If it's not, don't add hyperlinks.
        If Me.LinkLabel1.Text.Length >= 45 Then
            Me.LinkLabel1.Links(0).LinkData = "Register"
            Me.LinkLabel1.Links.Add(24, 9, "www.microsoft.com")
            Me.LinkLabel1.Links.Add(42, 3, "www.msn.com")
            ' The second link is disabled and will appear as red.
            Me.linkLabel1.Links(1).Enabled = False
        End If

        ' Set up how the form should be displayed and adds the controls to the form.
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 266)
        Me.Controls.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.Control() {Me.LinkLabel1})
        Me.Text = "Link Label Example"
    End Sub

    Private Sub linkLabel1_LinkClicked(ByVal sender As Object, _
                ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs) Handles LinkLabel1.LinkClicked

        ' Determine which link was clicked within the LinkLabel.
        Me.LinkLabel1.Links(LinkLabel1.Links.IndexOf(e.Link)).Visited = True

        ' Displays the appropriate link based on the value of the LinkData property of the Link object.
        Dim target As String = CType(e.Link.LinkData, String)

        ' If the value looks like a URL, navigate to it.
        ' Otherwise, display it in a message box.
        If (Nothing <> target) And (target.StartsWith("www")) Then
            System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(target)
        Else
            MessageBox.Show(("Item clicked: " + target))
        End If

    End Sub

End Class
C#
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;

public class Form1 : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel linkLabel1;
    
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() 
    {
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }

    public Form1()
    {
        // Create the LinkLabel.
        this.linkLabel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel();

        // Configure the LinkLabel's size and location. Specify that the
        // size should be automatically determined by the content.
        this.linkLabel1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(34, 56);
        this.linkLabel1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(224, 16);
        this.linkLabel1.AutoSize = true;

        // Configure the appearance. 
        // Set the DisabledLinkColor so that a disabled link will show up against the form's background.
        this.linkLabel1.DisabledLinkColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red;
        this.linkLabel1.VisitedLinkColor = System.Drawing.Color.Blue;
        this.linkLabel1.LinkBehavior = System.Windows.Forms.LinkBehavior.HoverUnderline;
        this.linkLabel1.LinkColor = System.Drawing.Color.Navy;
        
        this.linkLabel1.TabIndex = 0;
        this.linkLabel1.TabStop = true;
        

        // Add an event handler to do something when the links are clicked.
        this.linkLabel1.LinkClicked += new System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabelLinkClickedEventHandler(this.linkLabel1_LinkClicked);

        // Identify what the first Link is.
        this.linkLabel1.LinkArea = new System.Windows.Forms.LinkArea(0, 8);

        // Identify that the first link is visited already.
        this.linkLabel1.Links[0].Visited = true;
        
        // Set the Text property to a string.
        this.linkLabel1.Text = "Register Online.  Visit Microsoft.  Visit MSN.";

        // Create new links using the Add method of the LinkCollection class.
        // Underline the appropriate words in the LinkLabel's Text property.
        // The words 'Register', 'Microsoft', and 'MSN' will 
        // all be underlined and behave as hyperlinks.

        // First check that the Text property is long enough to accommodate
        // the desired hyperlinked areas.  If it's not, don't add hyperlinks.
        if(this.linkLabel1.Text.Length >= 45)
        {
            this.linkLabel1.Links[0].LinkData = "Register";
            this.linkLabel1.Links.Add(24, 9, "www.microsoft.com");
            this.linkLabel1.Links.Add(42, 3, "www.msn.com");
        //  The second link is disabled and will appear as red.
            this.linkLabel1.Links[1].Enabled = false;
        }
        
        // Set up how the form should be displayed and add the controls to the form.
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);
        this.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] {this.linkLabel1});
        this.Text = "Link Label Example";
    }

    private void linkLabel1_LinkClicked(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs e)
    {
        // Determine which link was clicked within the LinkLabel.
        this.linkLabel1.Links[linkLabel1.Links.IndexOf(e.Link)].Visited = true;

        // Display the appropriate link based on the value of the 
        // LinkData property of the Link object.
        string target = e.Link.LinkData as string;

        // If the value looks like a URL, navigate to it.
        // Otherwise, display it in a message box.
        if(null != target && target.StartsWith("www"))
        {
            System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(target);
        }
        else
        {    
            MessageBox.Show("Item clicked: " + target);
        }
    }
}
C++
#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
public ref class Form1: public System::Windows::Forms::Form
{
private:
   System::Windows::Forms::LinkLabel^ linkLabel1;

public:
   Form1()
   {
      
      // Create the LinkLabel.
      this->linkLabel1 = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::LinkLabel;
      
      // Configure the LinkLabel's size and location. Specify that the
      // size should be automatically determined by the content.
      this->linkLabel1->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 34, 56 );
      this->linkLabel1->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 224, 16 );
      this->linkLabel1->AutoSize = true;
      
      // Configure the appearance.
      this->linkLabel1->DisabledLinkColor = System::Drawing::Color::Red;
      this->linkLabel1->VisitedLinkColor = System::Drawing::Color::Blue;
      this->linkLabel1->LinkBehavior = System::Windows::Forms::LinkBehavior::HoverUnderline;
      this->linkLabel1->LinkColor = System::Drawing::Color::Navy;
      this->linkLabel1->TabIndex = 0;
      this->linkLabel1->TabStop = true;
      
      // Add an event handler to do something when the links are clicked.
      this->linkLabel1->LinkClicked += gcnew System::Windows::Forms::LinkLabelLinkClickedEventHandler( this, &Form1::linkLabel1_LinkClicked );
      
      // Identify what the first Link is.
      this->linkLabel1->LinkArea = System::Windows::Forms::LinkArea( 0, 8 );
      
      // Identify that the first link is visited already.
      this->linkLabel1->Links[ 0 ]->Visited = true;
      
      // Set the Text property to a String*.
      this->linkLabel1->Text = "Register Online.  Visit Microsoft.  Visit MSN.";
      
      // Create new links using the Add method of the LinkCollection class.
      // Underline the appropriate words in the LinkLabel's Text property.
      // The words 'Register', 'Microsoft', and 'MSN' will
      // all be underlined and behave as hyperlinks.
      // First check that the Text property is long enough to accommodate
      // the desired hyperlinked areas.  If it's not, don't add hyperlinks.
      if ( this->linkLabel1->Text->Length >= 45 )
      {
         this->linkLabel1->Links[ 0 ]->LinkData = "Register";
         this->linkLabel1->Links->Add( 24, 9, "www.microsoft.com" );
         this->linkLabel1->Links->Add( 42, 3, "www.msn.com" );
         this->linkLabel1->Links[ 1 ]->Enabled = false;
      }

      
      // Set up how the form should be displayed and add the controls to the form.
      this->ClientSize = System::Drawing::Size( 292, 266 );
      array<System::Windows::Forms::Control^>^temp0 = {this->linkLabel1};
      this->Controls->AddRange( temp0 );
      this->Text = "Link Label Example";
   }


private:
   void linkLabel1_LinkClicked( Object^ /*sender*/, System::Windows::Forms::LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs^ e )
   {
      // Determine which link was clicked within the LinkLabel.
      this->linkLabel1->Links[ linkLabel1->Links->IndexOf( e->Link ) ]->Visited = true;
      
      // Display the appropriate link based on the value of the
      // LinkData property of the Link Object*.
      String^ target = dynamic_cast<String^>(e->Link->LinkData);
      
      // If the value looks like a URL, navigate to it.
      // Otherwise, display it in a message box.
      if ( nullptr != target && target->StartsWith( "www" ) )
      {
         System::Diagnostics::Process::Start( target );
      }
      else
      {
         MessageBox::Show( "Item clicked: {0}", target );
      }
   }
};

[STAThread]
int main()
{
   Application::Run( gcnew Form1 );
}
J#
import System.*;
import System.Drawing.*;
import System.Windows.Forms.*;

public class Form1 extends System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel linkLabel1;

    /** @attribute STAThread()
     */
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    } //main

    public Form1()
    {
        // Create the LinkLabel.
        this.linkLabel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel();
        // Configure the LinkLabel's size and location. Specify that the
        // size should be automatically determined by the content.
        this.linkLabel1.set_Location(new System.Drawing.Point(34, 56));
        this.linkLabel1.set_Size(new System.Drawing.Size(224, 16));
        this.linkLabel1.set_AutoSize(true);
        // Configure the appearance. 
        // Set the DisabledLinkColor so that a disabled link will show up 
        // against the form's background.
        this.linkLabel1.set_DisabledLinkColor(System.Drawing.Color.get_Red());
        this.linkLabel1.set_VisitedLinkColor(System.Drawing.Color.get_Blue());
        this.linkLabel1.set_LinkBehavior(
            System.Windows.Forms.LinkBehavior.HoverUnderline);
        this.linkLabel1.set_LinkColor(System.Drawing.Color.get_Navy());

        this.linkLabel1.set_TabIndex(0);
        this.linkLabel1.set_TabStop(true);
        // Add an event handler to do something when the links are clicked.
        this.linkLabel1.add_LinkClicked(new System.Windows.Forms.
            LinkLabelLinkClickedEventHandler(this.linkLabel1_LinkClicked));
        // Identify what the first Link is.
        this.linkLabel1.set_LinkArea(new System.Windows.Forms.LinkArea(0, 8));
        // Identify that the first link is visited already.
        this.linkLabel1.get_Links().get_Item(0).set_Visited(true);
        // Set the Text property to a string.
        this.linkLabel1.set_Text("Register Online.  Visit Microsoft." 
            + "  Visit MSN.");
        // Create new links using the Add method of the LinkCollection class.
        // Underline the appropriate words in the LinkLabel's Text property.
        // The words 'Register', 'Microsoft', and 'MSN' will 
        // all be underlined and behave as hyperlinks.
        // First check that the Text property is long enough to accommodate
        // the desired hyperlinked areas.  If it's not, don't add hyperlinks.
        if (this.linkLabel1.get_Text().get_Length() >= 45) {
            this.linkLabel1.get_Links().get_Item(0).set_LinkData("Register");
            this.linkLabel1.get_Links().Add(24, 9, "www.microsoft.com");
            this.linkLabel1.get_Links().Add(42, 3, "www.msn.com");
            //  The second link is disabled and will appear as red.
            this.linkLabel1.get_Links().get_Item(1).set_Enabled(false);
        }
        // Set up how the form should be displayed and add the controls to 
        // the form.
        this.set_ClientSize(new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266));
        this.get_Controls().AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] { 
            this.linkLabel1 });
        this.set_Text("Link Label Example");
    } //Form1

    private void linkLabel1_LinkClicked(Object sender, 
        System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs e)
    {
        // Determine which link was clicked within the LinkLabel.
        this.linkLabel1.get_Links().get_Item(linkLabel1.get_Links().
            IndexOf(e.get_Link())).set_Visited(true);
        // Display the appropriate link based on the value of the 
        // LinkData property of the Link object.
        String target = (String)e.get_Link().get_LinkData();
        // If the value looks like a URL, navigate to it.
        // Otherwise, display it in a message box.
        if (null != target && target.StartsWith("www")) {
            System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(target);
        }
        else {
            MessageBox.Show("Item clicked: " + target);
        }
    } //linkLabel1_LinkClicked
} //Form1
System.Object
   System.MarshalByRefObject
     System.ComponentModel.Component
       System.Windows.Forms.Control
         System.Windows.Forms.Label
          System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 2.0
Tags What's this?: Add a tag
Community Content   What is Community Content?
Add new content RSS  Annotations
Processing
© 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use  |  Trademarks  |  Privacy Statement
Page view tracker