Building an application which uses multiple screens

[Cainnech]

Hello guys,

I've got a question, but it's not technical, it's more advice that I'm looking for :-)

In the very near future I'll have to develop an application that uses multiple screens.

So I'll give you a practical example:
I have 4 screens where different pricing infomation is being displayed. At any given time, I have to show a Promotion which is a single image that needs to be displayed across all of the screens with text scrolling across the screens.

Now I'm wondering what the best way would be to achieve this.
At first I was thinking of using one form and to stretch it across 4 screens, while I create 4 'areas' on the form that represent a screen. However when you extend a form this big I'm afraid the text is going to look horrible.

Then I was thinking of using 4 forms and split up the image into 4 different images which are displayed on the different screens. However to get a scrolling text right on 4 different forms, that's going to take some trial and error.

So does anybody of you have any ideas on how I can achieve this form of digital signage?

I want to use VB.Net unless this would seem impossible and I have to use other software?

I'm open to our suggestions.

Best regards,
Cainnech

[danp129]

I think one form would be simpler. I don't see a reason why the text should look any different just because the form is wider, it should stay the same font size as you specified and not stretch it.

Here's something you might try for "Maximizing " the screen to use all the screen area when the form loads up.

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

        ' Add a label control and dock it to top.
        ' Add a TableLayoutPanel with 1 row and 4 columns set to 25% on each column.  
        ' Adjust height of table manually.
        ' Anchor table to bottom, left, right, then size it to the sides and bottom.

        ' Remove form borders if needed
        Me.FormBorderStyle = Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.None

        ' Set form width to the sum of all screens and height to the smallest of all screens
        Me.Size = New Size(Screen.AllScreens.Sum(Function(eachScreen) eachScreen.Bounds.Width), Screen.AllScreens.Min(Function(eachScreen) eachScreen.Bounds.Height))

        ' Position form
        Me.Top = Screen.AllScreens.Min(Function(eachScreen) eachScreen.Bounds.Top)
        Me.Left = Screen.AllScreens.Min(Function(eachScreen) eachScreen.Bounds.Left)


        MsgBox("Hit ALT+F4 to exit")
    End Sub