#322 – Giving StackPanel Child Controls an Explicit Size

By default, a StackPanel will automatically size its child controls–either to fit their content, or to stretch them to fit the StackPanel‘s height or width.

You can also specify an explicit size for any child control, using the Height and Width properties.  These values override the HorizontalAlignment.Stretch or VerticalAlignment.Stretch property values.  (Note that Stretch is the default value for both of these properties).

    <StackPanel >
        <Label Content="Gene Autry the singing cowboy" Background="Pink"/>

        <!-- No explicit size and HorizontalAlignment defaults to Stretch. -->
        <!-- Height automatically fits content of button. -->
        <Button Content="I Like Gene" />

        <!-- Explicit height for label, width stretches -->
        <Label Content="Roy Rogers" Background="Aqua" Height="50"/>

        <!-- Explicith height and width for button -->
        <Button Content="I Like Roy Rogers Yes I Do" Height="50" Width="150"/>
    </StackPanel>