Wpf start in primary screen

Question

If user has multiple screens,

how can I start application in primary screen or chosen screen at start up

Answer 1

This is my purely WPF solution to center a Window on the primary monitor with a border of empty space around it (because I don't want it maximized). My setup is a square-ish monitor on my left and a widescreen on my right. This was tested with each monitor being set as the primary monitor in Windows.

Before I get to that solution, there are three useful properties on System.Windows.SystemParameters that give various heights. The numbers given are for my 1920x1080 widescreen.

• PrimaryScreenHeight - 1080. The actual resolution height set in Windows.
• WorkArea.Height - 1040. The actual resolution height minus the Start Bar
• FullPrimaryScreenHeight - 1018. The actual resolution minus the Start Bar and minus the Window header.

This is my solution and I use WorkArea.Height:

    protected T SetWindowLocation(T window) where T : Window
    {
        //This function will set a window to appear in the center of the user's primary monitor.
        //Size will be set dynamically based on resoulution but will not shrink below a certain size nor grow above a certain size

        //Desired size constraints.  Makes sure window isn't too small if the users monitor doesn't meet the minimum, but also not too big on large monitors
        //Min: 1024w x 768h
        //Max: 1400w x 900h

        const int absoluteMinWidth = 1024;
        const int absoluteMinHeight = 768;
        const int absoluteMaxWidth = 1400;
        const int absoluteMaxHeight = 900;

        var maxHeightForMonitor = System.Windows.SystemParameters.WorkArea.Height - 100;
        var maxWidthForMonitor = System.Windows.SystemParameters.WorkArea.Width - 100;

        var height = Math.Min(Math.Max(maxHeightForMonitor, absoluteMinHeight), absoluteMaxHeight);
        var width = Math.Min(Math.Max(maxWidthForMonitor, absoluteMinWidth), absoluteMaxWidth);

        window.Height = height;
        window.Width = width;
        window.Left = (System.Windows.SystemParameters.FullPrimaryScreenWidth - width) / 2;
        window.Top = (System.Windows.SystemParameters.FullPrimaryScreenHeight - height) / 2;
        window.WindowStartupLocation = WindowStartupLocation.Manual;

        return window;
    }