How to select multiple controls by mouse-dragging over them

 

namespace WindowsFormsApplication5
{
    using System;
    using System.Collections.Generic;
    using System.ComponentModel;
    using System.Data;
    using System.Drawing;
    using System.Linq;
    using System.Text;
    using System.Windows.Forms;
    using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;

    /// <summary>
    /// Main application form
    /// </summary>
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of the WindowsFormsApplication5.Form1 class
        /// </summary>
        public Form1() {
            InitializeComponent();
            DoubleBuffered = true;
        }

        private Point selectionStart;
        private Point selectionEnd;
        private Rectangle selection;
        private bool mouseDown;

        private void GetSelectedTextBoxes() {
            List<TextBox> selected = new List<TextBox>();

            foreach (Control c in Controls) {
                if (c is TextBox) {
                    if (selection.IntersectsWith(c.Bounds)) {
                        selected.Add((TextBox)c);
                    }
                }
            }

            // Replace with your input box
            MessageBox.Show("You selected " + selected.Count + " textbox controls.");
        }

        protected override void OnMouseDown(MouseEventArgs e) {
            selectionStart = PointToClient(MousePosition);
            mouseDown = true;
        }

        protected override void OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e) {
            mouseDown = false;

            SetSelectionRect();
            Invalidate();

            GetSelectedTextBoxes();
        }

        protected override void OnMouseMove(MouseEventArgs e) {
            if (!mouseDown) {
                return;
            }

            selectionEnd = PointToClient(MousePosition);
            SetSelectionRect();

            Invalidate();
        }

        protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e) {
            base.OnPaint(e);

            if (mouseDown) {
                using (Pen pen = new Pen(Color.Black, 1F)) {
                    pen.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash;
                    e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(pen, selection);
                }
            }
        }

        private void SetSelectionRect() {
            int x, y;
            int width, height;

            x = selectionStart.X > selectionEnd.X ? selectionEnd.X : selectionStart.X;
            y = selectionStart.Y > selectionEnd.Y ? selectionEnd.Y : selectionStart.Y;

            width = selectionStart.X > selectionEnd.X ? selectionStart.X - selectionEnd.X : selectionEnd.X - selectionStart.X;
            height = selectionStart.Y > selectionEnd.Y ? selectionStart.Y - selectionEnd.Y : selectionEnd.Y - selectionStart.Y;

            selection = new Rectangle(x, y, width, height);
        }
    }
}