ok Pete here it is.

private void InitializeComponent()

{

this.components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();

System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager resources = new
System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager(typeof(frmMain));

this.timer1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer(this.components);

this.contextMenuStrip1 = new
System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip(this.components);

this.editToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.deleteToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.updateToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.notifyIcon1 = new System.Windows.Forms.NotifyIcon(this.components);

this.contextMenuStrip2 = new
System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip(this.components);

this.showToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.toolStripMenuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripSeparator();

this.exitToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.menuStrip1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip();

this.fileToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.newPageToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.editPageToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.deletePageToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.toolStripMenuItem5 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripSeparator();

this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.toolStripMenuItem2 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripSeparator();

this.settingsToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.toolStripMenuItem3 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripSeparator();

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.processToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.helpToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.contentsToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.aboutToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem = new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();

this.toolStripMenuItem6 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripSeparator();

this.contextMenuStrip1.SuspendLayout();

this.contextMenuStrip2.SuspendLayout();

this.menuStrip1.SuspendLayout();

this.SuspendLayout();

//

// timer1

//

this.timer1.Tick += new System.EventHandler(this.timer1_Tick);

//

// contextMenuStrip1

//

this.contextMenuStrip1.Items.AddRange(new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {

this.editToolStripMenuItem,

this.deleteToolStripMenuItem,

this.updateToolStripMenuItem});

this.contextMenuStrip1.Name = "contextMenuStrip1";

this.contextMenuStrip1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(153, 92);

//

// editToolStripMenuItem

//

this.editToolStripMenuItem.Name = "editToolStripMenuItem";

this.editToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);

this.editToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Edit With";

this.editToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.editToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// deleteToolStripMenuItem

//

this.deleteToolStripMenuItem.Name = "deleteToolStripMenuItem";

this.deleteToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(120, 22);

this.deleteToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Delete";

this.deleteToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.deleteToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// updateToolStripMenuItem

//

this.updateToolStripMenuItem.Name = "updateToolStripMenuItem";

this.updateToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(120, 22);

this.updateToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Update";

this.updateToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.updateToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// notifyIcon1

//

this.notifyIcon1.ContextMenuStrip = this.contextMenuStrip2;

this.notifyIcon1.Icon =
((System.Drawing.Icon)(resources.GetObject("notifyIcon1.Icon")));

this.notifyIcon1.Text = "notifyIcon1";

this.notifyIcon1.Visible = true;

//

// contextMenuStrip2

//

this.contextMenuStrip2.Items.AddRange(new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {

this.showToolStripMenuItem,

this.toolStripMenuItem1,

this.exitToolStripMenuItem});

this.contextMenuStrip2.Name = "contextMenuStrip2";

this.contextMenuStrip2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(112, 54);

//

// showToolStripMenuItem

//

this.showToolStripMenuItem.Name = "showToolStripMenuItem";

this.showToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(111, 22);

this.showToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Show";

this.showToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.showToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// toolStripMenuItem1

//

this.toolStripMenuItem1.Name = "toolStripMenuItem1";

this.toolStripMenuItem1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(108, 6);

//

// exitToolStripMenuItem

//

this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Name = "exitToolStripMenuItem";

this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(111, 22);

this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Exit";

this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.menu_App_Exit);

//

// menuStrip1

//

this.menuStrip1.Items.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {

this.fileToolStripMenuItem,

this.processToolStripMenuItem,

this.helpToolStripMenuItem});

this.menuStrip1.LayoutStyle =
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripLayoutStyle.HorizontalStackWithOverflow;

this.menuStrip1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);

this.menuStrip1.Name = "menuStrip1";

this.menuStrip1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(826, 24);

this.menuStrip1.TabIndex = 2;

this.menuStrip1.Text = "menuStrip1";

this.menuStrip1.Visible = false;

//

// fileToolStripMenuItem

//

this.fileToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.AddRange(new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {

this.newPageToolStripMenuItem,

this.editPageToolStripMenuItem,

this.deletePageToolStripMenuItem,

this.toolStripMenuItem6,

this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem,

this.toolStripMenuItem5,

this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem,

this.toolStripMenuItem2,

this.settingsToolStripMenuItem,

this.toolStripMenuItem3,

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1});

this.fileToolStripMenuItem.Name = "fileToolStripMenuItem";

this.fileToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 20);

this.fileToolStripMenuItem.Text = "File";

//

// newPageToolStripMenuItem

//

this.newPageToolStripMenuItem.Name = "newPageToolStripMenuItem";

this.newPageToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 22);

this.newPageToolStripMenuItem.Text = "New Page";

this.newPageToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.newPageToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// editPageToolStripMenuItem

//

this.editPageToolStripMenuItem.Name = "editPageToolStripMenuItem";

this.editPageToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 22);

this.editPageToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Edit Page";

//

// deletePageToolStripMenuItem

//

this.deletePageToolStripMenuItem.Name = "deletePageToolStripMenuItem";

this.deletePageToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 22);

this.deletePageToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Delete Page";

//

// toolStripMenuItem5

//

this.toolStripMenuItem5.Name = "toolStripMenuItem5";

this.toolStripMenuItem5.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(159, 6);

//

// ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem

//

this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem.Name =
"ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem";

this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162,
22);

this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Process Details";

this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.ProcessDetailsToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// toolStripMenuItem2

//

this.toolStripMenuItem2.Name = "toolStripMenuItem2";

this.toolStripMenuItem2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(159, 6);

//

// settingsToolStripMenuItem

//

this.settingsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "settingsToolStripMenuItem";

this.settingsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 22);

this.settingsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Settings";

//

// toolStripMenuItem3

//

this.toolStripMenuItem3.Name = "toolStripMenuItem3";

this.toolStripMenuItem3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(159, 6);

//

// exitToolStripMenuItem1

//

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1.Name = "exitToolStripMenuItem1";

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1.ShortcutKeys = System.Windows.Forms.Keys.F10;

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 22);

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1.Text = "Exit";

this.exitToolStripMenuItem1.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.menu_App_Exit);

//

// processToolStripMenuItem

//

this.processToolStripMenuItem.Name = "processToolStripMenuItem";

this.processToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(56, 20);

this.processToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Process";

//

// helpToolStripMenuItem

//

this.helpToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.AddRange(new
System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[] {

this.contentsToolStripMenuItem,

this.aboutToolStripMenuItem});

this.helpToolStripMenuItem.Name = "helpToolStripMenuItem";

this.helpToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(40, 20);

this.helpToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Help";

//

// contentsToolStripMenuItem

//

this.contentsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "contentsToolStripMenuItem";

this.contentsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(129, 22);

this.contentsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Contents";

//

// aboutToolStripMenuItem

//

this.aboutToolStripMenuItem.Name = "aboutToolStripMenuItem";

this.aboutToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(129, 22);

this.aboutToolStripMenuItem.Text = "About";

//

// AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem

//

this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem.Name = "AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem";

this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(162, 22);

this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Add Page Editor";

this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem.Click += new
System.EventHandler(this.AddPageEditorToolStripMenuItem_Click);

//

// toolStripMenuItem6

//

this.toolStripMenuItem6.Name = "toolStripMenuItem6";

this.toolStripMenuItem6.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(159, 6);

//

// frmMain

//

this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);

this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;

this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(826, 416);

this.Controls.Add(this.menuStrip1);

this.MainMenuStrip = this.menuStrip1;

this.Name = "frmMain";

this.ShowInTaskbar = false;

this.StartPosition = System.Windows.Forms.FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;

this.Text = "Visual Studio";

this.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.frmMain_Click);

this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.frmMain_Load);

this.contextMenuStrip1.ResumeLayout(false);

this.contextMenuStrip2.ResumeLayout(false);

this.menuStrip1.ResumeLayout(false);

this.menuStrip1.PerformLayout();

this.ResumeLayout(false);

this.PerformLayout();

}

I agree.  The only thing that should matter, IMHO, is the actual state
of the controls.  I wasn't aware of the order-dependent issue, and if it
exists that's a really annoying thing.

In some very specific cases, the state of objects change as you modify
state of other objects.  An example would be the
DataGridViewColumn.DisplayIndex property, and this is specifically
documented for that property.

But this doesn't seem to be such a situation.  The property values
aren't changing as different controls are added AFAIK, so the order of
operations shouldn't matter.  The only hint in the documentation about
there being an order-dependent aspect is the comment that "Controls are
docked in their Z-order", but it doesn't actually say what end of the
z-order comes first with respect to docking.  Duh.

I guess it's not really so much an order of operations thing as a
specific state that just happens to be affected by order of operations.
 presumably you could adjust the z-order after the fact to achieve the
same results?

Anyway, back to the original question...it sounds as though it might
indeed be an ordering problem.  Try making sure that the Dock=Fill
component is added first and see if that helps.  :)

Pete

It largely depends on how conceptually you are building your form. To
me, the menu strip will be one of the first things you need to add, but
I run into this same problem somewhat regularly where a
ToolStrip/MenuStrip are "sitting on top" of say a DataGridView.

I run into it often enough that I was confident in my ability to
reproduce it so I just created a new project, new form, added a
ToolStripMenu, then added a SplitPanel (something I most frequently have
the issue with) and set the Dock to Fill. Unfortunately, it worked
perfectly fine on a new form. When I run into it again I will copy out
the controls on the form and see if it reproduces it under similar
conditions.

Either way, it would be nice if there was some kind of DrawOrder or
ZIndex property to go along with Height/Width for more granular control
over this, or at the very least visibility to it.

Chris.

Well you say it is the z order but the problem is not only
that the webbrowser is behind the menu but also that
the webbrowser is not in the correct position.

Surely if you had a property on the menu for z order and
you set it to be in  front of the control then it would be so
and also be on top of the contol covering.
Where would it be specified to the menustrip that if
the zorder from myself is lower/higher what ever than
a control in the same position that it should move the
control to a postion at the bottom of its client area.

Also the reason that I add the webbrowser control
at runtime is this was just the example of the problem
My app actually adds either of  several controls
defined by some criteria to the form and dock fills
the control.

Hope this explains my thinking Pete.

rotsey