A method and system is provided for dynamically resizing dialogs of a computer software application while the application is running. Dialog windows may be resized by user action, such as by hooking on to one side or to a corner of the dialog window and dragging the side or corner in or out to expand or contract the dialog window. In response to the user's action, the operating system of the user's computer notifies a dialog window manager that the dialog window is being resized. An autolayout module lays out the dialog window to its new size, placing all controls contained therein in their proper locations and with their proper dimensions according to the rules associated with the dialog window.