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Thread: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

  1. #1

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    Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Here is a class that contains very easy methods to get screen captures. It is not code originally written by me, it was actually found Here. It was originally written in C#, and there was supposedly a VB.NET example in there, however it just looked as if it was ran through some code converter that didn't work. I cleaned it up in order for it to work in .NET, replaced all the API declarations with the correct working ones, and even added a CaptureDeskTopRectangle function to it for desktop regions.

    The file has its own namespace, "ScreenShot", which includes three seperate classes:

    ScreenCapture - Main class, contains functions for obtaining the actual images
    GDI32 = Helper Class with various GDI Functions that are used
    USER32 - Helper Class with various User32 Functions used

    The ScreenCapture has five exposed functions and methods that enables you to get captures:

    CaptureWindow - grabs image of object by its handle
    CaptureScreen - grabs image of entire screen
    CaptureWindowToFile - captures image of object by its handle straight to file
    CaptureScreenToFile - captures image of screen straight to file
    CaptureDesktopRectangle - captures desktop region by a passed in rectangle

    ***.NET 2005 has a .CopyFromScreen method in the Graphics class that allows you to get a desktop region, however, there is no way in 2003, which is why CaptureDesktopRectangle was needed...


    Sample code showing how to use each method is below, the class is available for download at the end of the post.
    VB Code:
    1. Dim SC As New ScreenShot.ScreenCapture
    2.  
    3.         'grabs image of object handle (in this case, the form)
    4.         Dim MyWindow As Image = SC.CaptureWindow(Me.Handle)
    5.        
    6.         'grabs image of entire desktop
    7.         Dim MyDesktop As Image = SC.CaptureScreen
    8.        
    9.         'captures entire desktop straight to file
    10.         SC.CaptureScreenToFile("c:\desktop2.jpg", Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg)
    11.  
    12.         'captures image of object handle (in this case, the form) straight to file
    13.         SC.CaptureWindowToFile(Me.Handle, "c:\window2.jpg", Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg)
    14.  
    15.         'returns bitmap of region of desktop by passing in a rectangle
    16.         Dim MyBitMap As Bitmap = SC.CaptureDeskTopRectangle(New Rectangle(Me.Location.X, Me.Location.Y, _
    17.                                      Me.Width, Me.Height), Me.Width, Me.Height)
    18.         MyBitMap.Save("c:\desktopregion.jpg", Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg)
    19.         'above example gets rectangle of form that it is called in, you can get
    20.         'desktop by calling me.hide before the actual function call in order to
    21.         'get the desktop that is in the bounds of the form (handy when using a
    22.         'transparent Form or control in order to make a "viewfinder" for the capture...)
    23.         'You can pass in any rectangle you want, this was so you can see how
    24.         'it works...
    Happy coding!
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by gigemboy; May 12th, 2006 at 01:35 PM.

  2. #2
    Frenzied Member maged's Avatar
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    this is very useful

    thank you

    rgds

  3. #3
    Hyperactive Member gjon's Avatar
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Very neat, anyone make a windows app or a console app for this yet using this?
    I'd love to check it out.

  4. #4

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    EZScreenCap in my sig was made using it, nothing fancy and I didn't spend a lot of time doing it. Just sort of a proof of concept...

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    gigemboy,

    Thanks for the code it is exacually what I have been looking for, however I am having a really hard time trying to create the code to allow the user to specify a region using mouse clicks. I noticed in your EZScreenCap you have this ability and I was wondering if you would be able to help with the code that you used to acheive this.

    Thanks inadvance

    Simon

  6. #6

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Using mouse clicks?? You mean the "Viewfinder"? Its just a transparent panel on a form, and it gets the bounds of panel when you capture it (after first hiding the form so it doesnt capture the form). The last code above describes it, although in the example it uses the form bounds.

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    when i click on the attatchment, a html web page comes up and all the code is like a textfile, is it meant to be like this, or is it an error.
    Ideally id like to see how the application works, so I can use it for somthing.

    MB
    VS 2003

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Are you talking about the Class attachment? Its just a file.. if it doesn't ask you to save then your browser is set to do something automatically with that file. Just right click the link and choose "save target as" or something. If you just see the text, just save that file as a .VB file and add it to your project...

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    wow its wicked!
    v good
    VS 2003

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi i have been using your class but i have little problem. I have this loop that takes a sceenshot, and then analyzes it. every time i use the class to take a screenshot, it filles my RAM with 6 extra megabytes (and it takes approx. 1 screenshot every second. So after aboute 1 minute, it uses approx 700 MB RAM :S:S.. why?

    VB Code:
    1. Dim SIR As New SteffansImageRecognizion()
    2.         Dim SC As New ScreenShot.ScreenCapture
    3.  
    4.         Dim ColorBuffer As System.Drawing.Color
    5.         Dim BitmapBuffer As System.Drawing.Bitmap
    6.         Dim ImageBuffer As System.Drawing.Image
    7.  
    8.         While (True)
    9.             BitmapBuffer = SC.CaptureDeskTopRectangle(New System.Drawing.Rectangle(0, 0, 0, 0), 1000, 700)
    10.  
    11.             ' Lots of code..
    12.  
    13.         End While

  11. #11

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Then I assume its something in your code that is not being disposed of properly, whatever you are doing in it. I don't believe its a problem in the class. I tested EZScreenCap, which uses the class, and after taking a few snapshots, the memory increased by about 10-20 megabytes after taking a few quick snapshots in rapid succession, but after a short time, it goes back down to about where it was before (a little higher just because of the extra graphics that it has to display in the listview), after the garbage collector does its job and cleans up...

    If you want to get help with your code, then feel free to post it, but please create a new thread in the regular VB.NET section for it if you desire.
    Last edited by gigemboy; Sep 17th, 2006 at 02:17 PM.

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi, I need to know how I can use your code on pocket pc using compact framework?!
    Thanks a lot.

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    gigemboy,

    Do you know of a way to capture an image on a remote machine? Assuming that you have the correct permissions to do so.
    Last edited by Giraffe Frenzy; Apr 16th, 2007 at 02:03 PM.

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    this screen capture is great but i was wondering is it possible to take screen shots of the window when the window is minimised?

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    I get three errors by using the example.
    Declaration expected.

    Imports System.Windows.Forms

    Public Class Form1
    Dim SC As New ScreenShot.ScreenCapture

    'grabs image of object handle (in this case, the form)
    Dim MyWindow As Image = SC.CaptureWindow(Me.handle)

    'grabs image of entire desktop
    Dim MyDesktop As Image = SC.CaptureScreen

    'captures entire desktop straight to file
    SC.CaptureScreenToFile("c:\desktop2.jpg", Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg) 'Here SC

    'captures image of object handle (in this case, the form) straight to file
    SC.CaptureWindowToFile(Me.Handle, "c:\window2.jpg", Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg) 'Here SC

    'returns bitmap of region of desktop by passing in a rectangle
    Dim MyBitMap As Bitmap = SC.CaptureDeskTopRectangle(New Rectangle(Me.Location.X, Me.Location.Y, _
    Me.Width, Me.Height), Me.Width, Me.Height)
    MyBitMap.Save("c:\desktopregion.jpg", Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg) 'Here MyBitMap
    'above example gets rectangle of form that it is called in, you can get
    'desktop by calling me.hide before the actual function call in order to
    'get the desktop that is in the bounds of the form (handy when using a
    'transparent Form or control in order to make a "viewfinder" for the capture...)
    'You can pass in any rectangle you want, this was so you can see how
    'it works...
    End Class


    Anybody can help?

    Thanks

  16. #16
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    very useful, thanks
    My free .NET Windows API library (Version 2.2 Released 12/06/2011)

    Blog: cjwdev.wordpress.com
    Web: www.cjwdev.co.uk


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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    I am currently having trouble with trying to implement the code.
    Code:
    Imports System
    Imports System.Diagnostics
    Imports System.Drawing
    Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
    Imports System.Windows.Forms
    Imports DirectShowLib
    Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes
    Imports System.ComponentModel
    
    Namespace Capture_The_Webcam
    
    
        Public Class Form1
            Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
    'webcam code from http://www.codeproject.com/KB/audio-video/WebcamUsingDirectShowNET.aspx
    'webcam feed is handled by picturebox1
            Public Class ScreenCapture
                Dim SC As New ScreenShot.ScreenCapture
    
                'grabs image of object handle (in this case, the form)
                Dim MyWindow As Image = SC.CaptureWindow(Capture2.Capture_The_Webcam.Form1.PictureBox1.Handle)
                'Dim SC As ScreenCapture.Screenshot
    
                Public SRCCOPY As Integer = &HCC0020
                ' BitBlt dwRop parameter
                Declare Function BitBlt Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hDestDC As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal x As Int32, _
                    ByVal y As Int32, _
                    ByVal nWidth As Int32, _
                    ByVal nHeight As Int32, _
                    ByVal hSrcDC As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal xSrc As Int32, _
                    ByVal ySrc As Int32, _
                    ByVal dwRop As Int32) As Int32
    
                Declare Function CreateCompatibleBitmap Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal nWidth As Int32, _
                    ByVal nHeight As Int32) As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function CreateCompatibleDC Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function DeleteDC Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                Declare Function DeleteObject Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hObject As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                Declare Function SelectObject Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal hObject As IntPtr) As IntPtr
            End Class 'GDI32
            '/ Helper class containing User32 API functions
            
    
    
            Public Class User32
              
                <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
                Public Structure RECT
                    Public left As Integer
                    Public top As Integer
                    Public right As Integer
                    Public bottom As Integer
                End Structure 'RECT
                '/ Helper class containing Gdi32 API functions
                Public Class GDI32
                    Public SRCCOPY As Integer = &HCC0020
                    ' BitBlt dwRop parameter
                    Declare Function BitBlt Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                        ByVal hDestDC As IntPtr, _
                        ByVal x As Int32, _
                        ByVal y As Int32, _
                        ByVal nWidth As Int32, _
                        ByVal nHeight As Int32, _
                        ByVal hSrcDC As IntPtr, _
                        ByVal xSrc As Int32, _
                        ByVal ySrc As Int32, _
                        ByVal dwRop As Int32) As Int32
    
                    Declare Function CreateCompatibleBitmap Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                        ByVal hdc As IntPtr, _
                        ByVal nWidth As Int32, _
                        ByVal nHeight As Int32) As IntPtr
    
                    Declare Function CreateCompatibleDC Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                        ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As IntPtr
    
                    Declare Function DeleteDC Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                        ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                    Declare Function DeleteObject Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                        ByVal hObject As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                    Declare Function SelectObject Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                        ByVal hdc As IntPtr, _
                        ByVal hObject As IntPtr) As IntPtr
                End Class 'GDI32
                '/ Creates an Image object containing a screen shot of a specific window
                Public Function CaptureWindow(ByVal handle As IntPtr) As Image
                    Dim SRCCOPY As Integer = &HCC0020
                    ' get te hDC of the target window
                    Dim hdcSrc As IntPtr = User32.GetWindowDC(handle)
                    ' get the size
                    Dim windowRect As New User32.RECT
                    User32.GetWindowRect(handle, windowRect)
                    Dim width As Integer = 640
                    Dim height As Integer = 480
                    ' create a device context we can copy to
                    Dim hdcDest As IntPtr = GDI32.CreateCompatibleDC(hdcSrc)
                    ' create a bitmap we can copy it to,
                    ' using GetDeviceCaps to get the width/height
                    Dim hBitmap As IntPtr = GDI32.CreateCompatibleBitmap(hdcSrc, width, height)
                    ' select the bitmap object
                    Dim hOld As IntPtr = GDI32.SelectObject(hdcDest, hBitmap)
                    ' bitblt over
                    GDI32.BitBlt(hdcDest, 0, 0, width, height, hdcSrc, 0, 0, SRCCOPY)
                    ' restore selection
                    GDI32.SelectObject(hdcDest, hOld)
                    ' clean up 
                    GDI32.DeleteDC(hdcDest)
                    User32.ReleaseDC(handle, hdcSrc)
    
                    ' get a .NET image object for it
                    Dim img As Image = Image.FromHbitmap(hBitmap)
                    ' free up the Bitmap object
                    GDI32.DeleteObject(hBitmap)
    
                    Return img
                End Function 'CaptureWindow
                
                Function Function1()
                    ''captures image of object handle (in this case, the form) straight to file
     SC.CaptureWindowToFile(Capture2.Capture_The_Webcam.Form1.PictureBox1.Handle, "c:\ProgramFiles\ImgCap\Tmp.bmp", Imaging.ImageFormat.BMP)
                    Return 0
                End Function
    
                Declare Function GetDesktopWindow Lib "user32.dll" () As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function GetWindowDC Lib "user32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hwnd As IntPtr) As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function ReleaseDC Lib "user32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                Declare Function GetWindowRect Lib "user32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, _
                    ByRef lpRect As RECT) As Int32
            End Class
    
            Private Sub ButtonX_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ButtonX.Click
    
                Dim SecondsNow As Integer = Second(Now)
                While Second(Now) < 1 + SecondsNow
                    ButtonX.Enabled = False
                End While
    
                Dim test As New User32
                test.Function1()
    
            End Sub
        End Class
    End Namespace
    I keep getting the error that Screenshot.Screencapture is not defined. Any ideas?
    THanks

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi,

    After some fiddling around, the problem was fixed by putting all the screen capture class code BEFORE the Capture_the_Webcam code.

    Much better now, great code it was very helpful. Thank you

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi guys, this code works but what i'm trying to do is get this code to take the picture and set it in a different directory .. anyone got an answer?

    Code:
            Dim SC As New ScreenShot.ScreenCapture
            Dim windowList As List(Of Game.WindowInfo) = Game.GetWindowList()
            Dim screenshotname As String
            screenshotname = grpInfo.Text & ".jpg"
            SC.CaptureWindowToFile(DirectCast(windowList(lstGame.SelectedIndex), Game.WindowInfo).Handle, screenshotname, Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg)

  20. #20
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Quote Originally Posted by mcManiac View Post
    Hi guys, this code works but what i'm trying to do is get this code to take the picture and set it in a different directory .. anyone got an answer?

    Code:
            Dim SC As New ScreenShot.ScreenCapture
            Dim windowList As List(Of Game.WindowInfo) = Game.GetWindowList()
            Dim screenshotname As String
            screenshotname = grpInfo.Text & ".jpg"
            SC.CaptureWindowToFile(DirectCast(windowList(lstGame.SelectedIndex), Game.WindowInfo).Handle, screenshotname, Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg)
    where you have screenshotname, what about if you add the path you want to save the image to and then specify grpInfo.Text & ".jpg"

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi,
    very good code, but i have a problem with my second monitor. On this screen the created screenshots are black.
    Can anybody help?

    Thanks a lot.

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    To the original poster: THANKS! This is cool stuff you've passed along and it saved me some time for sure.

    To the last poster: I had a similar problem. I have lots of monitors and was getting nowhere trying to get a screenshot of all of them at the same time.

    GetDesktopWindow() API call will return the handle only for the primary video display, not the entire screen output.... booooo MS!!...... so this code will only take a screenshot of ONE monitor as is.


    For the original poster: Instead of using User32.GetDesktopWindow() I found the REAL Window that represents the desktop and modified your code so it will work across ALL screens.

    Code:
                Dim base As IntPtr = User32.FindWindow("Progman", "Program Manager")
                Dim b2 As IntPtr = User32.FindWindowEx(base, vbNullString, "SHELLDLL_DefView", vbNullString)
                b2 = User32.FindWindowEx(b2, vbNullString, "SysListView32", vbNullString)
                
                Return CaptureWindow(b2)
    Before, the function was just Return CaptureWindow(User32.GetDesktopWindow())

    also added:
    <Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")> _
    Public Shared Function FindWindowEx(ByVal hwndParent As IntPtr, ByVal hwndChild As IntPtr, ByVal className As String, ByVal caption As String) As IntPtr
    End Function

    <Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")> _
    Public Shared Function FindWindow(ByVal className As String, ByVal caption As String) As IntPtr
    End Function


    I'm pretty sure this behavior is consistent across all versions of Windows but I've only tested this in XP.

    Anyways, hope this saves someone else a headache, thanks again.

  23. #23
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Can somebody update the code to work with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 for me? (And Post it for me too please!)

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    I really want this class in C#. I've found one online but the "DesktopRectangle()" method isn't there.

    Is it possible to get this class in C#?

    Thanks
    Farooq Azam - C# Tutorials, tips & tricks and more...

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    A clone of this one is available for C# here:
    http://www.farooqazam.net/screen-cap...ss-for-c-sharp

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  26. #26
    Lively Member Brian M.'s Avatar
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Very easy to use class, thanks alot! I spent hours trying to capture this control with no luck, until I added this class. Here is an app I made that uses it to capture the control that is drawn on.

    Lite Brite

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Quote Originally Posted by NonProgrammer View Post
    Can somebody update the code to work with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 for me? (And Post it for me too please!)
    I just stumbled on this code and it seems perfect, if I could only get it to work. I'm running VS 2008 as well and I'm running into several problems.
    • Me.Handle is not recognized
    • Me.Location.X is not recognized
    • etc
    • Also I'm getting an error when I try to save the image to a file


    I've attached my code behind
    Attached Files Attached Files

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    Angry Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi

    im new to VB.NET... Can u pls tel me how to implement the code?? i mean form ? coz i have created a new form and pasted the cod ein designer.. but its showing some error and the form was not loading:-(

  29. #29
    Lively Member Brian M.'s Avatar
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hey ramesh, do you know what a class is? This is not code you can paste into a form, you have to make calls to the class from your form code.

    Classes

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Cool... I need a piece of code which will capture screen shot of the form.. Can u help me to get it form this code!!

  31. #31
    Lively Member Brian M.'s Avatar
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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    First you must add the SCapture.vb class file to your project in the solution explorer. Then you have to make a button on your form so you can have an event to capture the form picture. In the button's click event handler add this code:

    Code:
            Dim filePath As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.Desktop & "\myFormImage.png"
    
            Try
                Dim img As Image = SCapture.Control(Me.Handle, False)
                img.Save(filePath, Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Png)
            Catch ex As Exception
                MessageBox.Show("Failed to capture the control!" _
                & Environment.NewLine & ex.Message, "Capture Error!", _
                MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
            End Try
    Then when you click the button you put this code in, it should save a png image of your form to your desktop.

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    I did the same what u told.. But its showing soem error:-(

    Also it is saying that Name 'screencapture' is not declared

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    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Code:
    Private Sub Button3_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click
            Dim filePath As String = "C:\Documents and Settings\175943\Desktop\mypicture.png"
            Try
                Dim img As Image = screencapture.Control(Me.Handle, False)
    
                img.Save(filePath, Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Png)
            Catch ex As Exception
                MessageBox.Show("Failed to capture the control!" _
                & Environment.NewLine & ex.Message, "Capture Error!", _
                MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
            End Try
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub Capture_window_CheckedChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Capture_window.CheckedChanged
            If Capture_window.Checked Then
                Me.Opacity = 0.6
            Else
                Me.Opacity = 1
    
            End If
            If Capture_window.Checked And Doc_Button.Checked Then
                Button2.Visible = False
                Button1.Visible = False
                Button3.Visible = True
            ElseIf Capture_window.Checked And Img_Button.Checked Then
                Button2.Visible = False
                Button1.Visible = False
                Button3.Visible = True
            ElseIf Doc_Button.Checked = True Then
                Button3.Visible = False
                Button2.Visible = True
                Button3.ForeColor = Color.Blue
            End If
    
        End Sub
    
        Public Class screencapture
    
            Public Function CaptureScreen() As Image
                Return CaptureWindow(User32.GetDesktopWindow())
            End Function 'CaptureScreen
    
            '/ Creates an Image object containing a screen shot of a specific window
            Public Function CaptureWindow(ByVal handle As IntPtr) As Image
                Dim SRCCOPY As Integer = &HCC0020
                ' get te hDC of the target window
                Dim hdcSrc As IntPtr = User32.GetWindowDC(handle)
                ' get the size
                Dim windowRect As New User32.RECT
                User32.GetWindowRect(handle, windowRect)
                Dim width As Integer = windowRect.right - windowRect.left
                Dim height As Integer = windowRect.bottom - windowRect.top
                ' create a device context we can copy to
                Dim hdcDest As IntPtr = GDI32.CreateCompatibleDC(hdcSrc)
                ' create a bitmap we can copy it to,
                ' using GetDeviceCaps to get the width/height
                Dim hBitmap As IntPtr = GDI32.CreateCompatibleBitmap(hdcSrc, width, height)
                ' select the bitmap object
                Dim hOld As IntPtr = GDI32.SelectObject(hdcDest, hBitmap)
                ' bitblt over
                GDI32.BitBlt(hdcDest, 0, 0, width, height, hdcSrc, 0, 0, SRCCOPY)
                ' restore selection
                GDI32.SelectObject(hdcDest, hOld)
                ' clean up 
                GDI32.DeleteDC(hdcDest)
                User32.ReleaseDC(handle, hdcSrc)
    
                ' get a .NET image object for it
                Dim img As Image = Image.FromHbitmap(hBitmap)
                ' free up the Bitmap object
                GDI32.DeleteObject(hBitmap)
    
                Return img
            End Function 'CaptureWindow
            '/ Captures a screen shot of a specific window, and saves it to a file
            Public Sub CaptureWindowToFile(ByVal handle As IntPtr, ByVal filename As String, ByVal format As ImageFormat)
                Dim img As Image = CaptureWindow(handle)
                img.Save(filename, format)
            End Sub 'CaptureWindowToFile
            '/ Captures a screen shot of the entire desktop, and saves it to a file
            Public Sub CaptureScreenToFile(ByVal filename As String, ByVal format As ImageFormat)
                Dim img As Image = CaptureScreen()
                img.Save(filename, format)
            End Sub 'CaptureScreenToFile
            Public Function CaptureDeskTopRectangle(ByVal CapRect As Rectangle, ByVal CapRectWidth As Integer, ByVal CapRectHeight As Integer) As Bitmap
                '/ Returns BitMap of the region of the desktop, similar to CaptureWindow, but can be used to 
                '/ create a snapshot of the desktop when no handle is present, by passing in a rectangle 
                '/ Grabs snapshot of entire desktop, then crops it using the passed in rectangle's coordinates
                Dim SC As New MainWindow.screencapture
                Dim bmpImage As New Bitmap(SC.CaptureScreen)
                Dim bmpCrop As New Bitmap(CapRectWidth, CapRectHeight, bmpImage.PixelFormat)
                Dim recCrop As New Rectangle(CapRect.X, CapRect.Y, CapRectWidth, CapRectHeight)
                Dim gphCrop As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(bmpCrop)
                Dim recDest As New Rectangle(0, 0, CapRectWidth, CapRectHeight)
                gphCrop.DrawImage(bmpImage, recDest, recCrop.X, recCrop.Y, recCrop.Width, _
                  recCrop.Height, GraphicsUnit.Pixel)
                Return bmpCrop
            End Function
            '/ Helper class containing Gdi32 API functions
            Private Class GDI32
                Public SRCCOPY As Integer = &HCC0020
                ' BitBlt dwRop parameter
                Declare Function BitBlt Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hDestDC As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal x As Int32, _
                    ByVal y As Int32, _
                    ByVal nWidth As Int32, _
                    ByVal nHeight As Int32, _
                    ByVal hSrcDC As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal xSrc As Int32, _
                    ByVal ySrc As Int32, _
                    ByVal dwRop As Int32) As Int32
    
                Declare Function CreateCompatibleBitmap Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal nWidth As Int32, _
                    ByVal nHeight As Int32) As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function CreateCompatibleDC Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function DeleteDC Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                Declare Function DeleteObject Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hObject As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                Declare Function SelectObject Lib "gdi32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal hObject As IntPtr) As IntPtr
            End Class 'GDI32
            '/ Helper class containing User32 API functions
            Public Class User32
                <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
                Public Structure RECT
                    Public left As Integer
                    Public top As Integer
                    Public right As Integer
                    Public bottom As Integer
                End Structure 'RECT
    
                Declare Function GetDesktopWindow Lib "user32.dll" () As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function GetWindowDC Lib "user32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hwnd As IntPtr) As IntPtr
    
                Declare Function ReleaseDC Lib "user32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal hdc As IntPtr) As Int32
    
                Declare Function GetWindowRect Lib "user32.dll" ( _
                    ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, _
                    ByRef lpRect As RECT) As Int32
    
            End Class 'User32
        End Class 'ScreenCapture

    Refer the code above..

    I got an error that control is not a member of 'mainwindow .screencapture'.

  34. #34
    Lively Member Brian M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Moberly MO
    Posts
    94

    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    You must add the class file to your solution explorer. You can't add the class code to your form. You can either right click your project in solution explorer or you can use the add item menu item. You pick add existing item and navigate to where your class file is stored then select it to add it to your project. Then remove the class code from your form code. See attached picture for an example.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  35. #35
    Lively Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    92

    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hey Brian,

    Thanks for your effort to teach me!! I have doen the same thing.. But its showing lot of errors!!

    PFAName:  sc.JPG
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  36. #36
    Lively Member Brian M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Moberly MO
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    94

    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    What version of Visual Studios are you using? This class is written for 2005.

  37. #37
    New Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    1

    Question Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Hi all

    Can anybody help me??...

    Dear all

    I have an application which provides some data in datagrid ... by right click i can copy that and past that in to a text file.....

    my quest is can i get this process done by vb.net code

    Please help me

    thanks in advance

    sansharam

  38. #38
    Junior Member Dario's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    25

    Question Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Using this screencapture class win winxp, and it does what i want. very easy to use.

    However on Windows 7 pc's (32 or 64 bit) - i get black image...

    Any solutions for this win7 issue?

    Just to add: the app i am making is SERVICE BASED & currently it works on WinXP, when installed on Win7, just black image.
    Last edited by Dario; Aug 10th, 2010 at 09:58 PM. Reason: Update..

  39. #39
    Frenzied Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    1,054

    Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Excellent class! So useful! Hard to believe .NET doesnt have this built in. Great solution though!

  40. #40
    Junior Member Dario's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    25

    Exclamation Re: Easy Screen Capture Class - Capture Screen, Desktop Region, Form, or Controls

    Quote Originally Posted by Dario View Post
    Using this screencapture class win winxp, and it does what i want. very easy to use.

    However on Windows 7 pc's (32 or 64 bit) - i get black image...

    Any solutions for this win7 issue?

    Just to add: the app i am making is SERVICE BASED & currently it works on WinXP, when installed on Win7, just black image.
    Grrr been googling for 2 weeks on this issue, and all i can find is that some people have the same problem, and that windows 7 gdi/win32 api has changed a great deal since introduction of VISTA and onwards, windows 7.

    http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1...indows-service

    Going crazy..

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