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Thread: Color ComboBox

  1. #1

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    Color ComboBox

    Here's a ComboBox that displays Colors from the Color class, it even includes a square in the drop down showing the color as well as the name.

    See post #5 and #6 for the control's code.

    Here some examples of using it:
    Code:
        'Use defaults
        Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
            Dim ccb As New ColorComboBox()
            ccb.Location = New Point(5I, 5I)
            Me.Controls.Add(ccb)
        End Sub
    
        'Includes SystemColors
        Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
            Dim ccb As New ColorComboBox(False, True)
            ccb.Location = New Point(5I, 5I)
            Me.Controls.Add(ccb)
        End Sub
    
        'Use custom list of colors
        Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
            Dim ccb As New ColorComboBox(New Color() {Color.Black, Color.White, Color.Blue, Color.Red})
            ccb.Location = New Point(5I, 5I)
            Me.Controls.Add(ccb)
        End Sub
    Last edited by JuggaloBrotha; Sep 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 PM.
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  2. #2
    PowerPoster Jenner's Avatar
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Nice job! I have a use for something like this! Thanks!
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  3. #3
    PowerPoster stanav's Avatar
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Very nice class... Thanks for sharing it with us, JB.
    Is a FontComboBox (similar to the one used in MS Word) class on its way too?
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  4. #4

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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Quote Originally Posted by stanav
    Very nice class... Thanks for sharing it with us, JB.
    Is a FontComboBox (similar to the one used in MS Word) class on its way too?
    I could, I haven't had a project where I need one but it shouldn't be too hard to do.

    Also, I'm going to throw this out to everyone: Is it possible to override the Items.Add() method of a ComboBox/ListBox? This ColorComboBox.Items.Add() still accepts a parameter that's of type Object, I would like to override it so that it can only accept a Color.

    I'm going to start making a FontComboBox soon and it would be nice to have FontComboBox.Items.Add() only accept a Font, not Object.
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  5. #5

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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Code:
    Option Explicit On
    Option Strict On
    Option Infer Off
    
    Imports System.ComponentModel
    
    <ToolboxItem(True), ToolboxBitmap(GetType(ColorComboBox), "ColorComboBox.bmp"), System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> _
    Public Class ColorComboBox
        Inherits System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox
    
        Private _ColorList As List(Of Color)
        Private _SortAlphabetical As Boolean
        Private _IncludeTransparent As Boolean
        Private _IncludeSystemColors As Boolean
        Private _MinimumSize As New Size(60I, 21I)
    
    #Region " Constructors "
        Public Sub New()
            Call PreInitialize()
            Call Initialize()
        End Sub
    
        Public Sub New(ByVal IncludeTransparent As Boolean, ByVal IncludeSystemColors As Boolean, ByVal Alphabetical As Boolean)
            _IncludeTransparent = IncludeTransparent
            _IncludeSystemColors = IncludeSystemColors
            _SortAlphabetical = Alphabetical
            Call PreInitialize()
            Call Initialize()
        End Sub
    
        Public Sub New(ByVal TheColors() As Color)
            Call PreInitialize()
            _ColorList.AddRange(TheColors)
            Call SetValues()
        End Sub
    #End Region
    #Region " Properties "
        <Description("Sort the colors in the DropDown alphabetically"), DefaultValue(False), Category("Colors")> _
        Public Property SortAlphabetically() As Boolean
            Get
                Return _SortAlphabetical
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
                If _SortAlphabetical <> value Then
                    _SortAlphabetical = value
                    Call SetValues()
                End If
            End Set
        End Property
    
        <Description("Include the transparent color in the DropDown"), DefaultValue(False), Category("Colors")> _
        Public Property IncludeTransparent() As Boolean
            Get
                Return _IncludeTransparent
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
                If _IncludeTransparent <> value Then
                    _IncludeTransparent = value
                    If value = True Then
                        If _ColorList.Contains(Color.Transparent) = False Then
                            _ColorList.Add(Color.Transparent)
                            Call SetValues()
                        End If
                    Else
                        If _ColorList.Contains(Color.Transparent) = True Then
                            _ColorList.Remove(Color.Transparent)
                            Call SetValues()
                        End If
                    End If
                End If
            End Set
        End Property
    
        <Description("Include the system colors in the DropDown"), DefaultValue(False), Category("Colors")> _
        Public Property IncludeSystemColors() As Boolean
            Get
                Return _IncludeSystemColors
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
                If _IncludeSystemColors <> value Then
                    _IncludeSystemColors = value
                    If value = True Then
                        Call AddSystemColors()
                    Else
                        Call RemoveSystemColors()
                    End If
                End If
            End Set
        End Property
    
        <Browsable(False), EditorBrowsable(System.ComponentModel.EditorBrowsableState.Never), DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Hidden), _
        DefaultValue(False)> _
        Public Shadows ReadOnly Property Sorted() As Boolean
            Get
                Return False
            End Get
        End Property
    
        <Browsable(False), EditorBrowsable(System.ComponentModel.EditorBrowsableState.Never), DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Hidden), _
        DefaultValue(Windows.Forms.DrawMode.OwnerDrawFixed)> _
        Public Shadows ReadOnly Property DrawMode() As System.Windows.Forms.DrawMode
            Get
                Return System.Windows.Forms.DrawMode.OwnerDrawFixed
            End Get
        End Property
    
        <Browsable(False), EditorBrowsable(System.ComponentModel.EditorBrowsableState.Never), DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Hidden), _
        DefaultValue(System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList)> _
        Public Shadows ReadOnly Property DropDownStyle() As System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle
            Get
                Return System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
            End Get
        End Property
    
        <Browsable(False), EditorBrowsable(System.ComponentModel.EditorBrowsableState.Never), DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Hidden), _
        DefaultValue("60, 21")> _
        Public Shadows ReadOnly Property MinimumSize() As System.Drawing.Size
            Get
                Return _MinimumSize
            End Get
        End Property
    #End Region
    #Region " Methods "
        <Description("Add a color to the DropDown")> _
        Public Sub Add(ByVal Item As Color)
            If _ColorList.Contains(Item) = False Then
                _ColorList.Add(Item)
                Call SetValues()
            End If
        End Sub
    
        <Description("Add an array of colors to the DropDown")> _
        Public Sub AddRange(ByVal Items() As Color)
            For Each clr As Color In Items
                If _ColorList.Contains(clr) = False Then _ColorList.Add(clr)
            Next clr
            Call SetValues()
        End Sub
    
        <Description("Removes a color from the DropDown")> _
        Public Sub Remove(ByVal Item As Color)
            If _ColorList.Contains(Item) = False Then
                _ColorList.Remove(Item)
                Call SetValues()
            End If
        End Sub
    
        Public Sub RemoveRange(ByVal Items() As Color)
            For Each clr As Color In Items
                If _ColorList.Contains(clr) = False Then _ColorList.Remove(clr)
            Next clr
            Call SetValues()
        End Sub
    #End Region
    #Region " Initialize, SetValues "
        Private Sub PreInitialize()
            MyBase.DrawMode = Windows.Forms.DrawMode.OwnerDrawFixed
            MyBase.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
            MyBase.Sorted = False
            MyBase.MinimumSize = _MinimumSize
            _ColorList = New List(Of Color)
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub Initialize()
            If DesignMode = False Then
                Dim CurrColor As Color
                _ColorList.Clear()
                For Each aColorName As String In System.Enum.GetNames(GetType(System.Drawing.KnownColor))
                    CurrColor = Color.FromName(aColorName)
                    If _IncludeSystemColors = True Then
                        If _IncludeTransparent = True Then
                            If _ColorList.Contains(CurrColor) = False Then _ColorList.Add(CurrColor)
                        Else
                            If CurrColor <> Color.Transparent AndAlso _ColorList.Contains(CurrColor) = False Then _ColorList.Add(CurrColor)
                        End If
                    Else
                        If _IncludeTransparent = True Then
                            If CurrColor.IsSystemColor = False AndAlso _ColorList.Contains(CurrColor) = False Then _ColorList.Add(CurrColor)
                        Else
                            If CurrColor.IsSystemColor = False AndAlso CurrColor <> Color.Transparent AndAlso _ColorList.Contains(CurrColor) = False Then _ColorList.Add(CurrColor)
                        End If
                    End If
                Next aColorName
                Call SetValues()
            End If
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub SetValues()
            Me.Items.Clear()
            If DesignMode = False Then
                If _SortAlphabetical = False Then
                    _ColorList.Sort(AddressOf SortColors)
                Else
                    _ColorList.Sort(AddressOf SortAlphabetical)
                End If
                Me.Items.Clear()
                For Counter As Integer = 0I To _ColorList.Count - 1I
                    Me.Items.Add(_ColorList(Counter))
                Next Counter
            End If
        End Sub
    #End Region
    #Region " AddSystemColors, RemoveSystemColors "
        Private Sub AddSystemColors()
            If DesignMode = False Then
                Dim CurrColor As Color
                For Each aColorName As String In System.Enum.GetNames(GetType(System.Drawing.KnownColor))
                    CurrColor = Color.FromName(aColorName)
                    If CurrColor.IsSystemColor = True AndAlso _ColorList.Contains(CurrColor) = False Then _ColorList.Add(CurrColor)
                Next aColorName
                Call SetValues()
            End If
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub RemoveSystemColors()
            If DesignMode = False Then
                For Counter As Integer = _ColorList.Count - 1I To 0I Step -1I
                    If _ColorList(Counter).IsSystemColor = True Then _ColorList.RemoveAt(Counter)
                Next Counter
                'For Each clr As Color In _ColorList
                '    If clr.IsSystemColor = True Then _ColorList.Remove(clr)
                'Next clr
                Call SetValues()
            End If
        End Sub
    #End Region
    Last edited by JuggaloBrotha; Jul 29th, 2009 at 07:57 PM.
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  6. #6

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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Code:
    #Region " Overrides Sub "
        Protected Overrides Sub OnFontChanged(ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
            Select Case True
                Case Me.Font.SizeInPoints > 12.0F : Me.Font = New Font(Me.Font.FontFamily, 12.0F, Me.Font.Style)
                Case Me.Font.SizeInPoints < 8.0F : Me.Font = New Font(Me.Font.FontFamily, 8.0F, Me.Font.Style)
            End Select
        End Sub
    
        Protected Overrides Sub onDrawItem(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DrawItemEventArgs)
            'Private Sub ComboBox_DrawItem(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DrawItemEventArgs) Handles Me.DrawItem
            e.DrawBackground()
            e.DrawFocusRectangle()
            If e.Index >= 0I Then
                ' Get the Color object from the Items list
                Dim aColor As Color = CType(Me.Items(e.Index), Color)
    
                ' get a square using the bounds height
                Dim rect As Rectangle = New Rectangle(5I, e.Bounds.Top + 2I, e.Bounds.Height - 3I, e.Bounds.Height - 5I)
                Dim br As Brush = If((e.State And DrawItemState.Selected) = DrawItemState.Selected, Brushes.White, Brushes.Black)
    
                ' draw a rectangle and fill it
                e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(New Pen(aColor), rect)
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(New SolidBrush(aColor), rect)
    
                ' draw a border
                rect.Inflate(1I, 1I)
                e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, rect)
    
                ' draw the Color name
                e.Graphics.DrawString(aColor.Name, Me.Font, br, e.Bounds.Height + 5I, ((e.Bounds.Height - Me.Font.Height) \ 2I) + e.Bounds.Top)
            End If
        End Sub
    #End Region
    #Region " SortColors "
        Private Function SortColors(ByVal x As Color, ByVal y As Color) As Integer
            Dim huecompare As Integer = x.GetHue.CompareTo(y.GetHue)
            Dim satcompare As Integer = x.GetSaturation.CompareTo(y.GetSaturation)
            Dim brightcompare As Integer = x.GetBrightness.CompareTo(y.GetBrightness)
            Select Case True
                Case huecompare <> 0I : Return huecompare
                Case satcompare <> 0I : Return satcompare
                Case brightcompare <> 0I : Return brightcompare
                Case Else : Return 0I
            End Select
        End Function
    
        Private Function SortAlphabetical(ByVal x As Color, ByVal y As Color) As Integer
            Return x.Name.CompareTo(y.Name)
        End Function
    #End Region
    
    End Class
    Last edited by JuggaloBrotha; Jul 29th, 2009 at 07:57 PM.
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  7. #7
    Lively Member HOTFIX's Avatar
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Thanks for the code i'll try it

  8. #8

    Thread Starter
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Just an fyi, I've recently noticed that this code works flawlessly when running in VS 2005 and VS 2008 on a winXP computer, but running it in VS 2005 and VS 2008 on a Vista computer you get an "Invalid Parameter" exception in the DrawItem event, this line fails:
    Code:
    e.Graphics.DrawString(aColor.Name, Me.Font, br, e.Bounds.Height + 5I, ((e.Bounds.Height - Me.Font.Height) \ 2I) + e.Bounds.Top)
    Both Visual Studios are fully up to date, same with the .Net Frameworks and both the XP comp and Vista comp have all of the updates installed respectively too, anyone have and idea(s)? Other than Vista sucks (which I already know)
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  9. #9
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    I get the Invalid Parameter exception too, on XP Media Center Edition 2005.

    The Invalid Parameter exception occurs when you dispose a brush that is set to any of the default brushes in the Brushes enumeration, exactly what you are doing.
    I'm not sure why that fails, but I suppose you can't Dispose a brush you are not specifically creating a new instance of..?

    I don't understand why it fails every single time here, but works fine with you? Maybe a recent update 'fixed' / 'destroyed' (I'm not sure which of the two ) this, seeing as this thread is half a year old?

    The fix is just to not dispose your brush.



    By the way, great control, looks very similar to the Visual Studio one.
    In my opinion, a Designer class with Smart Tags would work wonders on this control... You could set the color more easily during design-time that way, as well as quickly including or excluding system colors / transparent with a checkbox.

    If you want to implement the Smart Tags, do a search for them in the codebank, I made a 'tutorial' about them a while ago.

    EDIT
    Actually, I was smart(-Tag) enough to include a dash in my topic title, so searching for 'Smart Tags' does not bring it up
    Here it is:
    http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=552296

  10. #10

    Thread Starter
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Quote Originally Posted by NickThissen View Post
    I get the Invalid Parameter exception too, on XP Media Center Edition 2005.

    The Invalid Parameter exception occurs when you dispose a brush that is set to any of the default brushes in the Brushes enumeration, exactly what you are doing.
    I'm not sure why that fails, but I suppose you can't Dispose a brush you are not specifically creating a new instance of..?

    I don't understand why it fails every single time here, but works fine with you? Maybe a recent update 'fixed' / 'destroyed' (I'm not sure which of the two ) this, seeing as this thread is half a year old?

    The fix is just to not dispose your brush.
    Yea, I fixed that a few months ago, I just forgot to update the code in this thread, which is done.
    Quote Originally Posted by NickThissen View Post
    By the way, great control, looks very similar to the Visual Studio one.
    In my opinion, a Designer class with Smart Tags would work wonders on this control... You could set the color more easily during design-time that way, as well as quickly including or excluding system colors / transparent with a checkbox.

    If you want to implement the Smart Tags, do a search for them in the codebank, I made a 'tutorial' about them a while ago.

    EDIT
    Actually, I was smart(-Tag) enough to include a dash in my topic title, so searching for 'Smart Tags' does not bring it up
    Here it is:
    http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=552296
    Yea, I've never done smart tags on a control, I'll give the tutorial a look over and see what I can do to add it to this control.
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  11. #11
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    JuggaloBrotha, I get errors on ColorComboBox. It the IDE/Compiler doesn't like that I changed it to ComboBox1 and I get the same error. But when I use my code from earlier, I get no errors on ComboBox1. I tried all different versions of the code in the form_load even and none work

    What's up you think?
    Last edited by jumper77; Aug 9th, 2017 at 02:16 PM.

  12. #12
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    I actually know how to fix my code. It just wouldn't be very eloquent. I would just have to check to see if the colors where control colors and if so, do not add them to the combo box

  13. #13

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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Quote Originally Posted by jumper77 View Post
    JuggaloBrotha, I get errors on ColorComboBox. It the IDE/Compiler doesn't like that I changed it to ComboBox1 and I get the same error. But when I use my code from earlier, I get no errors on ComboBox1. I tried all different versions of the code in the form_load even and none work

    What's up you think?
    Granted I haven't used this control since a project in VS2010, I was able to open VS2015, drop the control into a project, add it to the form, and run it and it displayed the list of colors (without system colors, which it can do by changing a property) just fine:
    Name:  ColorComboBox.png
Views: 4370
Size:  7.1 KB
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Currently using VS 2015 Enterprise on Win10 Enterprise x64.

    CodeBank: All ThreadsColors ComboBoxFading & Gradient FormMoveItemListBox/MoveItemListViewMultilineListBoxMenuButtonToolStripCheckBoxStart with Windows

  14. #14
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    Re: Color ComboBox

    Hi Juggalo, didn't see your reply until just now. I download your project and it works, But I've already got code that works now and I think I will just use it. But thank you so much for giving me your project. It will help me learn some things.

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