[02/03] Interactive

How we can make custom interactive controls like button, textbox, and other controls that we use to make our application. You have seen many application that have many controls of different shapes like in window media player, the play button something like a circle and an arrow inside it. How and what is the procedure of doing that. Explain in more detail so that I can able to make own interactive controls.

And also can I get controls template and use them in my project.

Imran Ahmad Mughal
Thanks

A good place to start is to first learn the basics, like Inheritance, which allows you to base your control on some sort of existing control. Say you want to make a custom textbox, then you would create a control that inherits the textbox, then add the extra functionality you want into it. A great article to start is:

"Developing Custom Windows Controls Using Visual Basic .NET"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...rlsampover.asp

In order to change the look of the control, you would have to look at owner drawing, or code the Paint event using a graphics object and GDI+. I haven't messed with owner drawing, but I am sure you can find several results if you search for it. A basic tutorial on GDI+ can be found here:

"A Beginners Guide To GDI+"
http://www.bobpowell.net/beginnersgdi.htm

Creating controls with a unique look basically involves drawing the control yourself using GDI+. Here's an explanation on MSDN, but you'd be able to find articles all over the Net just by searching with the appropriate keywords. Many relative beginners get really excited about creating their own controls because it will make their application look flashy. In my opinion it is best to leave things like this until you have a solid understanding of the basics. What's the point of a flashy coat of paint if the engine won't run, or can't get out of first gear. To each their own though.

Thats the link I was missing JM :) I can add that to my list of handy bookmarks. Somehow I missed that one in my search :thumb:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gigemboy

A good place to start is to first learn the basics, like Inheritance, which allows you to base your control on some sort of existing control. Say you want to make a custom textbox, then you would create a control that inherits the textbox, then add the extra functionality you want into it. A great article to start is:

"Developing Custom Windows Controls Using Visual Basic .NET"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...rlsampover.asp

In order to change the look of the control, you would have to look at owner drawing, or code the Paint event using a graphics object and GDI+. I haven't messed with owner drawing, but I am sure you can find several results if you search for it. A basic tutorial on GDI+ can be found here:

"A Beginners Guide To GDI+"
http://www.bobpowell.net/beginnersgdi.htm

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Wow Inheritence is cool :thumb: :thumb:

Thanks for the sweet link!