Vista Info Bar

• Download source files - 193.39 KB
• Download demo project - 214.47 KB

Introduction

Windows Vista's Explorer has a new UI which has a detailed information bar located on the bottom. On Windows XP, we knew here is a task panel to show information, just as we all know, it is something complicated to use. So, I tried to implement a lite Vista infobar. This demo is just a simple one, it has some functions missing.

Background

In general, our Vista Info Bar has an icon/picture in the left, a detailed information following this icon, and a title on the right-top. But this control is more funny to implement:

1. A PNG's gradient zone: To use PNG, we choose the powerful CxImage library. The demo project has cxImage supported, if you want to compile it yourself, just visit this page.
2. One-pixel border: For better experience of this control, we used two border rectangle, each is one-pixel style.
3. Three steps gradient: Usually, we draw a gradient with two basic colors, but, here, we use three basic colors.

Coding Thoughts

Here are two C++ classes for this implementation: CxImageEx (for CxImage extension of loading the PNG gradient zone from a buffer: GRAD_BAR presents here) and CVistaBar (based on CStatic).

1. To do a real gradient drawing, we use GradientFill() exports from msimg32.dll:

   // LIBRARY TO DRAW COLOR GRADIENTS
   hinst_msimg32 = LoadLibrary( "msimg32.dll" );
   if( hinst_msimg32 ){
       dllfunc_GradientFill =
           ((LPFNDLLFUNC) GetProcAddress( hinst_msimg32, "GradientFill" ));
   }

2. The three steps background zone is designed by the following codes:

   //
   // Draw the Inside Gradient.
   //
   void CVistaBar::DrawGradientFill(CDC *pDCMem, CRect *pRect, BackFillMode FillMode)
   {
       TRIVERTEX rcVertex[4];
   
       rcVertex[0].x=pRect->left;
       rcVertex[0].y=pRect->top;
       rcVertex[0].Red=GetRValue(m_crA)<<8;
       rcVertex[0].Green=GetGValue(m_crA)<<8;
       rcVertex[0].Blue=GetBValue(m_crA)<<8;
       rcVertex[0].Alpha=0x0000;
   
       rcVertex[1].x=pRect->right /2;
       rcVertex[1].y=pRect->bottom;
       rcVertex[1].Red=GetRValue(m_crB)<<8;
       rcVertex[1].Green=GetGValue(m_crB)<<8;
       rcVertex[1].Blue=GetBValue(m_crB)<<8;
       rcVertex[1].Alpha=0;
   
       rcVertex[2].x=pRect->right /2;
       rcVertex[2].y=pRect->top;
       rcVertex[2].Red=GetRValue(m_crB)<<8;
       rcVertex[2].Green=GetGValue(m_crB)<<8;
       rcVertex[2].Blue=GetBValue(m_crB)<<8;
       rcVertex[2].Alpha=0;
   
       rcVertex[3].x=pRect->right;
       rcVertex[3].y=pRect->bottom;
       rcVertex[3].Red=GetRValue(m_crC)<<8;
       rcVertex[3].Green=GetGValue(m_crC)<<8;
       rcVertex[3].Blue=GetBValue(m_crC)<<8;
       rcVertex[3].Alpha=0;
   
       GRADIENT_RECT grect;
       grect.UpperLeft=0;
       grect.LowerRight=1;
   
       // Draw the 1st piece
       dllfunc_GradientFill( *pDCMem ,rcVertex,2,&grect,1,
           (FillMode == HGradient) ? GRADIENT_FILL_RECT_H :  GRADIENT_FILL_RECT_V);
   
       // Draw the 2nd piece
       dllfunc_GradientFill( *pDCMem ,&rcVertex[2],2,&grect,1,
           (FillMode == HGradient) ? GRADIENT_FILL_RECT_H :  GRADIENT_FILL_RECT_V);
   }

3. OnPaint() we do all of the drawing stuff:

   ... ...
   // Draw background
   DrawGradientFill(&dc, &rrc, HGradient);
   
   // Draw the Icon
   if(m_nResID)
       m_Draw.Draw(dc.m_hDC, 5, 5);
   
      // Draw Title
      rcTitle.SetRect(nSpaceX, rc.top + 10, rc.right - 10, rc.bottom - 5);
      COLORREF clrOldText = dc.SetTextColor(m_crTitleColor);
      pOldFont = dc.SelectObject(&fnTitle);
      int nOldMode = dc.SetBkMode(TRANSPARENT);
   
      dc.DrawText((LPCTSTR)m_strTitle, 
           m_strTitle.GetLength(), &rcTitle,DT_RIGHT|DT_TOP);
      dc.SetBkMode(nOldMode);
      dc.SetTextColor(clrOldText);
      dc.SelectObject(pOldFont);
   
   
      // Draw Detail Information
      rcDetail.SetRect(nSpaceX, rc.top + 10 + 8, rc.right - 15, rc.bottom - 5);
      clrOldText = dc.SetTextColor(m_crDetailColor);
      pOldFont = dc.SelectObject(&fnDetail);
      nOldMode = dc.SetBkMode(TRANSPARENT);
   
      dc.DrawText((LPCTSTR)m_strDetail,
                   m_strDetail.GetLength(),
                   &rcDetail,
                   DT_LEFT|DT_TOP);
      dc.SetBkMode(nOldMode);
      dc.SetTextColor(clrOldText);
      dc.SelectObject(pOldFont);
   
      // Draw the Gradient Effect.
      m_DrawGEffect.Draw(dc.m_hDC, rrc.top + 2, rrc.left + 2, rrc.Width()-4, 16);
   
      // Draw Border
      dc.Draw3dRect(rrc, RGB(13, 49, 65), RGB(94, 112, 100));
      dc.Draw3dRect(rrc2, RGB(135, 192, 185), RGB(109, 165, 168)); 

4. SetPhotoInfo(), set the icon:

   void CVistaBar::SetPhotoInfo(UINT uID, CString strGroup, DWORD dwImgType)
   {
       //    m_nResID            = uID;                      // Resource ID
       //    m_strResGroupName   = strGroup;                 // Resource Group
       //    m_dwImageType       = dwImgType;;      // Resource Type (see xImage.h)
       m_nResID          = uID;
   
       // PNG
       m_Draw.LoadResource(FindResource(NULL,MAKEINTRESOURCE(uID), strGroup),
                           dwImgType);
   }

5. SetDisplayInfo(), reset the information to be displayed:

   //
   // Update the Information and Title
   //
   void CVistaBar::SetDisplayInfo(CString &strTitle, CString &strDetail)
   {
       m_strTitle = strTitle;
       m_strDetail = strDetail;
   }

6. RedrawItem(), refresh the item:

   //
   // Refresh Control
   //
   void CVistaBar::RedrawItem()
   {
       Invalidate(FALSE);
   }

How to Use

This demo project is an MFC dialog project. So it may be very easy to know how to use this control:

1. Add vistabar.h, vistabar.cpp, ximageex.h, ximageex.cpp to your project

2. Put a static to your project, and use CVistaBar as the class of its variable

3. Set the icon:

   // Init the InfoBar's Icon
   m_cVistaInfoBar.SetPhotoInfo
       (IDR_VISTA_IMGS_GREEN, _T("VISTA_IMGS"), CXIMAGE_FORMAT_PNG);

4. Set the info with a title:

       CString        strTitle, strInfo;
   
       GetDlgItemText(IDE_TITLE, strTitle);
       GetDlgItemText(IDE_INFO, strInfo);
   
       strInfo.Replace("\\n", "\n");
   
       m_cVistaInfoBar.SetDisplayInfo(strTitle, strInfo);
       m_cVistaInfoBar.RedrawItem();

5. Furthermore, you may need cximage.dll, cximage.lib and its headers. For more information, see demo project.

Comments

This control has some limitations, and I just want to show you some funny stuff. You can also improve it.

This control is a part of Avlgomgr, which is a multi-boot program for a Windows user. If you want more information about it, you can find it here.

stone.lf suggested that I share this control and I want to say thanks to her.

Wish you like this control and enjoy.

History

• 2006-10-12: Initial release