The new RibbonForm, RibbonRoundButton, and FastMenu

• Download source - 28.0 KB
• Download samples - 739 KB

Introduction

In this article, I present the RibbonForm, RibbonRoundButton, and RibbonFastMenu as a release version. I present RibbonContextMenu as a preview version because I have to improve some parameters to work with it well.

The Controls

RibbonForm 1.0

The RibbonForm was a bit difficult to design due to it being a modeless window, and I had to implement all the resizing and window moving by myself. Also, I had to implement a HSB method to change colors.

Properties

The RibbonForm has these properties:

• CompB: To change the Brightness of the Form with a value that I recommend to get from the RibbonFormSample (see screenshot above).
• CompS: To change the Saturation of the Form, the same as above.
• CompH: To change the Hue of the Form, the same as above.
• TextSection: It's the subtitle of the Form with the harmony color.

How to use

In a new Windows application, add an existing item from the Solution Explorer, and choose the RibbonForm.cs (it adds the other files needed). Now, in the Form1.cs code, change to this:

using RibbonStyle; //To add the NameSpace


namespace RibbonTest
{
    public partial class Form1 : RibbonForm //To inherit from RibbonForm

    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
    }
} 

RibbonRoundButton 1.0

It was really hard to design a vectorial round button with fading, but I think it finished well.

Properties

The RibbonRoundButton has these properties:

• ColorBase, ColorOn, ColorPress: The typical colors.
• ColorStroke: Is the border of the button.
• ImgOffset: You can move the image from topleft to rightdown.
• ImgScale: You can scale the image from 1 to 100.

How to use

You can choose two options: as other buttons, you can add the DLL in Class_RibbonRoundButton, or you can add an existing item in the Solution Explorer and choose RibbonRoundButton.cs, then recompile and add the button to the Form.

RibbonFastMenu 1.0

It's the form that appears when you click on the MenuButton on the top-left. This Form has the typical app options.

I have to implement a SetHSB() method to change the colors, but it is functional.

How to use

In a Windows application, choose Add Existing Item, and select the RibbonFastMenu.cs. I recommend adding all the existing resources from the RibbonTest app to have all the images, and then you will have a Form like in the first image of the article.

Comments

I'm designing a better way to use the RibbonContextMenu because I think it's a bit difficult to use, but please be patient till I finish it.

Keep in mind

• I have to add the SetHSB() method to the FastMenu.
• Make a better way to implement the FastMenu.
• Make a stable version of the RibbonContextMenu.

History

• June 2007 - RibbonForm 1.0, RibbonFastMenu 1.0, RibbonRoundButton 1.0.