Re: Focus - C# Discussion Boards

20-Jul-05 12:39

Hello.. i have a problem.. i have an application, and i want it to do smth when a key-combination is pressed... the problem is that i want it to do that even when it doesn't have focus.. i need smth like a "global hotkey", or i need to set up an event listener, that can listen for events even when my application doesn't have focus.. can anybody help? pls...

Mark Greenwood20-Jul-05 18:07

Mark Greenwood

20-Jul-05 18:07

Ok in your app import the User32.dll function RegisterHotKey

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError=true)]<br />
		public static extern bool RegisterHotKey( IntPtr hWnd, // handle to window    <br />
			int id, // hot key identifier    <br />
			KeyModifiers fsModifiers,  // key-modifier options    <br />
			Keys vk // virtual-key code    <br />
			);

Whilst Your at it - may as well import the Unregister one too

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError=true)]<br />
		public static extern bool UnregisterHotKey( IntPtr hWnd, // handle to window    <br />
			int id // hot key identifier    <br />
			);

In your MainForm constructor - register the hot key

RegisterHotKey(Handle, 100, KeyModifiers.Control | KeyModifiers.Shift, Keys.L);

In this case it's ctrl, shift and L - anything you want really.

Then override the WndProc for the main form and handle the event

protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)<br />
		{<br />
			// Const for the WM_HOTKEY message<br />
			const int WM_HOTKEY = 0x0312;<br />
<br />
			// Switch on the message<br />
			switch(m.Msg)<br />
			{<br />
				case WM_HOTKEY:<br />
				{<br />
					// Process the hot key press here<br />
					break;<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
<br />
			// Pass message onto base<br />
			base.WndProc (ref m);<br />
		}

Remember to also unregister the hot key in the Form.OnClosed method

private void Form1_Closed(object sender, System.EventArgs e)<br />
		{									<br />
			// Unregister the hot key<br />
			UnregisterHotKey(Handle, 100);<br />
		}

That should do what you want.

Mark. Smile | :)

nc3b21-Jul-05 0:01

21-Jul-05 0:01

Hey

. Thanks a lot Smile | :)

nc3b21-Jul-05 1:15

21-Jul-05 1:15

still, i have a problem.... Frown | :(

"KeyModifiers fsModifiers" the program throws an error when i attempt to build it..
" The type or namespace name 'KeyModifiers' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)" it's a common error.. pls help, the rest of the code is perfect Smile | :)

[Marc]21-Jul-05 16:10

21-Jul-05 16:10

[Flags()]
public enum KeyModifiers 
{
	Alt = 1,
	Control = 2,
	Shift = 4,
	Windows = 8 //Not sure about the value 8...
}

Hope this helps you out! Cool | :cool:

nc3b21-Jul-05 21:21

21-Jul-05 21:21

Hey, thx

[Marc]22-Jul-05 9:29

How can i find the DataRow number in DataRowCollection

22-Jul-05 9:29

You're welcome! Cool | :cool:

m.rastgar20-Jul-05 12:30

m.rastgar

20-Jul-05 12:30

when i use find method of DataRowCollection, it returns DataRow. i need to know the row number of this returned DataRow in the DataRowCollection. but i cant. how should encounter with this DataRow to find that number?

thanks
Rastegar

Transparent Overlapping Panels Problem...

rcurrie20-Jul-05 12:25

20-Jul-05 12:25

Hello!

I just have a question regarding the transparency of a panel. I have tried this with Controls & Forms, but all to no avail.

What I am trying to accomplish is a 3 layered panel system, with an underlying form. The form could have a background image, for example, and I should be able to see through all 3 panel objects I have and see the underlying form. This is simple.

The tricky part is that I want the 3 panels to function in a sort of non-transparent fashion. I have all the panels nested inside each other. panel 1 inside panel 2, panel 2 inside panel 3.

Now when the user clicks, the hit control is handled by the inner most panel...panel 1. Then if the user drags out a box, for example, the box is drawn on the middle panel, panel 2. When the user releases the mouse button, the middle panel is cleared and the final box is drawn on the last panel, panel 3.

The problem I am having is that the panels are transparent, but see all the way through to the form. Therefore I have it drawing successfully on the middle panel, but you cannot see what is being drawn because panel one is 'transparent' through it. Sorry if that didn't make sense.

I have set all the style properties as best I can, to accept transparent background colors, etc. Yet I just can't think of a way to accomplish this little dilema. Any and all help, suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Marc]20-Jul-05 16:12

20-Jul-05 16:12

Hi rcurrie, i created this sample app, and it works pretty good! I thought it was a pretty cool idea to sort your problem out. I like a challenge Wink | ;)

. Instead of 3 Panels, i used 2 (changed them to Labels, because of the flickering). The box that the user drags is drawn on Panel1, and all previously drawn boxes are stored in FinalRects and drawn on Panel2.

But... i made it in VB, because i don't know how to program in C# D'Oh! | :doh:

. I tried converting with SharpDevelop, but errors everywhere... Dead | X|

Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing.Drawing2D

Public Class TransPanelForm
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

#Region " Windows Form Designer generated code "

    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New()

        'This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
        InitializeComponent()

        'Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call
        Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint Or ControlStyles.DoubleBuffer Or ControlStyles.UserPaint, True)
    End Sub

    'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
        If disposing Then
            If Not (components Is Nothing) Then
                components.Dispose()
            End If
        End If
        MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
    End Sub

    'Required by the Windows Form Designer
    Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer

    'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
    'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.  
    'Do not modify it using the code editor.
    Friend WithEvents Panel1 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    Friend WithEvents Panel2 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    Friend WithEvents Panel3 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        Me.Panel1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Me.Panel3 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Me.Panel3.SuspendLayout()
        Me.SuspendLayout()
        '
        'Panel1
        '
        Me.Panel1.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent
        Me.Panel1.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill
        Me.Panel1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(0, 0)
        Me.Panel1.Name = "Panel1"
        Me.Panel1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(270, 244)
        Me.Panel1.TabIndex = 0
        '
        'Panel3
        '
        Me.Panel3.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent
        Me.Panel3.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.FixedSingle
        Me.Panel3.Controls.Add(Me.Panel1)
        Me.Panel3.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill
        Me.Panel3.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(10, 10)
        Me.Panel3.Name = "Panel3"
        Me.Panel3.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(272, 246)
        Me.Panel3.TabIndex = 0
        '
        'TransPanelForm
        '
        Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13)
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 266)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.Panel3)
        Me.DockPadding.All = 10
        Me.Name = "TransPanelForm"
        Me.Text = "TransPanelForm"
        Me.Panel3.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.ResumeLayout(False)

    End Sub

#End Region

    ''' <summary>The current rectangle that is dragged.</summary>
    Private DragRect As Rectangle
    ''' <summary>A collection of rectangles.</summary>
    Private FinalRects As New ArrayList

    ''' <summary>The position at which the mouse was pressed.</summary>
    Private MouseDownPos As Point
    ''' <summary>Is the left mouse button down?</summary>
    Private LeftMouseDown As Boolean

    Protected Overrides Sub OnPaintBackground(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs)
        MyBase.OnPaintBackground(e)

        Dim rect As Rectangle = Me.ClientRectangle
        Dim brush As New LinearGradientBrush(rect, Color.White, Color.LightSteelBlue, LinearGradientMode.ForwardDiagonal)
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brush, rect)
        brush.Dispose()

    End Sub
    Protected Overrides Sub OnSizeChanged(ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
        MyBase.OnSizeChanged(e)
        Me.Invalidate()
    End Sub

    ''' <summary>Calculates the DragRect.</summary>
    Private Function CalcDragRect(ByVal mouseX As Integer, ByVal mouseY As Integer) As Rectangle
        Return Rectangle.FromLTRB(Math.Min(mouseX, MouseDownPos.X), _
                                  Math.Min(mouseY, MouseDownPos.Y), _
                                  Math.Max(mouseX, MouseDownPos.X), _
                                  Math.Max(mouseY, MouseDownPos.Y))
    End Function

#Region " Panel1_Mouse... "

    Private Sub Panel1_MouseDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Panel1.MouseDown
        If e.Button = MouseButtons.Left Then
            Debug.WriteLine("Panel1_MouseDown")
            MouseDownPos = New Point(e.X, e.Y)
            LeftMouseDown = True
            DragRect = New Rectangle(e.X, e.Y, 0, 0)
            Panel2.Invalidate()
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Panel1_MouseUp(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Panel1.MouseUp
        If LeftMouseDown Then
            Debug.WriteLine("Panel1_MouseUp")
            LeftMouseDown = False
            DragRect = Me.CalcDragRect(e.X, e.Y)
            Panel2.Invalidate()
            FinalRects.Add(DragRect)
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Panel1_MouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Panel1.MouseMove
        If e.Button = MouseButtons.Left Then
            Debug.WriteLine("Panel1_MouseMove")
            DragRect = Me.CalcDragRect(e.X, e.Y)
            Panel1.Invalidate()
        End If
    End Sub

#End Region

    ''' <summary>Draws a rectangle.</summary>
    ''' <remarks>Instead of just doing 'g.DrawRectangle(pen, rect)', 
    '''          this method draws a line if the width and/or height
    '''          of the rectangle is zero. This way a line is drawn, 
    '''          instead of just nothing.</remarks>
    Public Shared Sub DrawRect(ByVal g As Graphics, ByVal rect As Rectangle, ByVal pen As Pen)
        If (rect.Width = 0) AndAlso (rect.Height = 0) Then
            g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X, rect.Y + 0.01!)
        ElseIf (rect.Width > 0) AndAlso (rect.Height = 0) Then
            g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.Right, rect.Y)
        ElseIf (rect.Width = 0) AndAlso (rect.Height > 0) Then
            g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X, rect.Bottom)
        Else '(rect.Width > 0) AndAlso (rect.Height > 0)
            g.DrawRectangle(pen, rect)
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Panel2_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel2.Paint
        For Each rect As Rectangle In FinalRects
            DrawRect(e.Graphics, rect, Pens.Red)
        Next
    End Sub
    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        If LeftMouseDown Then
            Dim pen As New Pen(Color.Blue)
            pen.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash
            DrawRect(e.Graphics, DragRect, pen)
            pen.Dispose()
        End If
    End Sub

End Class

rcurrie21-Jul-05 6:35

21-Jul-05 6:35

Wow Absofukinlutely! Thanks so much for taking the time to work that out! I have a little VB.NET experience so I'll see if I can convert it to C# and see how it handles. Thanks again so much!! Big Grin | :-D

rcurrie21-Jul-05 12:46

21-Jul-05 12:46

Well I gave this a shot...and maybe it's my own inexperience, but it doesn't seem to be working the way I had hoped. That's a great example Absofukinlutely, but when I offset the Labels...the rectangles aren't being drawn on the outtermost label; instead they are all being drawn on the innermost label. I just can't for the life of me figure out this problem. I was just hoping there was something in Visual Studio that had the functionality I desire, but I just can't seem to find it.

Below = BAD
______
|........|
|.2.....|___
|...|********|
|...|********|
|...|********|
```|*****1**|
```|********|

Below = GOOD!
______
|........|
|.2.....|___
|...|....|*****|
|...|....|*****|
|...|....|*****|
```|*****1**|
```|********|

[Marc]21-Jul-05 15:56

21-Jul-05 15:56

Your welcome! I'm glad you liked it, it was fun to make. Big Grin | :-D

Well, now to the next problem:
If something has a transparent background, it's not really transparent, it just asks its parent to draw the background again. So if panel1 and panel2 both have the same parent (the form), they both draw the background of the form (the BAD example). But, if panel1 has panel2 as parent, it will show the background of panel2 (GOOD example).

I'm not sure what you want:
1: You want to drag the rectangle and draw the rectangle that is being dragged and draw all the previously dragged rectangles on the same panel.
In this case, get rid of panel1, add the panel1 painting to the panel2 painting, and change the mouse events of panel1 to that of panel2.
[Snapshot] [Code (Still in VB D'Oh! | :doh:

)]

2: You want to drag the rectangle and draw the rectangle on one panel, and draw all previously dragged rectangles on an other panel. If you want this, i think the best way is to move panel1 out of panel2 and on to the form.
[Snapshot] [Code]

3: Something else...

Mzl! Cool | :cool:

rcurrie22-Jul-05 7:29

22-Jul-05 7:29

Thanks again Absofukinlutely for your continued help in this matter, I really do appreciate it very much! Your example really has made things clearer for me. I didn't grasp the fact that there wasn't 'true' transparency, but that it was simply the parent re-drawing itself. That makes sense on why my earlier attempts where not functioning.

On to explaining what I want...well I have been attempting to create a fairly simple project that has 3 frames. The top-most frame is my event frame, it handles all mouse click events, the second and third frame function exactly like your '2:' example above. As you drag out a box...that box is drawn, by itself, on the middle frame...the 'drag frame'. When the mouse button is released, the drag frame is cleared, and the dragged out box is then added to the list of rectangles and then drawn on the last frame, the 'render frame'.

The trouble is that all frames overlap...and currently (since their parents are all the underlying form) you can't see anything being drawn becuase they are all transparent and just see all the way through down to the form.

If I apply the parenting structure like you have in your example and then manage the OnPaint events better I should be able to achieve what I am looking for. So the overall parent would be the underlying form, which would then contain the 'render_frame'. The 'render_frame's child would be the 'drag_frame' and the 'drag_frame's child would be the 'event_frame'. Does this sound about right? That way it should function properly. I would have a changing background image in the parent form that you could effectively 'mark-up' using the boxes and frames.

Thanks again Absofukinlutely, I really do appreciate all the great explanations and examples! Cool | :cool:

~rcurrie

[Marc]22-Jul-05 9:00

22-Jul-05 9:00

Again you're welcome!
One thing though: why don't you do the dragging and the drag-painting on the same panel? Seems easier to me, but you have to know for your self. Its your project of course. Big Grin | :-D

If you have any problems, feel free to ask!

Cheers! Cool | :cool:

rcurrie22-Jul-05 9:06

22-Jul-05 9:06

I do see the ease of handling the dragging and painting on a single panel, yet eventually the events frame will be built out to handle a few other events and more frames will be added, thus opening the possibilty of needing the events frame, but not the drag frame, for example. So that's partially why...the other reason is because that's what I've been tasked to do :P and so it's not entirely up to me.

But again, thanks! And I'll be sure and ask if anything further comes up.

~rcurrie Smile | :)

[Marc]22-Jul-05 9:28

22-Jul-05 9:28

Well, i guess you've got to do what the boss says! Wink | ;)

Good luck! Cool | :cool:

rcurrie25-Jul-05 14:02

25-Jul-05 14:02

Here's the translated C# code if anyones interested...

using System;<br />
using System.Drawing;<br />
using System.Collections;<br />
using System.ComponentModel;<br />
using System.Windows.Forms;<br />
using System.Data;<br />
<br />
namespace WindowsApplication3<br />
{<br />
	public class Form1 : System.Windows.Forms.Form<br />
	{<br />
		private System.Windows.Forms.Label label3;<br />
		private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;<br />
<br />
		private bool LeftMouseDown = false;<br />
		private Point MouseDownPos;<br />
		private Rectangle DragRect;<br />
		private ArrayList FinalRects;<br />
<br />
		private System.ComponentModel.Container components = null;<br />
<br />
		public Form1()<br />
		{<br />
			InitializeComponent();<br />
<br />
			this.MouseDownPos = new Point( 0,0 );<br />
			this.FinalRects = new ArrayList();<br />
<br />
			this.SetStyle(System.Windows.Forms.ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, true);<br />
			this.SetStyle(System.Windows.Forms.ControlStyles.DoubleBuffer, true);<br />
			this.SetStyle(System.Windows.Forms.ControlStyles.UserPaint, true);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )<br />
		{<br />
			if( disposing )<br />
			{<br />
				if (components != null) <br />
				{<br />
					components.Dispose();<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
			base.Dispose( disposing );<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		#region Windows Form Designer generated code<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify<br />
		/// the contents of this method with the code editor.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		private void InitializeComponent()<br />
		{<br />
			this.label3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();<br />
			this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();<br />
			this.label3.SuspendLayout();<br />
			this.SuspendLayout();<br />
			// <br />
			// label3<br />
			// <br />
			this.label3.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;<br />
			this.label3.Controls.Add(this.label1);<br />
			this.label3.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;<br />
			this.label3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);<br />
			this.label3.Name = "label3";<br />
			this.label3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);<br />
			this.label3.TabIndex = 0;<br />
			this.label3.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.label3_Paint);<br />
			// <br />
			// label1<br />
			// <br />
			this.label1.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;<br />
			this.label1.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;<br />
			this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);<br />
			this.label1.Name = "label1";<br />
			this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);<br />
			this.label1.TabIndex = 1;<br />
			this.label1.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.label1_Paint);<br />
			this.label1.MouseUp += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.label1_MouseUp);<br />
			this.label1.MouseMove += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.label1_MouseMove);<br />
			this.label1.MouseDown += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.label1_MouseDown);<br />
			// <br />
			// Form1<br />
			// <br />
			this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);<br />
			this.BackColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.Control;<br />
			this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);<br />
			this.Controls.Add(this.label3);<br />
			this.Name = "Form1";<br />
			this.Text = "Form1";<br />
			this.SizeChanged += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_SizeChanged);<br />
			this.label3.ResumeLayout(false);<br />
			this.ResumeLayout(false);<br />
<br />
		}<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		[STAThread]<br />
		static void Main() <br />
		{<br />
			Application.Run(new Form1());<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected override void OnPaintBackground(PaintEventArgs pevent)<br />
		{<br />
			base.OnPaintBackground (pevent);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private void label1_MouseDown(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if( e.Button == MouseButtons.Left )<br />
			{<br />
				Console.WriteLine("Panel2_MouseDown");<br />
				MouseDownPos = new Point(e.X, e.Y);          <br />
				LeftMouseDown = true;<br />
				DragRect = new Rectangle(e.X, e.Y, 0, 0);<br />
				this.label1.Invalidate();<br />
			}		<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private void label1_MouseMove(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if( e.Button == MouseButtons.Left )<br />
			{<br />
				Console.WriteLine("Panel2_MouseMove");<br />
				DragRect = CalcDragRect(e.X, e.Y);<br />
				this.label1.Invalidate();<br />
			}		<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private void label1_MouseUp(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if( LeftMouseDown )<br />
			{<br />
				 Console.WriteLine("Panel2_MouseUp");<br />
				LeftMouseDown = false;<br />
				DragRect = CalcDragRect(e.X, e.Y);			<br />
				this.label1.Invalidate();<br />
				FinalRects.Add(DragRect);<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private void label1_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if( LeftMouseDown )<br />
			{<br />
				Pen pen = new Pen(Color.Blue);<br />
				pen.DashStyle = System.Drawing.Drawing2D.DashStyle.Dash;<br />
				DrawRect(e.Graphics, DragRect, pen);<br />
				pen.Dispose();<br />
			}		<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private void label3_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			foreach( Rectangle rect in FinalRects )<br />
			{<br />
				DrawRect(e.Graphics, rect, Pens.Red);<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		public void DrawRect(Graphics g, Rectangle rect, Pen pen)<br />
		{<br />
			if (rect.Width == 0 && rect.Height == 0) <br />
			{<br />
				g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X, rect.Y + (float)0.01);<br />
			}<br />
			else if (rect.Width > 0 && rect.Height == 0) <br />
			{<br />
				g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.Right, rect.Y);<br />
			}<br />
			else if (rect.Width == 0 && rect.Height > 0) <br />
			{<br />
				g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X, rect.Bottom);<br />
			}<br />
			else //if (rect.Width > 0 && rect.Height > 0)<br />
			{<br />
				g.DrawRectangle(pen, rect);<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private System.Drawing.Rectangle CalcDragRect(int mouseX, int mouseY)<br />
		{<br />
			return Rectangle.FromLTRB( System.Math.Min(mouseX, MouseDownPos.X),<br />
										System.Math.Min(mouseY, MouseDownPos.Y),<br />
										System.Math.Max(mouseX, MouseDownPos.X),<br />
										System.Math.Max(mouseY, MouseDownPos.Y) <br />
									);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		private void Form1_SizeChanged(object sender, System.EventArgs e)<br />
		{ <br />
			base.OnSizeChanged(e);<br />
			this.Invalidate();	<br />
		}<br />
	}<br />
}<br />

*sigh* still working on this one. Dead | X|

[Marc]26-Jul-05 7:55

26-Jul-05 7:55

This works (for me), i copied it from Reflector:

namespace TransparentPanels
{
    using System;
    using System.Collections;
    using System.ComponentModel;
    using System.Diagnostics;
    using System.Drawing;
    using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
    using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
    using System.Windows.Forms;

    public class TransPanelForm : Form
    {
        // Methods
        public TransPanelForm()
        {
            this.FinalRects = new ArrayList();
            this.InitializeComponent();
            this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.DoubleBuffer | 
                         (ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint | 
                          ControlStyles.UserPaint), true);
        }

        private Rectangle CalcDragRect(int mouseX, int mouseY)
        {
            return Rectangle.FromLTRB(Math.Min(mouseX, this.MouseDownPos.X), 
                                      Math.Min(mouseY, this.MouseDownPos.Y), 
                                      Math.Max(mouseX, this.MouseDownPos.X), 
                                      Math.Max(mouseY, this.MouseDownPos.Y));
        }

        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            if (disposing && (this.components != null))
            {
                this.components.Dispose();
            }
            base.Dispose(disposing);
        }

        public static void DrawRect(Graphics g, Rectangle rect, Pen pen)
        {
            if ((rect.Width == 0) && (rect.Height == 0))
            {
                g.DrawLine(pen, (float)rect.X, (float)rect.Y, 
                                (float)rect.X, (float)(rect.Y + 0.01f));
            }
            else if ((rect.Width > 0) && (rect.Height == 0))
            {
                g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.Right, rect.Y);
            }
            else if ((rect.Width == 0) && (rect.Height > 0))
            {
                g.DrawLine(pen, rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X, rect.Bottom);
            }
            else
            {
                g.DrawRectangle(pen, rect);
            }
        }

        [DebuggerStepThrough]
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.Panel1 = new Label();
            this.Panel2 = new Label();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            this.Panel1.BackColor = Color.Transparent;
            this.Panel1.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.FixedSingle;
            this.Panel1.Dock = DockStyle.Left;
            Point point1 = new Point(10, 10);
            this.Panel1.Location = point1;
            this.Panel1.Name = "Panel1";
            Size size1 = new Size(270, 0x10a);
            this.Panel1.Size = size1;
            this.Panel1.TabIndex = 0;
            this.Panel2.BackColor = Color.Transparent;
            this.Panel2.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.FixedSingle;
            this.Panel2.Dock = DockStyle.Right;
            point1 = new Point(290, 10);
            this.Panel2.Location = point1;
            this.Panel2.Name = "Panel2";
            size1 = new Size(0x110, 0x10a);
            this.Panel2.Size = size1;
            this.Panel2.TabIndex = 0;
            size1 = new Size(5, 13);
            this.AutoScaleBaseSize = size1;
            size1 = new Size(0x23c, 0x11e);
            this.ClientSize = size1;
            this.Controls.Add(this.Panel2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.Panel1);
            this.DockPadding.All = 10;
            this.Name = "TransPanelForm";
            this.Text = "TransPanelForm";
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
        }

        [STAThread]
        public static void Main()
        {
            Application.Run(new TransPanelForm());
        }

        protected override void OnPaintBackground(PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            base.OnPaintBackground(e);
            Rectangle rectangle1 = this.ClientRectangle;
            LinearGradientBrush brush1 = new LinearGradientBrush(rectangle1, 
                                         Color.White, Color.LightSteelBlue, 
                                         LinearGradientMode.ForwardDiagonal);
            e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brush1, rectangle1);
            brush1.Dispose();
        }

        protected override void OnSizeChanged(EventArgs e)
        {
            base.OnSizeChanged(e);
            this.Invalidate();
        }

        private void Panel1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
            {
                Point point1 = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
                this.MouseDownPos = point1;
                this.LeftMouseDown = true;
                Rectangle rectangle1 = new Rectangle(e.X, e.Y, 0, 0);
                this.DragRect = rectangle1;
                this.Panel2.Invalidate();
            }
        }

        private void Panel1_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
            {
                this.DragRect = this.CalcDragRect(e.X, e.Y);
                this.Panel1.Invalidate();
            }
        }

        private void Panel1_MouseUp(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            if (this.LeftMouseDown)
            {
                this.LeftMouseDown = false;
                this.DragRect = this.CalcDragRect(e.X, e.Y);
                this.Panel2.Invalidate();
                this.FinalRects.Add(this.DragRect);
            }
        }

        private void Panel1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            if (this.LeftMouseDown)
            {
                Pen pen1 = new Pen(Color.Blue);
                pen1.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash;
                TransPanelForm.DrawRect(e.Graphics, this.DragRect, pen1);
                pen1.Dispose();
            }
        }

        private void Panel2_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            IEnumerator enum1;
            try
            {
                enum1 = this.FinalRects.GetEnumerator();
                while (enum1.MoveNext())
                {
                    Rectangle rectangle1 = (Rectangle) enum1.Current;
                    TransPanelForm.DrawRect(e.Graphics, rectangle1, Pens.Red);
                }
            }
            finally
            {
             }
        }

        // Properties
        internal virtual Label Panel1
        {
            get
            {
                return this._Panel1;
            }
            [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]
            set
            {
                if (this._Panel1 != null)
                {
                    this._Panel1.Paint -= new PaintEventHandler(this.Panel1_Paint);
                    this._Panel1.MouseMove -= new MouseEventHandler(this.Panel1_MouseMove);
                    this._Panel1.MouseUp -= new MouseEventHandler(this.Panel1_MouseUp);
                    this._Panel1.MouseDown -= new MouseEventHandler(this.Panel1_MouseDown);
                }
                this._Panel1 = value;
                if (this._Panel1 != null)
                {
                    this._Panel1.Paint += new PaintEventHandler(this.Panel1_Paint);
                    this._Panel1.MouseMove += new MouseEventHandler(this.Panel1_MouseMove);
                    this._Panel1.MouseUp += new MouseEventHandler(this.Panel1_MouseUp);
                    this._Panel1.MouseDown += new MouseEventHandler(this.Panel1_MouseDown);
                }
            }
        }

        internal virtual Label Panel2
        {
            get
            {
                return this._Panel2;
            }
            [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]
            set
            {
                if (this._Panel2 != null)
                {
                    this._Panel2.Paint -= new PaintEventHandler(this.Panel2_Paint);
                }
                this._Panel2 = value;
                if (this._Panel2 != null)
                {
                    this._Panel2.Paint += new PaintEventHandler(this.Panel2_Paint);
                }
            }
        }

        // Fields
        [AccessedThroughProperty("Panel1")]
        private Label _Panel1;
        [AccessedThroughProperty("Panel2")]
        private Label _Panel2;
        private IContainer components;
        private Rectangle DragRect;
        private ArrayList FinalRects;
        private bool LeftMouseDown;
        private Point MouseDownPos;
    }
}

rcurrie2-Aug-05 14:04

2-Aug-05 14:04

Alright, here's one last shot at the dilema I've been facing with this little project. I'm just so close, yet so far. Here's the setup as it currently stands.

I have a basic Win-Form with a Browser component Control, I've then added to that this.WB.Controls.Add(this.render_label);. This is just a label exactly as in your example, so the render label has a drag label control added to itself this.render_label.Controls.Add(this.drag_label);. So basically what I would like to accomplish is to view web pages in the browser, and then be able to draw rectangles and such around objects on the web page. But currently when I make the render & drag labels visible (their backcolor is set to .Transparent) the browser disappears and you then see the original forms background.

I tried utilizing the browser Invalidated() event handler, but to no avail. Am I just missing the point here? Any other suggesitons you might have would be greatly appreciated again. Frown | :(

~Rcurrie

[Marc]3-Aug-05 1:05

3-Aug-05 1:05

rcurrie wrote:
Am I just missing the point here?

Yes i think you are, because the point is that a transparant control just paints it's parent. So when the browser and the render label are both on the form (have form as parent), and the label is over the browser, the label will just paint the form.

I don't know about the browser (like it's an ActiveX or something). Does the browser control has a Controls property, just like the label? If so, try adding the render label to the browser (browser.Controls.Add(render_label)). But again i don't know if that is even possible. Frown | :(

Waiting for your reply! Smile | :)

"..Commit yourself to quality from day one..it's better to do nothing at all than to do something badly.."
-- Mark McCormick

rcurrie4-Aug-05 11:20