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Owner-drawn trackbar(slider)

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30 Jan 2007LGPL32 min read 228.8K   14.9K   93   43
Implementing a Windows Forms owner-drawn trackbar (slider) control in C#.

Sample Image - ColorSlider.gif

Introduction

This article presents owner-drawn trackbar control. Component is written entirely from scratch. All painting events are done by code. It’s got cool, modern look. The best thing is, however, the capability of changing slider’s thumb shape. It is done simply by providing appropriate graphics path.

Background (optional)

I always wanted to have cool slider for my audio player application. The best I could find here was Guinness4Strength's article. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it pretty enough, so I decided to write my own trackbar. Hopefully you like it.

Properties

Appearance:

  • ThumbSize - Gets or sets the size of the thumb
  • ThumbCustomShape - Gets or sets the thumb custom shape. Use ThumbRect property to determine bounding rectangle.
  • ThumbRoundRectSize - Gets or sets the size of the thumb round rectangle edges.
  • BorderRoundRectSize - Gets or sets the size of the border round rect.

Values:

  • Orientation - Gets or sets the orientation of Slider.
  • Value - Gets or sets the value of Slider.
  • Minimum - Gets or sets the minimum value.
  • Maximum - Gets or sets the maximum value.
  • SmallChange - Gets or sets trackbar's small change. It affects how to behave when directional keys are pressed
  • LargeChange - Gets or sets trackbar's large change. It affects how to behave when PageUp/PageDown keys are pressed

Behavior:

  • DrawFocusRectangle - Gets or sets a value indicating whether to draw focus rectangle.
  • DrawSemitransparentThumb - Gets or sets a value indicating whether to draw semitransparent thumb.
  • MouseEffects - Gets or sets whether mouse entry and exit actions have impact on how control look.
  • MouseWheelBarPartitions - Gets or sets the mouse wheel bar partitions.

Colors:

  • ThumbOuterColor - Gets or sets the thumb outer color.
  • ThumbInnerColor - Gets or sets the inner color of the thumb.
  • ThumbPenColor - Gets or sets the color of the thumb pen.
  • BarOuterColor - Gets or sets the outer color of the bar.
  • BarInnerColor - Gets or sets the inner color of the bar.
  • BarPenColor - Gets or sets the color of the bar pen.
  • ElapsedOuterColor - Gets or sets the outer color of the elapsed.
  • ElapsedInnerColor - Gets or sets the inner color of the elapsed.

Points of Interest

This control will provide design-time support. Next version should contain custom properties editors.

History

  • 30.01.2007 - first version.
  • License

    This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPLv3)


    Written By
    Architect Nokia Siemens Networks
    Poland Poland
    Michał is C# and whole .NET enthusiast. He graduated from computer science MSc studies at Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland.

    He is interested in photography and diving. He is member of PADI, currently with divemaster certificate.

    His favorite movies are Matrix, Amélie(Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain), Stargate SG-1 TV Serie and comedies of Mel Brooks.

    Michał lives in Wroclaw, Poland. To contact Michał, email him at michal.brylka[mail-'"at'"-sign]op.pl.

    Comments and Discussions

     
    GeneralRe: Great Control - added ToolStrip support [modified] Pin
    Michal Brylka28-Jun-07 7:34
    Michal Brylka28-Jun-07 7:34 
    Generalyour control is very good,I want Two blocks in your control, Pin
    frequent30-May-07 18:55
    frequent30-May-07 18:55 
    GeneralRe: your control is very good,I want Two blocks in your control, Pin
    Michal Brylka31-May-07 8:35
    Michal Brylka31-May-07 8:35 
    QuestionAccessiblity? Pin
    Zorbek5-Feb-07 21:59
    Zorbek5-Feb-07 21:59 
    AnswerRe: Accessiblity? Pin
    Michal Brylka7-Feb-07 1:55
    Michal Brylka7-Feb-07 1:55 
    GeneralRe: Accessiblity? Pin
    Zorbek7-Feb-07 13:06
    Zorbek7-Feb-07 13:06 
    GeneralInteresting idea Pin
    Pete O'Hanlon30-Jan-07 0:54
    subeditorPete O'Hanlon30-Jan-07 0:54 
    GeneralRe: Interesting idea Pin
    Michal Brylka30-Jan-07 15:52
    Michal Brylka30-Jan-07 15:52 
    I'm installing Vista as soon as it is available at MSDN AA. I'll then take a glance at WPF. Hopefully I'll be able to catch with this technology.

    Michał Bryłka

    GeneralAdd few thing to become ultimate ;) Pin
    The Monz30-Jan-07 0:42
    The Monz30-Jan-07 0:42 
    GeneralRe: Add few thing to become ultimate ;) Pin
    Michal Brylka7-Feb-07 2:05
    Michal Brylka7-Feb-07 2:05 
    GeneralRe: Add few thing to become ultimate ;) Pin
    J.e.e.P21-Apr-09 2:31
    J.e.e.P21-Apr-09 2:31 

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