Concept of MBToolStrip and MBStatusStrip

Introduction

Why another Tool Strip or Status Strip?

The standard ToolStrip/StatusStrip is too limited in functionality and I couldn't find a custom control written that did all that I wanted. This is a User Control with Microsoft Office 2007 Visual Style. It is simple to use, just drop it on the form, and use it like the normal ToolStrip or StatusStrip Control.

Background

MBToolStrip/MBStatusStrip is a ToolStrip/StatusStrip which inherits all the properties of a simple ToolStrip and StatusStrip control. I added Microsoft Office 2007 like Visuals in MBMenuStrip/MBToolStrip. The language used is VB.NET. There are so many classes which provides the same functionality, but for that we have to write a minimum two lines of code to add that rendered class to our application. MBToolStrip/MBStatusStrip is the MenuStrip which already contains the MBMenuRenderer Class. You just add the reference of MBToolStrip.Dll and use it by Dragging and Dropping in your application.

Code

The concept for this Tool Strip came from the Microsoft Office 2007 Tool Strip and Status Strip. I organized methods of MBMenuRenderer into layers like this:

Following are the methods which are responsible for rendering a simple Tool Strip and Status Strip like Microsoft Office.

This method Render Background of MBToolStrip/MBStatusStrip item:

Private Sub RenderToolButtonBackground(ByVal g As Graphics, ByVal button As ToolStripButton, ByVal toolstrip As ToolStrip)

If (button.Enabled) Then

If (button.Checked) Then

If (button.Pressed) Then

DrawGradientToolItem(g, button, _itemToolItemPressedColors)

ElseIf (button.Selected) Then

DrawGradientToolItem(g, button, _itemToolItemCheckPressColors)

Else

DrawGradientToolItem(g, button, _itemToolItemCheckedColors)

End If

Else

If (button.Pressed) Then

DrawGradientToolItem(g, button, _itemToolItemPressedColors)

ElseIf (button.Selected) Then

DrawGradientToolItem(g, button, _itemToolItemSelectedColors)

End If

Else

If (button.Selected) Then

Dim mousePos As Point = toolstrip.PointToClient(Control.MousePosition)

If (Not button.Bounds.Contains(mousePos)) Then DrawGradientToolItem(g, button, _itemDisabledColors)

End If

End Sub

This method Render Image of MBToolStrip/MBStatusStrip Item:

Protected Overrides Sub OnRenderItemImage(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemImageRenderEventArgs)

If TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is ContextMenuStrip Or TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is ToolStripDropDownMenu Then

If Not (e.Image Is Nothing) Then

If (e.Item.Enabled) Then

e.Graphics.DrawImage(e.Image, e.ImageRectangle)

Else

ControlPaint.DrawImageDisabled(e.Graphics, e.Image, _

e.ImageRectangle.X, _

e.ImageRectangle.Y, _

Color.Transparent)

End If

Else

MyBase.OnRenderItemImage(e)

End If

End Sub

This method Handles Text of MBToolStrip/MBStatusStrip:

Protected Overrides Sub OnRenderItemText(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemTextRenderEventArgs)

If TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is MenuStrip Or TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is ToolStrip Or _

TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is ContextMenuStrip Or _

TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is ToolStripDropDownMenu Then

If (Not e.Item.Enabled) Then

e.TextColor = _textDisabled

Else

If (TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is MenuStrip And Not e.Item.Pressed And Not e.Item.Selected) Then

e.TextColor = _textMenuStripItem

ElseIf (TypeOf (e.ToolStrip) Is StatusStrip And Not e.Item.Pressed And Not e.Item.Selected) Then

e.TextColor = _textStatusStripItem

Else

e.TextColor = _textContextMenuItem

End If

Using clearTypeGridFit As UseClearTypeGridFit = New UseClearTypeGridFit(e.Graphics)

MyBase.OnRenderItemText(e)

End Using

End If

Else

MyBase.OnRenderItemText(e)

End If

End Sub

Using the Code

It is very easy to use the MBToolStrip/MBStatusStrip in your application. Just add the reference of the provided DLL to your application and just drag and drop.

History

MBToolStrip and MBStatusStrip Version 1.0.