Couple of questions regarding Windows Service in C# - C# Discussion Boards

dojohansen18-Oct-09 0:49

18-Oct-09 0:49

First, the reason your original idea doesn't work is that the event handlers are all on the same thread. The mouseup handler cannot run until mousedown returns, and mousedown doesn't return until mouseup has run, so you're basically deadlocking yourself with only one thread! Big Grin | :-D

Depending on what you do in those handlers you may be able to do it in another thread instead. But if you want to do anything to the GUI itself, you aren't allowed to do so on any thread but the "gui thread", which is the same thread that is raising the events.

So you have to use another hook... to marshal the call back to the UI thread again!

Here's an example of how to do this. To run it, create a new windows forms application and replace Form1.cs with:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Threading;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication2
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        long n;
        MouseButtons buttons;
        Label label1;

        public Form1()
        {
            label1 = new Label();
            label1.Text = "here";
            Controls.Add(label1);
            label1.MouseUp += new MouseEventHandler(label1_MouseUp);
            label1.MouseDown += new MouseEventHandler(label1_MouseDown);
        }


        void label1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            buttons = e.Button;
            new Thread(run).Start();
        }

        void label1_MouseUp(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            buttons = MouseButtons.None;
        }

        void run()
        {
            var upd = new Action(update);
            while (buttons != MouseButtons.None) label1.Invoke(upd);
        }

        void update()
        {
            n = (buttons == MouseButtons.Left ? --n : ++n);
            label1.Text = n.ToString();
        }
    }
}

Owner drawn TabControl doesn't act as I want it

WebMaster17-Oct-09 0:20

WebMaster

17-Oct-09 0:20

Hey guys.

So, my owner drawn TabControl, inheriting from the TabControl in System.Windows.Forms, doesn't want to give me a transparent background. (Or I simply don't know how) It's also giving me these weird gaps, and somehow it's not filling out all the space in my Panel parent.

Here's a screenshot: http://tinypic.com/r/1tou9h/4

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Drawing.Design;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

using Storm;
using Storm.Docking;
using Storm.Docking.Controls;
using Storm.Docking.Visual;
using Storm.Docking.Visual.Drawing;
using Storm.Docking.Visual.Glyphs;
using Storm.Docking.Win32;

namespace Storm.Docking.Visual
{
	#region TabMouseEventArgs

	/// <summary>
	/// Class containing information about a Tab mouse event.
	/// </summary>
	public class TabMouseEventArgs
		: EventArgs
	{
		#region Fields

		private TabPage _tabPage = null;

		#endregion

		#region Properties

		/// <summary>
		/// Gets or sets the TabPage associated with the TabMouseEventArgs.
		/// </summary>
		[Browsable(false)]
		[Description("Gets or sets the TabPage associated with the TabMouseEventArgs.")]
		public TabPage TabPage
		{
			get { return _tabPage; }
			set { _tabPage = value; }
		}

		#endregion

		/// <summary>
		/// Initializes a new instance of TabMouseEventArgs.
		/// </summary>
		public TabMouseEventArgs()
		{
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Initializes a new instance of TabMouseEventArgs.
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="page">TabPage associated with the TabMouseEventArgs.</param>
		public TabMouseEventArgs(TabPage page)
		{
			this.TabPage = page;
		}
	}

	#endregion

	/// <summary>
    /// Represents a TabControl in which the visible Form can be 
    /// changed by changing the SelectedTab.
    /// </summary>
    public class DockTab
        : TabControl
    {
        #region Fields

        private int          _hoverIndex   = -1;
        private StringFormat _stringFormat = null;

		private DockRenderer _renderer  = null;
		private DockPanel    _dockPanel = null;
		private DockPane     _dockPane  = null;

		#region Events

		/// <summary>
		/// Occurs when the user's mouse enters a Tab.
		/// </summary>
		public event TabMouseEventHandler TabMouseEnter;

		/// <summary>
		/// Occurs when the user's mouse leaves a Tab.
		/// </summary>
		public event TabMouseEventHandler TabMouseLeave;

		#endregion

		#region Delegates

		/// <summary>
		/// Represents the method that will handle the TabMouseEnter 
		/// event or the TabMouseLeave event.
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="sender">Sender object.</param>
		/// <param name="e">TabMouseEventArgs.</param>
		public delegate void TabMouseEventHandler(object sender, TabMouseEventArgs e);

		#endregion

		#endregion

		#region Properties

		/// <summary>
		/// Gets or sets the DockRenderer of the DockTab.
		/// </summary>
		[Browsable(false)]
		[Description("Gets or sets the DockRenderer of the DockTab.")]
		public DockRenderer Renderer
		{
			get { return _renderer; }
			set
			{
				_renderer = value;
				this.Invalidate();
			}
		}

		/// <summary>
        /// Gets the index of the tab the user is currently hovering 
        /// over with the mouse.
        /// </summary>
		[Browsable(false)]
		[Description("Gets the index of the tab the user is currently hovering over with the mouse.")]
        public int HoverIndex
        {
            get { return _hoverIndex; }
        }

		/// <summary>
		/// Gets the StringFormat used to draw the TabPages' text.
		/// </summary>
		[Browsable(false)]
		[Description("Gets the StringFormat used to draw the TabPages' text.")]
		public StringFormat StringFormat
		{
			get { return _stringFormat; }
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Gets or sets the parent DockPanel.
		/// </summary>
		[Browsable(true)]
		[Description("Gets or sets the parent DockPanel.")]
		public DockPanel DockPanel
		{
			get { return _dockPanel; }
			set
			{
				_dockPanel = value;

				// Update the DockPanel/DockPane fields of the
				// DockCaption to make sure the DockCaption is
				// where it should be.

				_dockPanel.Controls.Add(this);
				this.Parent = _dockPanel;

				if (_dockPanel.DockPane != null)
					_dockPane = _dockPanel.DockPane;
			}
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Gets the parent DockPane.
		/// </summary>
		[Browsable(false)]
		[Description("Gets the parent DockPane.")]
		public DockPane DockPane
		{
			get { return _dockPane; }
		}

        #endregion

        #region Methods

        #region Internal

		/// <summary>
		/// Calls InvokePaint and InvokePaintBackground.
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="c">Control for the invokes.</param>
		/// <param name="e">PaintEventArgs for the invokes.</param>
		internal void InvokePaintAll(Control c, PaintEventArgs e)
		{
			this.InvokePaint(c, e);
			this.InvokePaintBackground(c, e);
		}

        #endregion

		#region Protected

		protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
		{
			this.Renderer.TabPaintBackground(this, e.Graphics);
			for (int i = 0; i < this.TabCount; i++)
			{
				this.Renderer.TabDrawTab(this, e.Graphics,
					this.TabPages[i], i);
			}

			base.OnPaint(e);
		}

		protected override void OnPaintBackground(PaintEventArgs pevent)
		{
			this.Renderer.TabPaintBackground(this,
				pevent.Graphics);
		}

		protected override void OnMouseMove(MouseEventArgs e)
		{
			bool foundItem = false;
			int index = -1;
			foreach (TabPage page in this.TabPages)
			{
				index++;
				if (this.GetTabRect(index).Contains
					(e.Location) == true)
				{
					_hoverIndex = index;
					this.Invalidate();
					foundItem = true;

					if (this.TabMouseEnter != null)
					{
						TabMouseEventArgs tabArgs = new TabMouseEventArgs();
						tabArgs.TabPage = page;

						this.TabMouseEnter(this, tabArgs);
					}
				}
				else if (foundItem == false)
				{
					_hoverIndex = -1;
					this.Invalidate();

					if (this.TabMouseLeave != null)
					{
						TabMouseEventArgs tabArgs = new TabMouseEventArgs();
						tabArgs.TabPage = page;

						this.TabMouseLeave(this, tabArgs);
					}
				}
			}

			base.OnMouseMove(e);
		}

		protected override void OnMouseLeave(EventArgs e)
		{
			_hoverIndex = -1; 	// Reset HoverIndex.
			this.Invalidate();

			if (this.TabMouseLeave != null)
			{
				TabMouseEventArgs tabArgs = new TabMouseEventArgs();
				tabArgs.TabPage = null;

				this.TabMouseLeave(this, tabArgs);
			}

			base.OnMouseLeave(e);
		}

		#endregion

		#endregion

		/// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of DockTab.
        /// </summary>
        public DockTab()
        {
			_renderer = new DockRenderer();

            // Call SetStyle multiple times to prevent flickering.

            this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.UserPaint, true);
            this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, true);
            this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true);
            this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.SupportsTransparentBackColor, true);

			// Setup the settings of the base TabControl.
			this.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
			this.BackColor = this.Renderer.DockColorTable.TabBodyBackColor;
			this.Font = this.Renderer.DockColorTable.PaneFont;
			this.Alignment = TabAlignment.Bottom;

            // Initialize the StringFormat that we use for drawing
            // text on the tabs.

            _stringFormat = new StringFormat();
            _stringFormat.Alignment = StringAlignment.Center;
            _stringFormat.LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center;
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Drawing.Design;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

using Storm;
using Storm.Docking;
using Storm.Docking.Controls;
using Storm.Docking.Visual;
using Storm.Docking.Visual.Drawing;
using Storm.Docking.Visual.Glyphs;
using Storm.Docking.Win32;

namespace Storm.Docking.Visual.Drawing
{
	/// <summary>
	/// Class used for drawing all Controls in a DockPane.
	/// </summary>
	public class DockRenderer
	{
		#region Fields

		private DockColorTable _colorTable = null;

		#endregion

		#region Properties

		/// <summary>
		/// Gets or sets the color table of the DockRenderer.
		/// </summary>
		public virtual DockColorTable DockColorTable
		{
			get { return _colorTable; }
			set { _colorTable = value; }
		}

		#endregion

		#region Methods

		#region Public

		#region DockCaption

		public virtual void CaptionDrawBar(DockCaption c, Graphics g)
		{
			Color startColor = DockColorTable.CaptionNormalColorStart;
			Color endColor = DockColorTable.CaptionNormalColorEnd;
			Color textColor = DockColorTable.CaptionNormalTextForeColor;

			if (c.Focused == true)
			{
				startColor = DockColorTable.CaptionFocusColorStart;
				endColor = DockColorTable.CaptionFocusColorEnd;
				textColor = DockColorTable.CaptionFocusTextForeColor;
			}

			LinearGradientBrush brush = new LinearGradientBrush
				(c.Bounds.Location, new Point(c.Bounds.
					Location.X, c.Bounds.Location.Y +
					c.Size.Height), startColor, endColor);

			float diameter = DockColorTable.CaptionRadius * 2.0F;
			SizeF sizeF = new SizeF(diameter, diameter);

			GraphicsPath path = new GraphicsPath();
			RectangleF arc = new RectangleF(new PointF
				(c.Location.X, c.Location.Y), sizeF);

			// We have created our arc Rectangle - start 
			// creating the GraphicsPath.

			// Top left arc.

			path.AddArc(arc, 180, 90);

			// Top right arc.

			arc.X = c.Bounds.Right - diameter;
			path.AddArc(arc, 270, 90);

			// Base rectangle.

			path.AddRectangle(new Rectangle(new Point((int)path.
				PathPoints[0].X, (int)path.PathPoints[0].Y),
				c.Size));

			// Finally close the path and draw it.

			path.CloseFigure();

			g.FillPath(brush, path);
			g.DrawPath(BrushStack.GetPen(DockColorTable
				.CaptionBorderColor), path);

			// We will then draw our text. We use Graphics
			// drawing for this instead of a Label because
			// Labels block MouseDown events.

			// First calculate the place that the text
			// should be placed - we want the text to
			// be placed in the left side of the 
			// DockCaption, so position it there.

			PointF textPoint = new PointF(c.Location.X + 1,
				c.Location.Y + (c.Size.Height / 2)
				- (c.Font.GetHeight() / 2));

			g.DrawString(c.CaptionText, c.Font,
				BrushStack.GetBrush(textColor), textPoint);
		}

		#endregion

		#region DockTab

		public virtual void TabPaintBackground(DockTab t, Graphics g)
		{
			t.ClientRectangle.Offset(t.Location);
			PaintEventArgs e = new PaintEventArgs(g, t.ClientRectangle);
			GraphicsState state = g.Save();
			g.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.AntiAlias;

			try
			{
				g.TranslateTransform((float)-t.Location.X,
					(float)-t.Location.Y);

				t.InvokePaintAll(t.Parent, e);
			}
			finally
			{
				g.Restore(state);
				t.ClientRectangle.Offset(-t.Location.X, -t.Location.Y);
			}
		}

		public virtual void TabDrawTab(DockTab t, Graphics g, TabPage tabPage, int index)
		{
			Rectangle recBounds = t.GetTabRect(index);
			RectangleF tabTextArea = (RectangleF)t.GetTabRect(index);
			RectangleF tabArea = tabTextArea;

			Color tabColorStart = DockColorTable.TabNormalBackColorStart;
			Color tabColorEnd = DockColorTable.TabNormalBackColorEnd;
			Color tabBorderColor = DockColorTable.TabNormalBorderColor;
			Color textColor = DockColorTable.TabNormalForeColor;

			bool selected = t.SelectedIndex == index;
			bool hovering = t.HoverIndex == index && selected == false;
			if (selected == true)
			{
				// Update the earlier specified Colors to match that
				// the tab is focused instead of normal.

				tabColorStart = DockColorTable.TabFocusBackColorStart;
				tabColorEnd = DockColorTable.TabFocusBackColorEnd;
				tabBorderColor = DockColorTable.TabFocusBorderColor;
				textColor = DockColorTable.TabFocusForeColor;
			}

			if (hovering == true)
			{
				// Update the earlier specified Colors to match that
				// the tab is hovered over instead of normal.

				tabColorStart = DockColorTable.TabHoverBackColorStart;
				tabColorEnd = DockColorTable.TabHoverBackColorEnd;
				tabBorderColor = DockColorTable.TabHoverBorderColor;
				textColor = DockColorTable.TabHoverForeColor;
			}

			// Now that our Colors has been setup, we will start 
			// drawing the tab.

			Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(new Point((int)tabArea.X,
				(int)tabArea.Y), new Size((int)tabArea.Size.Width - 1,
				(int)tabArea.Size.Height - 4));

			LinearGradientBrush brush = new LinearGradientBrush
				(rect, tabColorStart, tabColorEnd, 90f);

			g.FillRoundedRectangle(brush, rect, (int)DockColorTable.
				TabRadius, RectangleEdgeFilter.BottomLeft |
				RectangleEdgeFilter.BottomRight);

			g.DrawRoundedRectangle(BrushStack.GetPen(tabBorderColor),
				rect, (int)DockColorTable.TabRadius,
				RectangleEdgeFilter.BottomLeft | RectangleEdgeFilter.
				BottomRight);

			if ((tabPage.ImageIndex >= 0) && (t.ImageList != null) &&
				(t.ImageList.Images[tabPage.ImageIndex] != null))
			{
				int leftMargin = 8;
				int rightMargin = 2;

				Image image = t.ImageList.Images[tabPage.ImageIndex];
				Rectangle imageBounds = new Rectangle(recBounds.X +
					leftMargin, recBounds.Y + 1,
					image.Width, image.Height);

				float adjust = (float)(leftMargin + image.Width +
					rightMargin);

				imageBounds.Y += (recBounds.Height - image.Height) / 2;
				tabArea.X += adjust;
				tabArea.Width -= adjust;

				g.DrawImage(image, imageBounds);
			}

			Brush textBrush = BrushStack.GetBrush(textColor);
			g.DrawString(tabPage.Text, t.Font, textBrush,
				tabTextArea, t.StringFormat);
		}

		#endregion

		#region Glyph

		/// <summary>
		/// Draws the Glyph as if the cursor was hovering over it.
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="g">Graphics to draw with.</param>
		public virtual void GlyphDrawHover(Glyph glyph, Graphics g)
		{
			Color penColor = DockColorTable.GlyphNormalBorderColor;
			Color fillColorStart = DockColorTable.GlyphNormalFillColorStart;
			Color fillColorEnd = DockColorTable.GlyphNormalFillColorEnd;
			int radius = 2;

			if (glyph.DockCaption.Focused == true)
			{
				penColor = DockColorTable.GlyphHoverBorderColor;
				fillColorStart = DockColorTable.GlyphHoverFillColorStart;
				fillColorEnd = DockColorTable.GlyphHoverFillColorEnd;
			}

			LinearGradientBrush brush = new LinearGradientBrush(glyph.GlyphRect,
				fillColorStart, fillColorEnd, LinearGradientMode.Vertical);

			g.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.HighQuality;
			g.FillRoundedRectangle(brush, glyph.GlyphRect, radius);
			Rectangle borderRect = glyph.GlyphRect;

			borderRect.Width--;
			borderRect.Height--;

			g.DrawRoundedRectangle(BrushStack.GetPen(penColor),
				borderRect, radius);
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Draws the Glyph as if the mouse had clicked it.
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="g">Graphics to draw with.</param>
		public virtual void GlyphDrawPressed(Glyph glyph, Graphics g)
		{
			Color penColor = DockColorTable.GlyphPressedBorderColor;
			Color fillColorStart = DockColorTable.GlyphPressedFillColorStart;
			Color fillColorEnd = DockColorTable.GlyphPressedFillColorEnd;
			int radius = 2;

			LinearGradientBrush brush = new LinearGradientBrush(glyph.GlyphRect,
				fillColorStart, fillColorEnd, LinearGradientMode.Vertical);

			g.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.HighQuality;
			g.FillRoundedRectangle(brush, glyph.GlyphRect, radius);
			Rectangle borderRect = glyph.GlyphRect;

			borderRect.Width--;
			borderRect.Height--;

			g.DrawRoundedRectangle(BrushStack.GetPen(penColor),
				borderRect, radius);
		}

		#endregion

		#endregion

		#endregion

		/// <summary>
		/// Initializes a new instance of DockRenderer.
		/// </summary>
		public DockRenderer()
		{
			_colorTable = new DockColorTable();
		}
	}
}

Re: Owner drawn TabControl doesn't act as I want it

WebMaster17-Oct-09 21:28

WebMaster

17-Oct-09 21:28

Bump

Re: Owner drawn TabControl doesn't act as I want it

Dave Kreskowiak18-Oct-09 2:33

Dave Kreskowiak

18-Oct-09 2:33

Bumping does you no good around here.

The reason your question is getting voted down is because of the massive code snippets you posted. Most people simply are not going to look through all of that.

I don't see where your code is doing its own transparency or what you expect to see through the background of your control. If you're using Control.Transparent in your code, all you're really doing is telling the control to take on the background properties of the control that contains your control. You will not see the contents of parent containers or other windows and controls through the "transparency".

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007, 2008
But no longer in 2009...

Indexing a property that returns an array. [modified]

C^aptainS^eeS^harp16-Oct-09 17:15

C^aptainS^eeS^harp

16-Oct-09 17:15

Consider the following...

byte[] theArray = new byte[2];

byte[] TheArray
{
  get { return theArray; }
}

//and then I do this...

byte a = TheArray[0];

TheArray[1] = 255;

Can anyone explain what happens? I would assume a function call to get would be executed for each = TheArray[i]; Correct? What about TheArray[1] = 255;? If there is no set method it should still work, right? If not, I know it would if it were a method that returned an array. TheArray()[1] = 255; I guess my question is, does the C# compiler optimize this code so function calls are not performed when accessing the array through property and method invocations?

How would the set property method work with the indexer? Is that possible? What is the point in it if it were not. Allowing properties that handle arrays seems illogical, especially in the set method and in that you can index it like in the code sample, but.. and @!$#% WTF | :WTF:

Fall of the Republic[^]

modified on Friday, October 16, 2009 11:24 PM

Re: Indexing a property that returns an array. [modified]

Luc Pattyn16-Oct-09 17:49

Luc Pattyn

16-Oct-09 17:49

Hi,

the statement a = TheArray[0]; contains three operations:
1. getting an array (TheArray)
2. getting an element (TheArray[0])
3. assigning a value (to a)

the statement TheArray[1]=255; contains three operations:
1. evaluating an expression (255)
2. getting an array (TheArray)
3. setting an element (TheArray[1])

So in both cases it is the array getter that is used, that is why it works.
An array setter property would be used to assign a new array, as in TheArray=new byte[] {1,2,3,4};

If you want a property that works on a specific array element, then:
- the type should be byte, not byte[], as only one element will be operated upon
- the index must be known somehow (by being fixed, or as a parameter); when a parameter is required it no longer is a property, it becomes a method as in byte GetArrayElementAt(int index) or SetArratElementAt(int index, byte val)

There is a way to use an indexer, however that is not a general solution, as it doesn't have an identifier (it uses "this" to refer to the class), see here[^]; so for an int indexer, you can only do it once on a class (however, you can do another indexer with say a string index).

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

modified on Friday, October 16, 2009 11:55 PM

Re: Indexing a property that returns an array.

dojohansen18-Oct-09 0:59

dojohansen

18-Oct-09 0:59

And this is why the Design Guidelines for Class Library Developers advice against using array type properties. Normally encapsulation will require that you clone the array before "giving it" to anyone, and since this can be expensive (if the array is large) it is important to signify the fact to the user of the class by providing a method and not a property.

byte[] bytes;

public byte[] GetBytes()
{
  return (byte[])bytes.Clone();
}

Couple of questions regarding Windows Service in C#

Aryan S16-Oct-09 17:14

Aryan S

16-Oct-09 17:14

Hi,

I am developing a Windows service in C#. I have couple of question on that.

1. Is it possible to set a Start up parameter during installation of the service? I know that I can pass a parameter while calling ServiceController.Start() method. But the service start type is Autometic and I want the service to run everytime with the same parameter.

2. Is it possible to uninstall the service from within. Say if I meet certain criteria in the service work flow, I want to uninstall the service. Is it possible?

Thanks.

Re: Couple of questions regarding Windows Service in C#

Dave Kreskowiak16-Oct-09 18:22

Dave Kreskowiak

16-Oct-09 18:22

Aryan S wrote:
1. Is it possible to set a Start up parameter during installation of the service? I know that I can pass a parameter while calling ServiceController.Start() method. But the service start type is Autometic and I want the service to run everytime with the same parameter.

Store the parameters in the Registry or in a config file somewhere.

Aryan S wrote:
2. Is it possible to uninstall the service from within. Say if I meet certain criteria in the service work flow, I want to uninstall the service. Is it possible?

I've never heard of a service uninstalling itself. Doesn't mean it's not possible though.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007, 2008
But no longer in 2009...

Re: Couple of questions regarding Windows Service in C#

PIEBALDconsult17-Oct-09 5:40

PIEBALDconsult

17-Oct-09 5:40

1) Store it somewhere -- I use a database

2) I doubt it; you can't uninstall a running Service

... but maybe you could Start a Process that will stop and uninstall the Service.

Form flickering problem

SimpleData16-Oct-09 9:55

SimpleData

16-Oct-09 9:55

Hi,
My application has a heavy form (meaning with lots of images etc.) and after I minimize it and then maximize it the form flickers for 2-3 seconds. I've tried to set DoubleBuffered property of my form to true and tried all kinds of SetStyle combinations but nothing helped. Is there anyone out there who has any idea how I can solve this problem or workaround it?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Form flickering problem

Luc Pattyn16-Oct-09 10:25

Luc Pattyn

16-Oct-09 10:25

Hi,

please tell us more.
1. what are the Controls on the Form? how many? UserControls? nested UserControls?
2. what is showing the images? are they overlapping?
3. trying some transparency stuff?
4. what code is in the Resize handler? any Controls docked, or anchored on both ends so they stretch?

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

Re: Form flickering problem

SimpleData16-Oct-09 11:24

SimpleData

16-Oct-09 11:24

Hi,
My form contains 2-3 panels, over 7 pictureboxes, lots of labels and groupboxes, one progressbar and one button. There are no overlapping images but some images have transparent backgrounds. There is no code in resize handler and my form is not resizeable. Form's FormBorderStyle is set to none.

Re: Form flickering problem

Luc Pattyn16-Oct-09 12:40

Luc Pattyn

16-Oct-09 12:40

OK,

so you don't have list stuff (ListBox, ListView, TreeView, DataGridView), that is good.

here are things that help in reducing flicker:
- keep the GUI simple (keep the number of Controls below say 50)
- make sure you have high-performance code in the paint handlers, if any (don't create too many objects,
Pens, Fonts, ...; and if you have those, don't forget to Dispose the ones you created)
- use the Graphics from PaintEventArgs, don't use CreateGraphics
- all the above should result in fast painting
- apply double-buffering, which almost completely hides the painting work

These work against you:
- PictureBoxes (PB is a stupid Control, I prefer to paint images myself, in a Paint handler)
- IIRC: transparancy in general, objects (e.g. Labels) on top of something transparant in particular

this normally helps:
- make the Form double-buffered by inserting this in its constructor:

SetStyle(System.Windows.Forms.ControlStyles.DoubleBuffer,true);
SetStyle(System.Windows.Forms.ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint,true);
SetStyle(System.Windows.Forms.ControlStyles.UserPaint,true);

(if such code is outside constructor it also needs a Control.UpdateStyles)
- avoid huge images, even when shown in small size (heavy rescale = CPU cycles); maybe calculate the right sized image once and keep it around.
- load the image from disk once (outside all Paint handlers) and keep it as an object.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

modified on Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:16 AM

Re: Form flickering problem

SimpleData16-Oct-09 23:19

SimpleData

16-Oct-09 23:19

Thank you for your advices. They really helped me and the form. Big Grin | :-D

It doesn't have to struggle anymore. Wink | ;)

Re: Form flickering problem

Luc Pattyn17-Oct-09 2:18

Luc Pattyn

17-Oct-09 2:18

you're welcome.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

Re: Form flickering problem

Lyon Sun17-Oct-09 4:14

Lyon Sun

17-Oct-09 4:14

Luc Pattyn wrote:
if you have those, don't forget to Dispose the ones you created

Hi, What if my app has values need to be passed? does this.Dispose() going to erase them?

Sun

Re: Form flickering problem

Luc Pattyn17-Oct-09 4:18

Luc Pattyn

17-Oct-09 4:18

Hi,

IMO this.Dispose() does not make any sense, an object cannot dispose itself, as it would have to be alive to execute the next line of code.

This is what I meant:

public void Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e) {
   Graphics g=e.Graphics;
   Font myFont=new Font(...);               <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
   g.DrawString(..., myFont, ...);
   ...
   myFont.Dispose();                        <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
}

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

Re: Form flickering problem

Lyon Sun17-Oct-09 8:09

Lyon Sun

17-Oct-09 8:09

Luc Pattyn wrote:
IMO this.Dispose() does not make any sense,

Hi,
Sorry if I said it wrong, but when I mentioned this.Dispose(), this = the main form. But thank you, Luc, I got your point. Again, I have another question, what if I set a new Font for one control, for example, btn_OK, am I doing it rightly by the code below:

btn_OK.Font = new Font(....);
...
btn_OK.Font.Dispose();

Thanks in advance!;)

Sun

Re: Form flickering problem

Luc Pattyn17-Oct-09 8:35

Luc Pattyn

17-Oct-09 8:35

Leapsword Sun wrote:
btn_OK.Font = new Font(....);
...
btn_OK.Font.Dispose();

assuming all that is code in a single method, no it does not make sense: assuming the button is visible on some form, the font is in use, so you shouldn't dispose of it at that time.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

Re: Form flickering problem

Lyon Sun17-Oct-09 10:27

Lyon Sun

17-Oct-09 10:27

Luc Pattyn wrote:
assuming the button is visible on some form,

Hi, what if I create this button btn_OK dynamically in my codes then? Thanks for your patient so much! Wink | ;)

Sun

Fill Collection With Excel Sheet Column Names

Kevin Marois16-Oct-09 7:14

Kevin Marois

16-Oct-09 7:14

I am trying to fill a collection with the names of the colums from an Excel sheet. The inner foreach fails with
"Unable to cast COM object of type 'System.__ComObject' to class type 'System.Data.DataColumn'. Instances of types that represent COM components cannot be cast to types that do not represent COM components; however they can be cast to interfaces as long as the underlying COM component supports QueryInterface calls for the IID of the interface."

What am I doing wrong here?

List<string> colColumns = new List<string>();
ApplicationClass ExcelApp = new ApplicationClass();

Workbook WorkBook = ExcelApp.Workbooks.Open(Header.SourceLoc, 0, true, 5, "", "", true, XlPlatform.xlWindows, "\t", false, false, 0, true, 1, 0);

foreach (Worksheet Sheet in WorkBook.Worksheets)
{
    if (Sheet.Name.Trim().ToLower() == Header.SourceTable.Trim().ToLower())
    {
        foreach (DataColumn Col in Sheet.Columns)
        {
            string s = Col.ToString();
        }

        break;
    }

}

Everything makes sense in someone's mind

Re: Fill Collection With Excel Sheet Column Names

dan!sh 16-Oct-09 7:32

dan!sh

16-Oct-09 7:32

Kevin Marois wrote:
DataColumn Col in Sheet.Columns

This thing. WorkSheet.Columns is of type Range and you are trying to make it as datacolumn. I would suggest to have a for loop and then iterate and then populate your data columns.

If you are putting excel values in DataColumn and then in datatable, you should go for OleDB approach. That would give you the datatable right away.

It's not necessary to be so stupid, either, but people manage it. - Christian Graus, 2009 AD

Serial Communication

dwolver16-Oct-09 6:32

dwolver

16-Oct-09 6:32

Looking for libraries for threaded serial communication. Anyone have some links, free or relatively inexpensive.

Re: Serial Communication

Luc Pattyn16-Oct-09 6:59

Luc Pattyn

16-Oct-09 6:59

Hi,

I'm unaware of any serial library, and if one existed, I would probably not use it. I use the SerialPort class directly, and adapt architecture, protocols, and code to the various needs I may have.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

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