CIS 338: Images on Forms

1
CIS 338 Images on Forms

• Dr. Ralph D. Westfall
• May, 2009

2
Common Controls

• controls that are also used in Microsoft
  applications, e.g.
• ImageList - to hold icon images and other images
  used in Windows applications
• ListView - to display lists, such as file lists
  in file dialog boxes
• ProgressBar - to show how much has been completed
  e.g., a download

3
VB Collections

• VB uses "collections" to store common controls
  and many other items
• e.g., fields in a recordset
• collection group of objects or properties
• somewhat like an array, but can be accessed by
  key (name), or index number
• lstImg.ListImages("car").Picture
• lstImg.ListImages(2).Picture

4
ImageList Control

• stores images to use with other controls
• stores all images in one place for use in an
  application, regardless of where installed
• can use these images with other controls, such as
  a Toolbar
• can use code to add images to list or change
  their order
• can use its key or index value to get items
• being phased out but still can use in code for
  compatibility with older applications

5
Setting Up an ImageList

• drag ImageList control onto form (may need to
  Reset Toolbox to see it)
• right click control, select PropertiesImages
• click Add, find common graphics at
• C\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio
  9.0\Common7\VS2008ImageLibrary\1033VS2008ImageLibr
  ary/AnnotationsButtons/bmp_formator link
• click on each file, click Add again for as many
  as you want, then click OK

6
Using Images Without Code

• can add an image to form via its Properties (not
  using ImageList)
• click on form
• find BackgroundImage property
• click on ... to browse for image, then click OK
• if image is smaller than the form, the images
  "tile" like they do on web pages

7
Using Images Without Code - 2

• can add a PictureBox control, and set its path in
  its BackgroundImage property
• or use code to load image(s) when needed
• PictureBox1.Image _
• Image.FromFile("balloon.bmp")
• the Image can be resized if the PictureBox's
  SizeMode StretchImage
• a PictureBox can include other controls, not just
  images (e.g., Button)

8
Using Images Without Code - 3

• can add a ToolStrip control, and set its Items
  property (Collection)
• then click on ListBox on ToolStripButton
• right-click Button
• now click Import and find an image to put on the
  ToolStripButton
• VS 2003 notes

9
Using an ImageList with Code

• Private Sub Form1_Load(etc.
• ImageList1.Images.Add _ (Image.FromFile("path\be
  any.bmp"))
• 'can add other images into the ImageList
• '(but images are not shown yet)
• PictureBox1.Image ImageList1.Images(0)
• ToolStrip1.ImageList ImageList1
• ToolStrip1.Items.Add _
• ("text", ImageList1.Images.Item(0))
• notes