Text Ticker

KBou

Hi, I'm using C# in a WPF Project and I need a TextBlock of Label that scrolls text from RightToLeft. I can't find a decent example or explaining on the internet. I have found an example that uses SubString but this doesn't give a smooth animation. I think WPF can do better. I need this in C# code not XAML. Hope some one can help me. Thanks. Kevin

Lost User

I used Google and found this near the top of the search: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=871414&SiteID=1[^] Remember, anything done in XAML can be done in code. I would use a TranslateTransform animation. This gives to a lot of control over your text scrolling.

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

Remember, anything done in XAML can be done in code. I'll have to disagree with you on that one. Example try to Underline a Label. In Xaml you can do, < label > < underline > Some Text < \underline > < \label > Try to do that in code. I coudn't find it. I still didn't got it to work by the way. I must say I am only programming for half a year. I don't know how to do some things in the example in C# code.

modified on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:46 AM

Lost User · modified on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:46 AM

KBou wrote:

I'll have to disagree with you on that one.

Everything done in XAML can be done in code. All XAML gets compiled into code. Notice in the below example, the code just creates the same classes that the XAML does.

Class Window1

Private Sub Window1\_Loaded(ByVal sender As Object, \_
    ByVal e As System.Windows.RoutedEventArgs) Handles Me.Loaded

    Dim lbl As New Label
    Dim und As New Underline
    und.Inlines.Add("Hi from Code!")
    lbl.Content = und
    Me.LayoutRoot.Children.Add(lbl)

End Sub

End Class

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

I'll take it back. Everything done in XAML can be done in code. But I would still like some help with an example in code because I can't get it to work propperly. Thanks for the Underline anyway :-D

Lost User

What exactly does not work? Here is a link to a super book on writing WPF Code. This is the link to the Source Code download that has lots of animiation code. http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/companion/0-7356-1957-3/[^] From what you wrote before, you want to scroll text. One way to accomplish this, is to us an animation and a TranslateTransform to change the position of the text. If you are on a canvas, you can animate the x & y points. You down load Express Blend 2.5 Preview for free. You can write and study doing this in a few minutes in Blend.

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

Well I kinda got it to scroll the way I want. But... Here's the situation. I've got an UserControl that can contains a TextBlock. The text in the TextBlock should scroll from left to right, But the text shoudn't be visible when it's outside of the UserControl. This is what I have got so far.

TextBlock tb = (TextBlock)this.Content;
tb.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.LeftToRight;

DoubleAnimation Animation = new DoubleAnimation();
Animation.From = this.Width;
Animation.To = -tb.DesiredSize.Width;
Animation.Duration = new Duration(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));

TranslateTransform tt = new TranslateTransform();
tt.BeginAnimation(TranslateTransform.XProperty, Animation);
tb.RenderTransform = tt;

Any ideas how I can get the visibility part? And how do I use a storyboard in this for Repeating?

Lost User

KBou wrote:

Any ideas how I can get the visibility part?

Read up on the "ClipToBounds" property and set this on your UserControl. I'll assume that you have set a specific height and width on your UserControl. You should add a method to your UserControl so that the parent container can all the UserControl to start and/or stop the animation. A property for the TextBlock.Text is also in order unless the text is always the same.

KBou wrote:

And how do I use a storyboard in this for Repeating?

What are you trying to do? Have the animation keep repeating? Have the animation repeat on command? If so, is this command executed in code or XAML? You used the word storyboard, why? From the beginning you wanted a code only solution, what was the reason for a code only solution instead of using a XAML storyboard?

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

Thanks for the ClipToBounds. This works fine. I have a Canvas on wich the user can drag usercontrols wich can contain a textblock. From a contextmenu they can start the scrolling. The text must keep on scrolling until it is stopped by the user. The text in the textblock is continu changing, much like a news ticker. And i want all of this in code because the user is must be able to change things like speed, direction and he also had the ability to change the size of the usercontrol. I have methodes for setting the text and a methode that starts te animation, but now the animation only runs once. So what is the best way to keep the animation running until the users stops it? Thanks. Kevin

Lost User

KBou wrote:

So what is the best way to keep the animation running until the users stops it?

Check out the "RepeatBehavior" property.

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

Well I thaugt I had created what I wanted. But I saw some flaws. First of all you won't get a continuasly stream of text and second it won't show all the text that is my TextBlock wich is in a UserControl only what you can see from the beginning. So back to square one it is. I still need help with this. This must be posible. Kevin

Lost User

Kevin, Now I'm more confused over the desired result. Can you mock this up with a few images so that we can "see" the desired results.

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

This is the idea: First Second It is only one string of text wich continues to scroll over the screen.

Lost User

Have a look at this. http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=871414&SiteID=1[^]

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

I had a look at it and it only solves one of my problems. It only solves the problem of text that is bigger than the usercontrol/canvas. You still have to wait for the End of the text to reach the left of the screen before it will start over.

Lost User

Did you read the other post that was linked to in the article. http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2475074&SiteID=1&mode=1[^]

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

I've look at that i tried the "Answer" given on that page but I don't know what to do with the "SignConverter" part. The description says "The sign converter just takes a number and returns its negative value." So when I didn't knew what it exactly did I put it in commentary and ran the project and saw it wasn't doing what I want. But is that the part that ensures the text to start when is has not ended? Kevin By the way. Sorry for my crappy English.

Lost User

Kevin, Your English is just fine, no worries. I'm SUPER busy for the next 2 weeks, almost every moment of the day is taken up with preparation for Code Camp and article writing. I might be easier to just write this. You need to create a class that exposes a circular buffer that you can read from, then using a System.Times.Timer in your UserControl display the text from the buffer. Write me in 2 weeks if you have not got this done and I'll write one and place it on my blog.

Cheers, Karl » CodeProject 2008 MVP » Microsoft MVP - Client App Dev My Blog | Mole's Home Page | MVP Profile

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

KBou

Well thanks for the idea i've never used something like a circular buffer before but i'll see if i can create one. Thanks for your help and good luck with Code Camp. I'll let you know in two week if I made any progress. Greets, Kevin

KBou

Well Karl, I got nowhere with a circular buffer so I put it aside and went on with some other things. But it often crossed my mind and from what I got to understand of the idea you would still remove a character at the beginning an add one at the end. Would this give you a "smooth animation"? Thanks, Kevin