[VB.NET 2008] How to put an image in a button

steve_9496613

Hi all, I need to pu an image in a button but my application runs in Windows CE so I'm using the Compact Framework and in this context the object Button has no property like Image, BackgroundImage, Bitmap or something similar. Anybody knows how I can do? Thanks to all.

Lost User

steve_9496613 wrote:

Anybody knows how I can do?

Try MSDN[^] :)

Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] They hate us for our freedom![^]

s3275049

Hi steve, You can use ImageButton control. An attribute called ImageUrl is where you specify the path to your image. :) Hope that have you. Happy coding! :)

steve_9496613

Hi s3275049, thank you for your replay but unfortunately MSDN says that the ImageButton class is not supported in the Windows CE platform. :((

steve_9496613

Well... I can't say that I have understood everything in the MSDN example but I managed to convert it to Visual Studio .NET 2008 and to make it work!!!! Yes, it would be easier something like Button.BkImage("image.bmp") but ... it seems that the Compact Framework is missing many things that I need!!! Once again, Thank you Eddy!! I publish the code of MyImageButton class if it can help someone or anyone has any corrections to suggest.

Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing.Imaging

Public Class MyImageButton
Inherits Control

'Private members
Private image As Image
Private FirstTime As Boolean = True
'flag to indicate the pressed state
Private bPushed As Boolean
Private m_bmpOffscreen As Bitmap

Sub New()
bPushed = False
'default minimal size
Me.Size = New Size(21, 21)
End Sub

Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs)
Dim gxOff As Graphics 'Offscreen graphics
Dim imgRect As Rectangle 'image rectangle
Dim backBrush As Brush 'brush for filling a backcolor

'If (m\_bmpOffscreen.Equals(Nothing)) Then   'Bitmap for doublebuffering
If (FirstTime) Then
  m\_bmpOffscreen = New Bitmap(ClientSize.Width, ClientSize.Height)
End If

gxOff = Graphics.FromImage(m\_bmpOffscreen)

gxOff.Clear(Me.BackColor)

If (Not bPushed) Then
  backBrush = New SolidBrush(Parent.BackColor)
Else 'change the background when it's pressed
  backBrush = New SolidBrush(Color.LightGray)
End If

gxOff.FillRectangle(backBrush, Me.ClientRectangle)

If (Not image.Equals(DBNull.Value)) Then
  'Center the image relativelly to the control
  Dim imageLeft As Int32 = (Me.Width - image.Width) / 2
  Dim imageTop As Int32 = (Me.Height - image.Height) / 2

  If (Not bPushed) Then
    imgRect = New Rectangle(imageLeft, imageTop, image.Width, image.Height)
  Else  'The button was pressed
    'Shift the image by one pixel
    imgRect = New Rectangle(imageLeft + 1, imageTop + 1, image.Width, image.Height)
  End If

  'Set transparent key
  Dim imageAttr As ImageAttributes = New ImageAttributes()
  imageAttr.SetColorKey(BackgroundImageColor(image), BackgroundImageColor(image))

  'Draw image
  gxOff.DrawImage(image, imgRect, 0, 0, image.Width, image.Height, GraphicsUnit.Pixel, imageAttr)
End If

If (bPushed) Then

Lost User

You're welcome :)

steve_9496613 wrote:

I publish the code of MyImageButton class if it can help someone or anyone has any corrections to suggest.

It might get buried under new messages on the forum here; it'd be more visible if you post it as a "Tip[^]".

Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] They hate us for our freedom![^]

Lost User

You can use Label instead button and lay text over image.

steve_9496613

Thank you halabella for your answer. It can be a possibility but in this way I think you lose the behavior of the button (button pressed - button not pressed). In my particular case I could just use an image because the text I need to write is a symbol of a font type not included in my Windows CE (for this reason I need to put an image in a button) but there would be much difference aesthetically with the other buttons of the form. ...but perhaps I could change the image on the click event... yes, it is a possibility. Thanks :thumbsup: