Whichever one you want. They are both hosts for MSHTML, but the Web Browser component (an RCW around the IWebBrowser2 implementation for IE) provides more services than MSHTML itself, such as hyperlink resolution and additional methods. Using the AxWebBrowser component (the actual class that's generated, which derives from AxHost) also allows you to embed your report in a form, while using the ShowHTMLDialog helper API from MSHTML does not. Microsoft MVP, Visual C# My Articles

You want to use Graphics.FillRectangle with a LinearGradientBrush: private void statusBarDrawItem(object sender, StatusBarDrawItemEventArgs e) { // Should consider caching this brush for better performance. LinearGradientBrush gradient = new LinearGradientBrush( e.Bounds, Color.Blue, e.BackColor, LinearGradientMode.Horizontal); e.Graphics.FillRectangle(gradient, e.Bounds); // Draw lines and strings after the background, of course. } Microsoft MVP, Visual C# My Articles