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c# transparent spinning wheel (or gif) is just half transparent

Well, first try was with a readily made spinning wheel (a gif). After that, I found a code that dynamically generates a wheel, but no way in both cases to have full transparency.
Depending on what I set as parent (form or panel) and the position on my wheel on form, the spin is just half transparent.
I use C# express (VS 2008).
All I want is a nice wheel in center of form, activated when BG is doing something, but full transparent so I can resize form.
Thanks,
Update:
I worked on some code that is draw a spinning wheel just fine. Almost working except OnPantBackground() which needs to be empty to paint behind, but in this case, a black rectangle is drawn because of ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer enabled.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
namespace WinFormsControls
{
/// <summary>
/// A label that can be transparent.
/// </summary>
public class TransparentLabel : Control
{
// Constants =========================================================
private const double NumberOfDegreesInCircle = 360;
private const double NumberOfDegreesInHalfCircle = NumberOfDegreesInCircle / 2;
private const int DefaultInnerCircleRadius = 8;
private const int DefaultOuterCircleRadius = 10;
private const int DefaultNumberOfSpoke = 10;
private const int DefaultSpokeThickness = 4;
private readonly Color DefaultColor = Color.DarkGray;
private const int MacOSXInnerCircleRadius = 5;
private const int MacOSXOuterCircleRadius = 11;
private const int MacOSXNumberOfSpoke = 12;
private const int MacOSXSpokeThickness = 2;
private const int FireFoxInnerCircleRadius = 6;
private const int FireFoxOuterCircleRadius = 7;
private const int FireFoxNumberOfSpoke = 9;
private const int FireFoxSpokeThickness = 4;
private const int IE7InnerCircleRadius = 8;
private const int IE7OuterCircleRadius = 9;
private const int IE7NumberOfSpoke = 24;
private const int IE7SpokeThickness = 4;
// Enumeration =======================================================
public enum StylePresets
{
MacOSX,
Firefox,
IE7,
Custom
}
// Attributes ========================================================
private Timer m_Timer;
private bool m_IsTimerActive;
private int m_NumberOfSpoke;
private int m_SpokeThickness;
private int m_ProgressValue;
private int m_OuterCircleRadius;
private int m_InnerCircleRadius;
private PointF m_CenterPoint;
private Color m_Color;
private Color[] m_Colors;
private double[] m_Angles;
private StylePresets m_StylePreset;
// Properties ========================================================
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the lightest color of the circle.
/// </summary>
/// <value>The lightest color of the circle.</value>
[TypeConverter("System.Drawing.ColorConverter"),
Category("LoadingCircle"),
Description("Sets the color of spoke.")]
public Color Color
{
get
{
return m_Color;
}
set
{
m_Color = value;
GenerateColorsPallet();
Invalidate();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the outer circle radius.
/// </summary>
/// <value>The outer circle radius.</value>
[System.ComponentModel.Description("Gets or sets the radius of outer circle."),
System.ComponentModel.Category("LoadingCircle")]
public int OuterCircleRadius
{
get
{
if (m_OuterCircleRadius == 0)
m_OuterCircleRadius = DefaultOuterCircleRadius;
return m_OuterCircleRadius;
}
set
{
m_OuterCircleRadius = value;
Invalidate();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the inner circle radius.
/// </summary>
/// <value>The inner circle radius.</value>
[System.ComponentModel.Description("Gets or sets the radius of inner circle."),
System.ComponentModel.Category("LoadingCircle")]
public int InnerCircleRadius
{
get
{
if (m_InnerCircleRadius == 0)
m_InnerCircleRadius = DefaultInnerCircleRadius;
return m_InnerCircleRadius;
}
set
{
m_InnerCircleRadius = value;
Invalidate();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the number of spoke.
/// </summary>
/// <value>The number of spoke.</value>
[System.ComponentModel.Description("Gets or sets the number of spoke."),
System.ComponentModel.Category("LoadingCircle")]
public int NumberSpoke
{
get
{
if (m_NumberOfSpoke == 0)
m_NumberOfSpoke = DefaultNumberOfSpoke;
return m_NumberOfSpoke;
}
set
{
if (m_NumberOfSpoke != value && m_NumberOfSpoke > 0)
{
m_NumberOfSpoke = value;
GenerateColorsPallet();
GetSpokesAngles();
Invalidate();
}
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether this <see cref="T:LoadingCircle"/> is active.
/// </summary>
/// <value><c>true</c> if active; otherwise, <c>false</c>.</value>
[System.ComponentModel.Description("Gets or sets the number of spoke."),
System.ComponentModel.Category("LoadingCircle")]
public bool Active
{
get
{
return m_IsTimerActive;
}
set
{
m_IsTimerActive = value;
ActiveTimer();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the spoke thickness.
/// </summary>
/// <value>The spoke thickness.</value>
[System.ComponentModel.Description("Gets or sets the thickness of a spoke."),
System.ComponentModel.Category("LoadingCircle")]
public int SpokeThickness
{
get
{
if (m_SpokeThickness <= 0)
m_SpokeThickness = DefaultSpokeThickness;
return m_SpokeThickness;
}
set
{
m_SpokeThickness = value;
Invalidate();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the rotation speed.
/// </summary>
/// <value>The rotation speed.</value>
[System.ComponentModel.Description("Gets or sets the rotation speed. Higher the slower."),
System.ComponentModel.Category("LoadingCircle")]
public int RotationSpeed
{
get
{
return m_Timer.Interval;
}
set
{
if (value > 0)
m_Timer.Interval = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Quickly sets the style to one of these presets, or a custom style if desired
/// </summary>
/// <value>The style preset.</value>
[Category("LoadingCircle"),
Description("Quickly sets the style to one of these presets, or a custom style if desired"),
DefaultValue(typeof(StylePresets), "Custom")]
public StylePresets StylePreset
{
get { return m_StylePreset; }
set
{
m_StylePreset = value;
switch (m_StylePreset)
{
case StylePresets.MacOSX:
SetCircleAppearance(MacOSXNumberOfSpoke,
MacOSXSpokeThickness, MacOSXInnerCircleRadius,
MacOSXOuterCircleRadius);
break;
case StylePresets.Firefox:
SetCircleAppearance(FireFoxNumberOfSpoke,
FireFoxSpokeThickness, FireFoxInnerCircleRadius,
FireFoxOuterCircleRadius);
break;
case StylePresets.IE7:
SetCircleAppearance(IE7NumberOfSpoke,
IE7SpokeThickness, IE7InnerCircleRadius,
IE7OuterCircleRadius);
break;
case StylePresets.Custom:
SetCircleAppearance(DefaultNumberOfSpoke,
DefaultSpokeThickness,
DefaultInnerCircleRadius,
DefaultOuterCircleRadius);
break;
}
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Creates a new <see cref="TransparentLabel"/> instance.
/// </summary>
public TransparentLabel()
{
TabStop = false;
InitializeComponent();
SetStyle(ControlStyles.UserPaint, true);
//SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, true);
SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true);
SetStyle(ControlStyles.SupportsTransparentBackColor, true);
m_Color = DefaultColor;
GenerateColorsPallet();
GetSpokesAngles();
GetControlCenterPoint();
m_Timer = new Timer();
m_Timer.Tick += new EventHandler(aTimer_Tick);
ActiveTimer();
this.Resize += new EventHandler(LoadingCircle_Resize);
this.DoubleBuffered = true;
this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.UserPaint |
ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint |
ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw |
ControlStyles.ContainerControl |
ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer |
ControlStyles.SupportsTransparentBackColor
, true);
}
// Events ============================================================
/// <summary>
/// Handles the Resize event of the LoadingCircle control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">The <see cref="T:System.EventArgs"/> instance containing the event data.</param>
void LoadingCircle_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
GetControlCenterPoint();
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the Tick event of the aTimer control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">The <see cref="T:System.EventArgs"/> instance containing the event data.</param>
void aTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
m_ProgressValue = ++m_ProgressValue % m_NumberOfSpoke;
Invalidate();
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the creation parameters.
/// </summary>
protected override CreateParams CreateParams
{
get
{
CreateParams cp = base.CreateParams;
cp.ExStyle |= 0x20;
return cp;
}
}
// Overridden Methods ================================================
/// <summary>
/// Retrieves the size of a rectangular area into which a control can be fitted.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="proposedSize">The custom-sized area for a control.</param>
/// <returns>
/// An ordered pair of type <see cref="T:System.Drawing.Size"></see> representing the width and height of a rectangle.
/// </returns>
public override Size GetPreferredSize(Size proposedSize)
{
proposedSize.Width =
(m_OuterCircleRadius + m_SpokeThickness) * 2;
return proposedSize;
}
/// <summary>
/// Paints the background.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="e">E.</param>
///
protected override void OnPaintBackground(PaintEventArgs e)
{
// do nothing
}
/// <summary>
/// Paints the control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="e">E.</param>
protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
{
//DrawText();
if (m_NumberOfSpoke > 0)
{
e.Graphics.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.HighQuality;
int intPosition = m_ProgressValue;
for (int intCounter = 0; intCounter < m_NumberOfSpoke; intCounter++)
{
intPosition = intPosition % m_NumberOfSpoke;
DrawLine(e.Graphics,
GetCoordinate(m_CenterPoint, m_InnerCircleRadius, m_Angles[intPosition]),
GetCoordinate(m_CenterPoint, m_OuterCircleRadius, m_Angles[intPosition]),
m_Colors[intCounter], m_SpokeThickness);
intPosition++;
}
}
base.OnPaint(e);
}
/*
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
base.WndProc(ref m);
if (m.Msg == 0x000F)
{
DrawText();
}
}
private void DrawText()
{
using (Graphics graphics = CreateGraphics())
using (SolidBrush brush = new SolidBrush(ForeColor))
{
SizeF size = graphics.MeasureString(Text, Font);
// first figure out the top
float top = 0;
switch (textAlign)
{
case ContentAlignment.MiddleLeft:
case ContentAlignment.MiddleCenter:
case ContentAlignment.MiddleRight:
top = (Height - size.Height) / 2;
break;
case ContentAlignment.BottomLeft:
case ContentAlignment.BottomCenter:
case ContentAlignment.BottomRight:
top = Height - size.Height;
break;
}
float left = -1;
switch (textAlign)
{
case ContentAlignment.TopLeft:
case ContentAlignment.MiddleLeft:
case ContentAlignment.BottomLeft:
if (RightToLeft == RightToLeft.Yes)
left = Width - size.Width;
else
left = -1;
break;
case ContentAlignment.TopCenter:
case ContentAlignment.MiddleCenter:
case ContentAlignment.BottomCenter:
left = (Width - size.Width) / 2;
break;
case ContentAlignment.TopRight:
case ContentAlignment.MiddleRight:
case ContentAlignment.BottomRight:
if (RightToLeft == RightToLeft.Yes)
left = -1;
else
left = Width - size.Width;
break;
}
graphics.DrawString(Text, Font, brush, left, top);
}
}
*/
/*
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the text associated with this control.
/// </summary>
/// <returns>
/// The text associated with this control.
/// </returns>
public override string Text
{
get
{
return base.Text;
}
set
{
base.Text = value;
RecreateHandle();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether control's elements are aligned to support locales using right-to-left fonts.
/// </summary>
/// <value></value>
/// <returns>
/// One of the <see cref="T:System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft"/> values. The default is <see cref="F:System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft.Inherit"/>.
/// </returns>
/// <exception cref="T:System.ComponentModel.InvalidEnumArgumentException">
/// The assigned value is not one of the <see cref="T:System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft"/> values.
/// </exception>
public override RightToLeft RightToLeft
{
get
{
return base.RightToLeft;
}
set
{
base.RightToLeft = value;
RecreateHandle();
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the font of the text displayed by the control.
/// </summary>
/// <value></value>
/// <returns>
/// The <see cref="T:System.Drawing.Font"/> to apply to the text displayed by the control. The default is the value of the <see cref="P:System.Windows.Forms.Control.DefaultFont"/> property.
/// </returns>
public override Font Font
{
get
{
return base.Font;
}
set
{
base.Font = value;
RecreateHandle();
}
}
private ContentAlignment textAlign = ContentAlignment.TopLeft;
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the text alignment.
/// </summary>
public ContentAlignment TextAlign
{
get { return textAlign; }
set
{
textAlign = value;
RecreateHandle();
}
}
*/
private void InitializeComponent()
{
this.SuspendLayout();
this.ResumeLayout(false);
}
// Methods ===========================================================
/// <summary>
/// Darkens a specified color.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="_objColor">Color to darken.</param>
/// <param name="_intPercent">The percent of darken.</param>
/// <returns>The new color generated.</returns>
private Color Darken(Color _objColor, int _intPercent)
{
int intRed = _objColor.R;
int intGreen = _objColor.G;
int intBlue = _objColor.B;
return Color.FromArgb(_intPercent, Math.Min(intRed, byte.MaxValue), Math.Min(intGreen, byte.MaxValue), Math.Min(intBlue, byte.MaxValue));
}
/// <summary>
/// Generates the colors pallet.
/// </summary>
private void GenerateColorsPallet()
{
m_Colors = GenerateColorsPallet(m_Color, Active, m_NumberOfSpoke);
}
/// <summary>
/// Generates the colors pallet.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="_objColor">Color of the lightest spoke.</param>
/// <param name="_blnShadeColor">if set to <c>true</c> the color will be shaded on X spoke.</param>
/// <returns>An array of color used to draw the circle.</returns>
private Color[] GenerateColorsPallet(Color _objColor, bool _blnShadeColor, int _intNbSpoke)
{
Color[] objColors = new Color[NumberSpoke];
// Value is used to simulate a gradient feel... For each spoke, the
// color will be darken by value in intIncrement.
byte bytIncrement = (byte)(byte.MaxValue / NumberSpoke);
//Reset variable in case of multiple passes
byte PERCENTAGE_OF_DARKEN = 0;
for (int intCursor = 0; intCursor < NumberSpoke; intCursor++)
{
if (_blnShadeColor)
{
if (intCursor == 0 || intCursor < NumberSpoke - _intNbSpoke)
objColors[intCursor] = _objColor;
else
{
// Increment alpha channel color
PERCENTAGE_OF_DARKEN += bytIncrement;
// Ensure that we don't exceed the maximum alpha
// channel value (255)
if (PERCENTAGE_OF_DARKEN > byte.MaxValue)
PERCENTAGE_OF_DARKEN = byte.MaxValue;
// Determine the spoke forecolor
objColors[intCursor] = Darken(_objColor, PERCENTAGE_OF_DARKEN);
}
}
else
objColors[intCursor] = _objColor;
}
return objColors;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the control center point.
/// </summary>
private void GetControlCenterPoint()
{
m_CenterPoint = GetControlCenterPoint(this);
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the control center point.
/// </summary>
/// <returns>PointF object</returns>
private PointF GetControlCenterPoint(Control _objControl)
{
return new PointF(_objControl.Width / 2, _objControl.Height / 2 - 1);
}
/// <summary>
/// Draws the line with GDI+.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="_objGraphics">The Graphics object.</param>
/// <param name="_objPointOne">The point one.</param>
/// <param name="_objPointTwo">The point two.</param>
/// <param name="_objColor">Color of the spoke.</param>
/// <param name="_intLineThickness">The thickness of spoke.</param>
private void DrawLine(Graphics _objGraphics, PointF _objPointOne, PointF _objPointTwo,
Color _objColor, int _intLineThickness)
{
using (Pen objPen = new Pen(new SolidBrush(_objColor), _intLineThickness))
{
objPen.StartCap = LineCap.Round;
objPen.EndCap = LineCap.Round;
_objGraphics.DrawLine(objPen, _objPointOne, _objPointTwo);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the coordinate.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="_objCircleCenter">The Circle center.</param>
/// <param name="_intRadius">The radius.</param>
/// <param name="_dblAngle">The angle.</param>
/// <returns></returns>
private PointF GetCoordinate(PointF _objCircleCenter, int _intRadius, double _dblAngle)
{
double dblAngle = Math.PI * _dblAngle / NumberOfDegreesInHalfCircle;
return new PointF(_objCircleCenter.X + _intRadius * (float)Math.Cos(dblAngle),
_objCircleCenter.Y + _intRadius * (float)Math.Sin(dblAngle));
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the spokes angles.
/// </summary>
private void GetSpokesAngles()
{
m_Angles = GetSpokesAngles(NumberSpoke);
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the spoke angles.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="_shtNumberSpoke">The number spoke.</param>
/// <returns>An array of angle.</returns>
private double[] GetSpokesAngles(int _intNumberSpoke)
{
double[] Angles = new double[_intNumberSpoke];
double dblAngle = (double)NumberOfDegreesInCircle / _intNumberSpoke;
for (int shtCounter = 0; shtCounter < _intNumberSpoke; shtCounter++)
Angles[shtCounter] = (shtCounter == 0 ? dblAngle : Angles[shtCounter - 1] + dblAngle);
return Angles;
}
/// <summary>
/// Actives the timer.
/// </summary>
private void ActiveTimer()
{
if (m_IsTimerActive)
{
m_Timer.Start();
}
else
{
m_Timer.Stop();
m_ProgressValue = 0;
}
GenerateColorsPallet();
Invalidate();
}
/// <summary>
/// Sets the circle appearance.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="numberSpoke">The number spoke.</param>
/// <param name="spokeThickness">The spoke thickness.</param>
/// <param name="innerCircleRadius">The inner circle radius.</param>
/// <param name="outerCircleRadius">The outer circle radius.</param>
public void SetCircleAppearance(int numberSpoke, int spokeThickness,
int innerCircleRadius, int outerCircleRadius)
{
NumberSpoke = numberSpoke;
SpokeThickness = spokeThickness;
InnerCircleRadius = innerCircleRadius;
OuterCircleRadius = outerCircleRadius;
Invalidate();
}
}
}

Sorry for answering my own post, but after testing a lot of projects, modify without success, I finally found one that is almost full transparent
https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/27185/WYSIWYG-Progress-Circle-for-NET-Framework-C
That guy made a very well job almost 10 years ago, at least inner part of spin is copied and re-drawn in OnPaint so quite nice transparent over RichTextBox control where all other projects failed :)
The only small problem is that the circle trail, don't copy the bmp behind so there will always be a comet effect, but I can live with that! Much pleasant effect than other solutions, including few on stackoverflow.
In case anyone will need!

Wow that seems incredibly complicated. I don't know much about wpf, but on iOS what we usually do is load an image that has the exact properties we need (here, transparent background), and just rotate the image to make the spinning effect.
You only need very little logic to make it appear/disappear and rotate. For a very basic spinner you get to create and use that class in a matter of seconds.
At least that's the route I'd go for, instead of writing 300 lines of code to manually handle the spinner :p

Numeric Only TextBox

I've looked all over the place, but it seems that examples I have seen allow only numbers 0-9
I'm writing a Pythagorean Theorem program. I wish to have the phone (Windows Phone 7) check if there are ANY alpha (A-Z, a-z), symbols (#,%), or anything other than a number in the textbox. If not, then it will continue computing. I want to check so there will be no future errors.
This is basically a bad pseudocode of what I want it to do
txtOne-->any alpha?--No-->any symbols--No-->continue...
I would actually prefer a command to check if the string is completely a number.
Thanks in advance!

An even better way to ensure that your textbox is a number is to handle the KeyPress event. You can then choose what characters you want to allow. In the following example we disallow all characters that are not digits:
private void textBox1_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
// If the character is not a digit, don't let it show up in the textbox.
if (!char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar))
e.Handled = true;
}
This ensures that your textbox text is a number because it only allows digits to be entered.
This is something I just came up with to allow decimal values (and apparently the backspace key):
private void textBox1_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
if (char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar))
{
return;
}
if (e.KeyChar == (char)Keys.Back)
{
return;
}
if (e.KeyChar == '.' && !textBox1.Text.Contains('.'))
{
return;
}
e.Handled = true;
}

There are several ways to do this:
You can use TryParse() and check if the return value is not false.
You can use Regex to validate:
Match match = Regex.Match(textBox.Text, #"^\d+$");
if (match.Success) { ... }
// or
if (Regex.IsMatch(textBox.Text, #"^\d+$")) { ... }

Or you can simply only give them the Numeric keyboard. There are several different keyboard layouts you can use. Link
If you want to do more indepth, I have used the KeyDown and KeyUp events to check what was entered and handle the keypress. Link

You can define the textbox's input scope.
Example:
<TextBox InputScope="Digits"></TextBox>

You can use TryParse and see if there is a result.
See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.int64.tryparse.aspx
Int64 output;
if (!Int64.TryParse(input, out output)
{
ShowErrorMessage();
return
}
Continue..

/// <summary>
/// A numeric-only textbox.
/// </summary>
public class NumericOnlyTextBox : TextBox
{
#region Properties
#region AllowDecimals
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether [allow decimals].
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// <c>true</c> if [allow decimals]; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
/// </value>
public bool AllowDecimals
{
get { return (bool)GetValue(AllowDecimalsProperty); }
set { SetValue(AllowDecimalsProperty, value); }
}
/// <summary>
/// The allow decimals property
/// </summary>
public static readonly DependencyProperty AllowDecimalsProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("AllowDecimals", typeof(bool),
typeof(NumericOnlyTextBox), new UIPropertyMetadata(false));
#endregion
#region MaxValue
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the max value.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The max value.
/// </value>
public double? MaxValue
{
get { return (double?)GetValue(MaxValueProperty); }
set { SetValue(MaxValueProperty, value); }
}
/// <summary>
/// The max value property
/// </summary>
public static readonly DependencyProperty MaxValueProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("MaxValue", typeof(double?),
typeof(NumericOnlyTextBox), new UIPropertyMetadata(null));
#endregion
#region MinValue
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the min value.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The min value.
/// </value>
public double? MinValue
{
get { return (double?)GetValue(MinValueProperty); }
set { SetValue(MinValueProperty, value); }
}
/// <summary>
/// The min value property
/// </summary>
public static readonly DependencyProperty MinValueProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("MinValue", typeof(double?),
typeof(NumericOnlyTextBox), new UIPropertyMetadata(null));
#endregion
#endregion
#region Contructors
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="NumericOnlyTextBox" /> class.
/// </summary>
public NumericOnlyTextBox()
{
this.PreviewTextInput += OnPreviewTextInput;
}
#endregion
#region Methods
/// <summary>
/// Numeric-Only text field.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="text">The text.</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public bool NumericOnlyCheck(string text)
{
// regex that matches disallowed text
var regex = (AllowDecimals) ? new Regex("[^0-9.]+") : new Regex("[^0-9]+");
return !regex.IsMatch(text);
}
#endregion
#region Events
/// <summary>
/// Called when [preview text input].
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The sender.</param>
/// <param name="e">The <see cref="TextCompositionEventArgs" /> instance
/// containing the event data.</param>
/// <exception cref="System.NotImplementedException"></exception>
private void OnPreviewTextInput(object sender, TextCompositionEventArgs e)
{
// Check number
if (this.NumericOnlyCheck(e.Text))
{
// Evaluate min value
if (MinValue != null && Convert.ToDouble(this.Text + e.Text) < MinValue)
{
this.Text = MinValue.ToString();
this.SelectionStart = this.Text.Length;
e.Handled = true;
}
// Evaluate max value
if (MaxValue != null && Convert.ToDouble(this.Text + e.Text) > MaxValue)
{
this.Text = MaxValue.ToString();
this.SelectionStart = this.Text.Length;
e.Handled = true;
}
}
else
{
e.Handled = true;
}
}
#endregion
}

how to get smartphone like scrolling for a winforms touchscreen app ( scrolling panel )

After scouring the articles online I have come up with this design for a winforms based touchscreen app that needs smartphone like scrolling. The app itself will run on a tablet laptop or touchscreen desktop.
I put everything I want to scroll on a panel.
Set autoscroll to true (which will show scrollbars)
Now put this whole panel inside a groupbox
Shrink the groupbox until the scrollbars are hidden (visually hidden, not visible = false)
Now the fun part I am stuck at. I think I have to handle the mousedown, mouseup & mousemove on the panel to set the autoscrollposition so that when someone touches the panel and drags, it does it's scroll magic. Please help fill in the few lines of code in below method stubs. The msdn doc on autoscrollposition is very confusing since it returns negative numbers but needs to be set to positive with abs and what not.
Point mouseDownPoint;
Point mouseUpPoint;
Point mouseDragPoint;
private void myPanel_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
this.mouseDownPoint = e.Location;
Console.WriteLine("Mouse down at {0}", e.location);
}
private void myPanel_MouseUp(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
this.mouseUpPoint = e.Location;
this.mouseDownPoint = new Point(); //will set for IsEmpty check
Console.WriteLine("Mouse Up at {0}", e.location);
}
private void myPanel_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("Mouse at {0}", e.location);
if (mouseDownPoint.IsEmpty()) //finger is off the touchscreen
return;
myPanel.Autocrollposition = ??
}
thank you
//UPDATE - Below I have with trial and error working & tested code. (not refactored). If someone has a more elegant solution please post.
Point mouseDownPoint;
private void innerpanel_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
this.mouseDownPoint = e.Location;
}
private void innerpanel_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button != MouseButtons.Left)
return;
if ((mouseDownPoint.X == e.Location.X) && (mouseDownPoint.Y == e.Location.Y))
return;
Point currAutoS = innerpanel.AutoScrollPosition;
if (mouseDownPoint.Y > e.Location.Y)
{
//finger slide UP
if (currAutoS.Y != 0)
currAutoS.Y = Math.Abs(currAutoS.Y) - 5;
}
else if (mouseDownPoint.Y < e.Location.Y)
{
//finger slide down
currAutoS.Y = Math.Abs(currAutoS.Y) + 5;
}
else
{
currAutoS.Y = Math.Abs(currAutoS.Y);
}
if (mouseDownPoint.X > e.Location.X)
{
//finger slide left
if (currAutoS.X != 0)
currAutoS.X = Math.Abs(currAutoS.X) - 5;
}
else if (mouseDownPoint.X < e.Location.X)
{
//finger slide right
currAutoS.X = Math.Abs(currAutoS.X) + 5;
}
else
{
currAutoS.X = Math.Abs(currAutoS.X);
}
innerpanel.AutoScrollPosition = currAutoS;
mouseDownPoint = e.Location; //IMPORTANT
}

And as a Component:
public partial class TouchableFlowLayoutPanel : FlowLayoutPanel
{
private bool _doTouchScroll;
private Point _mouseStartPoint = Point.Empty;
private Point _panelStartPoint = Point.Empty;
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="TouchableFlowLayoutPanel" /> class.
/// </summary>
public TouchableFlowLayoutPanel()
{
InitializeComponent();
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterDown += mouseFilter_MouseFilterDown;
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterMove += mouseFilter_MouseFilterMove;
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterUp += mouseFilter_MouseFilterUp;
}
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="TouchableFlowLayoutPanel" /> class.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="container">The container.</param>
public TouchableFlowLayoutPanel(IContainer container)
{
container.Add(this);
InitializeComponent();
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterDown += mouseFilter_MouseFilterDown;
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterMove += mouseFilter_MouseFilterMove;
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterUp += mouseFilter_MouseFilterUp;
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the MouseFilterDown event of the mouseFilter control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">
/// The <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.
/// </param>
private void mouseFilter_MouseFilterDown(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs e)
{
if (!_doTouchScroll && e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
_mouseStartPoint = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
_panelStartPoint = new Point(-AutoScrollPosition.X,
-AutoScrollPosition.Y);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the MouseFilterMove event of the mouseFilter control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">
/// The <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.
/// </param>
private void mouseFilter_MouseFilterMove(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
if (!_mouseStartPoint.Equals(Point.Empty))
{
int dx = (e.X - _mouseStartPoint.X);
int dy = (e.Y - _mouseStartPoint.Y);
if (_doTouchScroll)
{
AutoScrollPosition = new Point(_panelStartPoint.X - dx,
_panelStartPoint.Y - dy);
}
else if (Math.Abs(dx) > 10 || Math.Abs(dy) > 10)
{
_doTouchScroll = true;
}
}
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the MouseFilterUp event of the mouseFilter control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">
/// The <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.
/// </param>
private void mouseFilter_MouseFilterUp(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
if (_doTouchScroll && !AutoScrollPosition.Equals(_panelStartPoint) &&
!_panelStartPoint.Equals(Point.Empty))
{
// don't fire Click-Event
e.Handled = true;
}
_doTouchScroll = false;
_mouseStartPoint = Point.Empty;
_panelStartPoint = Point.Empty;
}
}
}
internal class MouseFilter : IMessageFilter
{
private const int WM_LBUTTONDOWN = 0x0201;
private const int WM_LBUTTONUP = 0x0202;
private const int WM_MOUSEMOVE = 0x0200;
/// <summary>
/// Filters a message before sending it
/// </summary>
/// <param name="m">The message to be sent.This message can not be changed.</param>
/// <returns>
/// true to filter the message and prevent it from being sent. false to allow the message to be sent to the next filter or control.
/// </returns>
public bool PreFilterMessage(ref Message m)
{
Point mousePosition = Control.MousePosition;
var args = new MouseFilterEventArgs(MouseButtons.Left, 0, mousePosition.X, mousePosition.Y, 0);
switch (m.Msg)
{
case WM_MOUSEMOVE:
if (MouseFilterMove != null)
{
MouseFilterMove(Control.FromHandle(m.HWnd), args);
}
break;
case WM_LBUTTONDOWN:
if (MouseFilterDown != null)
{
MouseFilterDown(Control.FromHandle(m.HWnd), args);
}
break;
case WM_LBUTTONUP:
if (MouseFilterUp != null)
{
MouseFilterUp(Control.FromHandle(m.HWnd), args);
}
break;
}
// Always allow message to continue to the next filter control
return args.Handled;
}
/// <summary>
/// Occurs when [mouse filter up].
/// </summary>
public event MouseFilterEventHandler MouseFilterUp;
/// <summary>
/// Occurs when [mouse filter down].
/// </summary>
public event MouseFilterEventHandler MouseFilterDown;
/// <summary>
/// Occurs when [mouse filter move].
/// </summary>
public event MouseFilterMoveEventHandler MouseFilterMove;
}
internal delegate void MouseFilterEventHandler(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs args);
internal delegate void MouseFilterMoveEventHandler(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs args);
internal class MouseFilterEventArgs
{
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> class.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="mouseButton">The mouse button.</param>
/// <param name="clicks">The clicks.</param>
/// <param name="x">The x.</param>
/// <param name="y">The y.</param>
/// <param name="delta">The delta.</param>
public MouseFilterEventArgs(MouseButtons mouseButton, int clicks, int x, int y, int delta)
{
Button = mouseButton;
Clicks = clicks;
X = x;
Y = y;
Delta = delta;
Handled = false;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the button.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The button.
/// </value>
public MouseButtons Button { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether this <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> is handled.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// <c>true</c> if handled; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
/// </value>
public bool Handled { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the X.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The X.
/// </value>
public int X { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the Y.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The Y.
/// </value>
public int Y { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the clicks.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The clicks.
/// </value>
public int Clicks { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the delta.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The delta.
/// </value>
public int Delta { get; set; }
}
static class Program
{
public static MouseFilter mouseFilter = new MouseFilter();
/// <summary>
/// Der Haupteinstiegspunkt für die Anwendung.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.AddMessageFilter(mouseFilter);
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
Application.Run(new MainForm());
}
}

7 Years later but for anyone that is looking for a neat and tidy winforms solution:
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
/// <summary>
/// Pass the panel into constructor and the control will be turned into a touch scrollable control.
/// </summary>
public class TouchScroll
{
private Point mouseDownPoint;
private Panel parentPanel;
/// <summary>
/// pass in the panel you would like to be touch scrollable and it will be handled here.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="panel">The root panel you need to scroll with</param>
public TouchScroll(Panel panel)
{
parentPanel = panel;
AssignEvents(panel);
}
private void AssignEvents(Control control)
{
control.MouseDown += MouseDown;
control.MouseMove += MouseMove;
foreach (Control child in control.Controls)
AssignEvents(child);
}
private void MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
this.mouseDownPoint = Cursor.Position;
}
private void MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button != MouseButtons.Left)
return;
Point pointDifference = new Point(Cursor.Position.X - mouseDownPoint.X, Cursor.Position.Y - mouseDownPoint.Y);
if ((mouseDownPoint.X == Cursor.Position.X) && (mouseDownPoint.Y == Cursor.Position.Y))
return;
Point currAutoS = parentPanel.AutoScrollPosition;
parentPanel.AutoScrollPosition = new Point(Math.Abs(currAutoS.X) - pointDifference.X, Math.Abs(currAutoS.Y) - pointDifference.Y);
mouseDownPoint = Cursor.Position; //IMPORTANT
}
}
}

This´s my way using IMessageFilter. For everyone who´s looking for a solutiion.
First you have to implement a Filter that will listen for all Application Events:
internal class MouseFilter : IMessageFilter
{
private const int WM_LBUTTONDOWN = 0x0201;
private const int WM_LBUTTONUP = 0x0202;
private const int WM_MOUSEMOVE = 0x0200;
/// <summary>
/// Filtert eine Meldung, bevor sie gesendet wird.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="m">Die zu sendende Meldung. Diese Meldung kann nicht geändert werden.</param>
/// <returns>
/// true, um die Meldung zu filtern und das Senden zu verhindern. false, um das Senden der Meldung bis zum nächsten Filter oder Steuerelement zu ermöglichen.
/// </returns>
public bool PreFilterMessage(ref Message m)
{
Point mousePosition = Control.MousePosition;
var args = new MouseFilterEventArgs(MouseButtons.Left, 0, mousePosition.X, mousePosition.Y, 0);
switch (m.Msg)
{
case WM_MOUSEMOVE:
if (MouseFilterMove != null)
{
MouseFilterMove(Control.FromHandle(m.HWnd), args);
}
break;
case WM_LBUTTONDOWN:
if (MouseFilterDown != null)
{
MouseFilterDown(Control.FromHandle(m.HWnd), args);
}
break;
case WM_LBUTTONUP:
if (MouseFilterUp != null)
{
MouseFilterUp(Control.FromHandle(m.HWnd), args);
}
break;
}
// Always allow message to continue to the next filter control
return args.Handled;
}
/// <summary>
/// Occurs when [mouse filter up].
/// </summary>
public event MouseFilterEventHandler MouseFilterUp;
/// <summary>
/// Occurs when [mouse filter down].
/// </summary>
public event MouseFilterEventHandler MouseFilterDown;
/// <summary>
/// Occurs when [mouse filter move].
/// </summary>
public event MouseFilterMoveEventHandler MouseFilterMove;
}
internal delegate void MouseFilterEventHandler(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs args);
internal delegate void MouseFilterMoveEventHandler(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs args);
internal class MouseFilterEventArgs
{
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> class.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="mouseButton">The mouse button.</param>
/// <param name="clicks">The clicks.</param>
/// <param name="x">The x.</param>
/// <param name="y">The y.</param>
/// <param name="delta">The delta.</param>
public MouseFilterEventArgs(MouseButtons mouseButton, int clicks, int x, int y, int delta)
{
Button = mouseButton;
Clicks = clicks;
X = x;
Y = y;
Delta = delta;
Handled = false;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the button.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The button.
/// </value>
public MouseButtons Button { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether this <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> is handled.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// <c>true</c> if handled; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
/// </value>
public bool Handled { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the X.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The X.
/// </value>
public int X { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the Y.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The Y.
/// </value>
public int Y { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the clicks.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The clicks.
/// </value>
public int Clicks { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the delta.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// The delta.
/// </value>
public int Delta { get; set; }
}
Then you have to register this Filter to you Program:
static class Program
{
public static MouseFilter mouseFilter = new MouseFilter();
/// <summary>
/// Der Haupteinstiegspunkt für die Anwendung.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.AddMessageFilter(mouseFilter);
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
Application.Run(new MainForm());
}
}
And now you can listen for global Mouse Events and scroll your scrollable Panel like this:
public partial class MainForm : Form
{
private bool _doTouchScroll;
private Point _mouseStartPoint = Point.Empty;
private Point _yourScrollablePanelStartPoint = Point.Empty;
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MainForm" /> class.
/// </summary>
public MainForm()
{
InitializeComponent();
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterDown += mouseFilter_MouseFilterDown;
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterMove += mouseFilter_MouseFilterMove;
Program.mouseFilter.MouseFilterUp += mouseFilter_MouseFilterUp;
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the MouseFilterDown event of the mudmFilter control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">
/// The <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.
/// </param>
private void mouseFilter_MouseFilterDown(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs e)
{
if (!_doTouchScroll && e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
_mouseStartPoint = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
_yourScrollablePanelStartPoint = new Point(-yourScrollablePanel.AutoScrollPosition.X,
-yourScrollablePanel.AutoScrollPosition.Y);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the MouseFilterMove event of the mudmFilter control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">
/// The <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.
/// </param>
private void mouseFilter_MouseFilterMove(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
if (!_mouseStartPoint.Equals(Point.Empty))
{
int dx = (e.X - _mouseStartPoint.X);
int dy = (e.Y - _mouseStartPoint.Y);
if (_doTouchScroll)
{
yourScrollablePanel.AutoScrollPosition = new Point(_yourScrollablePanelStartPoint.X - dx,
_yourScrollablePanelStartPoint.Y - dy);
}
else if (Math.Abs(dx) > 10 || Math.Abs(dy) > 10)
{
_doTouchScroll = true;
}
}
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the MouseFilterUp event of the mudmFilter control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">
/// The <see cref="MouseFilterEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.
/// </param>
private void mouseFilter_MouseFilterUp(object sender, MouseFilterEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
if (_doTouchScroll && !yourScrollablePanel.AutoScrollPosition.Equals(_yourScrollablePanelStartPoint) &&
!_yourScrollablePanelStartPoint.Equals(Point.Empty))
{
// dont fire Click-Event
e.Handled = true;
}
_doTouchScroll = false;
_mouseStartPoint = Point.Empty;
_yourScrollablePanelStartPoint = Point.Empty;
}
}
}

I used the code the OP posted but found it doesnt work if there are things with in the panel like labels. To make this work more smoothly I changed .
e.Location
to
PointToClient(Cursor.Position)
and then had all objects inside the panel also call the mousedown and mousemove events. This way not matter where you click it should move.

To the original post, considering Cheap Funeral answer.
This version is more simple and more fluid to the touch (considers the finger move speed but not considering the effect of still scrolling after removing the finger, like moving but speeding down(maybe i'll do that whem i have time))
Works for a panel or FlowLayoutPanel
Create a form and insert a FlowLayoutPanel on it.
Form code:
Public Class Form1
Private Function GenerateButton(pName As String) As Button
Dim mResult As New Button
With mResult
.Name = pName
.Text = pName
.Width = FlowPanel.Width
.Height = 100
.Margin = New Padding(0)
.Padding = New Padding(0)
.BackColor = Color.CornflowerBlue
AddHandler .MouseDown, AddressOf Button_MouseDown
AddHandler .MouseMove, AddressOf Button_MouseMove
End With
Return mResult
End Function
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
FlowPanel.Padding = New Padding(0)
FlowPanel.Margin = New Padding(0)
Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To 100
FlowPanel.Controls.Add(GenerateButton("btn" & i.ToString))
Next
End Sub
Dim myMouseDownPoint As Point
Dim myCurrAutoSMouseDown As Point
Private Sub Button_MouseDown(sender As Object, e As MouseEventArgs) Handles FlowPanel.MouseDown
myMouseDownPoint = PointToClient(Cursor.Position)
myCurrAutoSMouseDown = FlowPanel.AutoScrollPosition
End Sub
Private Sub Button_MouseMove(sender As Object, e As MouseEventArgs) Handles FlowPanel.MouseMove
If e.Button = Windows.Forms.MouseButtons.Left Then
Dim mLocation As Point = PointToClient(Cursor.Position)
If myMouseDownPoint <> mLocation Then
Dim mCurrAutoS As Point
Dim mDeslocation As Point = myMouseDownPoint - mLocation
mCurrAutoS.X = Math.Abs(myCurrAutoSMouseDown.X) + mDeslocation.X
mCurrAutoS.Y = Math.Abs(myCurrAutoSMouseDown.Y) + mDeslocation.Y
FlowPanel.AutoScrollPosition = mCurrAutoS
End If
End If
End Sub
TIP:
To hide the scrolls of the flowlayoutpanel(or panel), create a usercontrol that inherits from flowlayoutpanel(or panel) and:
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Public Class FlowLayoutPanelExt
Inherits FlowLayoutPanel
<DllImport("user32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function ShowScrollBar(hWnd As IntPtr, wBar As Integer, bShow As Boolean) As <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)> Boolean
End Function
Private Enum ScrollBarDirection
SB_HORZ = 0
SB_VERT = 1
SB_CTL = 2
SB_BOTH = 3
End Enum
Protected Overrides Sub WndProc(ByRef m As System.Windows.Forms.Message)
If Me.Visible Then
ShowScrollBar(Me.Handle, CInt(ScrollBarDirection.SB_BOTH), False)
MyBase.WndProc(m)
End If
End Sub
Public Sub New()
' This call is required by the designer.
InitializeComponent()
' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
Me.AutoScroll = True
End Sub
End Class

This solution seems to be the best one out there and the most commonly accepted one - however, if you scroll to the bottom and touch a the actual flowcontrol behind the buttons (I tried to make this so that there would be empty space), you then have to double tap-and-hold the button for the scrolling to resume. Restarting the application restores the phone-like scrolling functionality. I am wondering if anyone else has seen this or figured it out - try it with your apps and see if it is the case as well. I modified the snippet above so that you can start a new project, copy and paste this into form1's code, and hit run.
Public Class Form1
Dim FlowPanel As New FlowLayoutPanel
Private Function GenerateButton(ByVal pName As String) As Button
Dim mResult As New Button
With mResult
.Name = pName
.Text = pName
.Width = 128
.Height = 128
.Margin = New Padding(0)
.Padding = New Padding(0)
.BackColor = Color.CornflowerBlue
AddHandler .MouseDown, AddressOf Button_MouseDown
AddHandler .MouseMove, AddressOf Button_MouseMove
End With
Return mResult
End Function
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Me.Width = 806
Me.Height = 480
FlowPanel.Padding = New Padding(0)
FlowPanel.Margin = New Padding(0)
' FlowPanel.ColumnCount = Me.Width / (128 + 6)
FlowPanel.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
FlowPanel.AutoScroll = True
Me.Controls.Add(FlowPanel)
Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To 98
FlowPanel.Controls.Add(GenerateButton("btn" & i.ToString))
Next
End Sub
Dim myMouseDownPoint As Point
Dim myCurrAutoSMouseDown As Point
Private Sub Button_MouseDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As MouseEventArgs)
myMouseDownPoint = PointToClient(Cursor.Position)
myCurrAutoSMouseDown = FlowPanel.AutoScrollPosition
End Sub
Private Sub Button_MouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As MouseEventArgs)
If e.Button = Windows.Forms.MouseButtons.Left Then
Dim mLocation As Point = PointToClient(Cursor.Position)
If myMouseDownPoint <> mLocation Then
Dim mCurrAutoS As Point
Dim mDeslocation As Point = myMouseDownPoint - mLocation
mCurrAutoS.X = Math.Abs(myCurrAutoSMouseDown.X) + mDeslocation.X
mCurrAutoS.Y = Math.Abs(myCurrAutoSMouseDown.Y) + mDeslocation.Y
FlowPanel.AutoScrollPosition = mCurrAutoS
End If
End If
End Sub
End Class

ASP.NET - Extend gridview to allow filtering, sorting, paging, etc

I have seen threads on many sites regarding extending the gridview control so obviously this will be a duplicate. But I haven't found any that truly extend the control to the extent that you could have custom sorting (with header images), filtering by putting drop downs or textboxes in header columns (on a column by column basis) and custom paging (one that doesn't return all records but just returns the ones requested for the given page).
Are there any good tutorials that show the inner-workings of the gridview and how to override the proper functions? I've seen several snippets here and there but none seem to really work and explain things well.
Any links would be appreciated. Thanks!

I've extended the GridView control myself to allow sorting with images, custom paging (so you can select how many records per page from a drop-down) and a few other things. However, you won't be able to do custom paging that just returns the records for the requested page, as that is something your datasource needs to handle and not the GridView.
All I can really do is give you some code and hope it helps. It's pretty old code (pre C#3.0) but may be of some use:
First of all here's the custom GridView control that extends the standard GridView:
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using Diplo.WebControls.DataControls.PagerTemplates;
using Image=System.Web.UI.WebControls.Image;
namespace Diplo.WebControls.DataControls
{
/// <summary>
/// Extended <see cref="GridView"/> with some additional cool properties
/// </summary>
public class DiploGridView : GridView
{
#region Properties
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether a sort graphic is shown in column headings
/// </summary>
/// <value><c>true</c> if sort graphic is displayed; otherwise, <c>false</c>.</value>
public bool EnableSortGraphic
{
get
{
object o = ViewState["EnableSortGraphic"];
if (o != null)
{
return (bool)o;
}
return true;
}
set
{
ViewState["EnableSortGraphic"] = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the sort ascending image when <see cref="EnableSortGraphic"/> is <c>true</c>
/// </summary>
public string SortAscendingImage
{
get
{
object o = ViewState["SortAscendingImage"];
if (o != null)
{
return (string)o;
}
return Page.ClientScript.GetWebResourceUrl(GetType(), SharedWebResources.ArrowUpImage);
}
set
{
ViewState["SortAscendingImage"] = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the sort descending image <see cref="EnableSortGraphic"/> is <c>true</c>
/// </summary>
public string SortDescendingImage
{
get
{
object o = ViewState["SortDescendingImage"];
if (o != null)
{
return (string)o;
}
return Page.ClientScript.GetWebResourceUrl(GetType(), SharedWebResources.ArrowDownImage);
}
set
{
ViewState["SortDescendingImage"] = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the custom pager settings mode.
/// </summary>
public CustomPagerMode CustomPagerSettingsMode
{
get
{
object o = ViewState["CustomPagerSettingsMode"];
if (o != null)
{
return (CustomPagerMode)o;
}
return CustomPagerMode.None;
}
set
{
ViewState["CustomPagerSettingsMode"] = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether the columns in the grid can be re-sized in the UI
/// </summary>
/// <value><c>true</c> if column resizing is allowed; otherwise, <c>false</c>.</value>
public bool AllowColumnResizing
{
get
{
object o = ViewState["AllowColumnResizing"];
if (o != null)
{
return (bool)o;
}
return false;
}
set
{
ViewState["AllowColumnResizing"] = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the highlight colour for the row
/// </summary>
public Color RowStyleHighlightColour
{
get
{
object o = ViewState["RowStyleHighlightColour"];
if (o != null)
{
return (Color)o;
}
return Color.Empty;
}
set
{
ViewState["RowStyleHighlightColour"] = value;
}
}
#endregion Properties
#region Enums
/// <summary>
/// Represents additional custom paging modes
/// </summary>
public enum CustomPagerMode
{
/// <summary>
/// No custom paging mode
/// </summary>
None,
/// <summary>
/// Shows the rows drop-down list <i>and</i> the previous and next buttons
/// </summary>
RowsPagePreviousNext,
/// <summary>
/// Only shows the previous and next buttons
/// </summary>
PagePreviousNext
}
#endregion
#region Overridden Events
/// <summary>
/// Initializes the pager row displayed when the paging feature is enabled.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="row">A <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridViewRow"></see> that represents the pager row to initialize.</param>
/// <param name="columnSpan">The number of columns the pager row should span.</param>
/// <param name="pagedDataSource">A <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.WebControls.PagedDataSource"></see> that represents the data source.</param>
protected override void InitializePager(GridViewRow row, int columnSpan, PagedDataSource pagedDataSource)
{
switch (CustomPagerSettingsMode)
{
case CustomPagerMode.RowsPagePreviousNext:
PagerTemplate = new RowsPagePreviousNext(pagedDataSource, this);
break;
case CustomPagerMode.PagePreviousNext:
PagerTemplate = new PagePreviousNext(pagedDataSource, this);
break;
case CustomPagerMode.None:
break;
default:
break;
}
base.InitializePager(row, columnSpan, pagedDataSource);
}
/// <summary>
/// Raises the <see cref="E:System.Web.UI.Control.PreRender"></see> event.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="e">An <see cref="T:System.EventArgs"></see> that contains the event data.</param>
protected override void OnPreRender(EventArgs e)
{
if (AllowColumnResizing && Visible)
{
string vars = String.Format("var _DiploGridviewId = '{0}';\n", ClientID);
if (!Page.ClientScript.IsClientScriptBlockRegistered("Diplo_GridViewVars"))
{
Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptBlock(GetType(), "Diplo_GridViewVars", vars, true);
}
Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptInclude("Diplo_GridView.js",
Page.ClientScript.GetWebResourceUrl(GetType(), "Diplo.WebControls.SharedWebResources.Diplo_GridView_Resize.js"));
}
base.OnPreRender(e);
}
/// <summary>
/// Raises the <see cref="E:System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.RowCreated"></see> event.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="e">A <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridViewRowEventArgs"></see> that contains event data.</param>
protected override void OnRowCreated(GridViewRowEventArgs e)
{
if (EnableSortGraphic)
{
if (!((e.Row == null)) && e.Row.RowType == DataControlRowType.Header)
{
foreach (TableCell cell in e.Row.Cells)
{
if (cell.HasControls())
{
LinkButton button = ((LinkButton)(cell.Controls[0]));
if (!((button == null)))
{
Image image = new Image();
image.ImageUrl = "images/default.gif";
image.ImageAlign = ImageAlign.Baseline;
if (SortExpression == button.CommandArgument)
{
image.ImageUrl = SortDirection == SortDirection.Ascending ? SortAscendingImage : SortDescendingImage;
Literal space = new Literal();
space.Text = " ";
cell.Controls.Add(space);
cell.Controls.Add(image);
}
}
}
}
}
}
if (RowStyleHighlightColour != Color.Empty)
{
if (e.Row != null)
{
if (e.Row.RowType == DataControlRowType.DataRow)
{
e.Row.Attributes.Add("onmouseover", String.Format("this.style.backgroundColor='{0}'", ColorTranslator.ToHtml(RowStyleHighlightColour)));
e.Row.Attributes.Add("onmouseout", "this.style.backgroundColor=''");
}
}
}
base.OnRowCreated(e);
}
/// <summary>
/// Creates the control hierarchy that is used to render a composite data-bound control based on the values that are stored in view state.
/// </summary>
protected override void CreateChildControls()
{
base.CreateChildControls();
CheckShowPager();
}
private void CheckShowPager()
{
if (CustomPagerSettingsMode != CustomPagerMode.None && AllowPaging)
{
if (TopPagerRow != null)
{
TopPagerRow.Visible = true;
}
if (BottomPagerRow != null)
{
BottomPagerRow.Visible = true;
}
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Creates the control hierarchy used to render the <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView"></see> control using the specified data source.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="dataSource">An <see cref="T:System.Collections.IEnumerable"></see> that contains the data source for the <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView"></see> control.</param>
/// <param name="dataBinding">true to indicate that the child controls are bound to data; otherwise, false.</param>
/// <returns>The number of rows created.</returns>
protected override int CreateChildControls(IEnumerable dataSource, bool dataBinding)
{
int i = base.CreateChildControls(dataSource, dataBinding);
CheckShowPager();
return i;
}
#endregion Overridden Events
}
}
Then there is a custom paging class that is used as a paging template:
using System;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.HtmlControls;
using System.Web.UI;
namespace Diplo.WebControls.DataControls.PagerTemplates
{
/// <summary>
/// Paging template for the <see cref="DiploGridView"/>
/// </summary>
public class RowsPagePreviousNext : ITemplate
{
readonly PagedDataSource _pagedDataSource;
readonly DiploGridView DiploGridView;
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="RowsPagePreviousNext"/> class.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="pagedDataSource">The <see cref="PagedDataSource"/>.</param>
/// <param name="DiploGrid">A reference to the <see cref="DiploGridView"/>.</param>
public RowsPagePreviousNext(PagedDataSource pagedDataSource, DiploGridView DiploGrid)
{
_pagedDataSource = pagedDataSource;
DiploGridView = DiploGrid;
}
/// <summary>
/// When implemented by a class, defines the <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.Control"></see> object that child controls and templates belong to. These child controls are in turn defined within an inline template.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="container">The <see cref="T:System.Web.UI.Control"></see> object to contain the instances of controls from the inline template.</param>
void ITemplate.InstantiateIn(Control container)
{
Literal space = new Literal();
space.Text = " ";
HtmlGenericControl divLeft = new HtmlGenericControl("div");
divLeft.Style.Add("float", "left");
divLeft.Style.Add(HtmlTextWriterStyle.Width, "25%");
Label lb = new Label();
lb.Text = "Show rows: ";
divLeft.Controls.Add(lb);
DropDownList ddlPageSize = new DropDownList();
ListItem item;
ddlPageSize.AutoPostBack = true;
ddlPageSize.ToolTip = "Select number of rows per page";
int max = (_pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount < 50) ? _pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount : 50;
int i;
const int increment = 5;
bool alreadySelected = false;
for (i = increment; i <= max; i = i + increment)
{
item = new ListItem(i.ToString());
if (i == _pagedDataSource.PageSize)
{
item.Selected = true;
alreadySelected = true;
}
ddlPageSize.Items.Add(item);
}
item = new ListItem("All", _pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount.ToString());
if (_pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount == _pagedDataSource.PageSize && alreadySelected == false)
{
item.Selected = true;
alreadySelected = true;
}
if (_pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount > (i - increment) && alreadySelected == false)
{
item.Selected = true;
}
ddlPageSize.Items.Add(item);
ddlPageSize.SelectedIndexChanged += new EventHandler(ddlPageSize_SelectedIndexChanged);
divLeft.Controls.Add(ddlPageSize);
HtmlGenericControl divRight = new HtmlGenericControl("div");
divRight.Style.Add("float", "right");
divRight.Style.Add(HtmlTextWriterStyle.Width, "75%");
divRight.Style.Add(HtmlTextWriterStyle.TextAlign, "right");
Literal lit = new Literal();
lit.Text = String.Format("Found {0} record{1}. Page ",
_pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount,
(_pagedDataSource.DataSourceCount == 1) ? String.Empty : "s" );
divRight.Controls.Add(lit);
TextBox tbPage = new TextBox();
tbPage.ToolTip = "Enter page number";
tbPage.Columns = 2;
tbPage.MaxLength = 3;
tbPage.Text = (_pagedDataSource.CurrentPageIndex + 1).ToString();
tbPage.CssClass = "pagerTextBox";
tbPage.AutoPostBack = true;
tbPage.TextChanged += new EventHandler(tbPage_TextChanged);
divRight.Controls.Add(tbPage);
if (_pagedDataSource.PageCount < 2)
tbPage.Enabled = false;
lit = new Literal();
lit.Text = " of " + _pagedDataSource.PageCount;
divRight.Controls.Add(lit);
divRight.Controls.Add(space);
Button btn = new Button();
btn.Text = "";
btn.CommandName = "Page";
btn.CommandArgument = "Prev";
btn.SkinID = "none";
btn.Enabled = !_pagedDataSource.IsFirstPage;
btn.CssClass = (btn.Enabled) ? "buttonPreviousPage" : "buttonPreviousPageDisabled";
if (btn.Enabled)
btn.ToolTip = "Previous page";
divRight.Controls.Add(btn);
btn = new Button();
btn.Text = "";
btn.CommandName = "Page";
btn.CommandArgument = "Next";
btn.SkinID = "none";
btn.CssClass = "buttonNext";
btn.Enabled = !_pagedDataSource.IsLastPage;
btn.CssClass = (btn.Enabled) ? "buttonNextPage" : "buttonNextPageDisabled";
if (btn.Enabled)
btn.ToolTip = "Next page";
divRight.Controls.Add(btn);
container.Controls.Add(divLeft);
container.Controls.Add(divRight);
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the TextChanged event of the tbPage control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">The <see cref="System.EventArgs"/> instance containing the event data.</param>
void tbPage_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
TextBox tb = sender as TextBox;
if (tb != null)
{
int page;
if (int.TryParse(tb.Text, out page))
{
if (page <= _pagedDataSource.PageCount && page > 0)
{
DiploGridView.PageIndex = page - 1;
}
}
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Handles the SelectedIndexChanged event of the ddlPageSize control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">The <see cref="System.EventArgs"/> instance containing the event data.</param>
void ddlPageSize_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DropDownList list = sender as DropDownList;
if (list != null) DiploGridView.PageSize = Convert.ToInt32(list.SelectedValue);
}
}
}
I can't really talk you through it as server controls are complex, I just hope it gives you some help.

How to slow down or stop key presses in XNA

I've begun writing a game using XNA Framework and have hit some simple problem I do not know how to solve correctly.
I'm displaying a menu using Texture2D and using the keyboard (or gamepad) I change the menu item that is selected. My problem is that the current function used to toggle between menu items is way too fast. I might click the down button and it will go down 5 or 6 menu items (due to the fact that Update() is called many time thus updating the selected item).
ex.
(> indicate selected)
> MenuItem1
MenuItem2
MenuItem3
MenuItem4
MenuItem5
I press the down key for just a second), then I have this state:
MenuItem1
MenuItem2
MenuItem3
> MenuItem4
MenuItem5
What I want is (until I press the key again)
MenuItem1
> MenuItem2
MenuItem3
MenuItem4
MenuItem5
What I am looking for is a way to either have the player click the up/down key many time in order to go from one menu item to the other, or to have some sort of minimum wait time before going to the next menu item.

the best way to implement this is to cache the keyboard/gamepad state from the update statement that just passed.
KeyboardState oldState;
...
var newState = Keyboard.GetState();
if (newState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down) && !oldState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down))
{
// the player just pressed down
}
else if (newState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down) && oldState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down))
{
// the player is holding the key down
}
else if (!newState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down) && oldState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down))
{
// the player was holding the key down, but has just let it go
}
oldState = newState;
In your case, you probably only want to move "down" in the first case above, when the key was just pressed.

I've built a (large) class that helps a lot with any and all XNA input related tasks, it makes what you're asking for easy.
using Microsoft.Xna.Framework;
using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Input;
namespace YourNamespaceHere
{
/// <summary>
/// an enum of all available mouse buttons.
/// </summary>
public enum MouseButtons
{
LeftButton,
MiddleButton,
RightButton,
ExtraButton1,
ExtraButton2
}
public class InputHelper
{
private GamePadState _lastGamepadState;
private GamePadState _currentGamepadState;
#if (!XBOX)
private KeyboardState _lastKeyboardState;
private KeyboardState _currentKeyboardState;
private MouseState _lastMouseState;
private MouseState _currentMouseState;
#endif
private PlayerIndex _index = PlayerIndex.One;
private bool refreshData = false;
/// <summary>
/// Fetches the latest input states.
/// </summary>
public void Update()
{
if (!refreshData)
refreshData = true;
if (_lastGamepadState == null && _currentGamepadState == null)
{
_lastGamepadState = _currentGamepadState = GamePad.GetState(_index);
}
else
{
_lastGamepadState = _currentGamepadState;
_currentGamepadState = GamePad.GetState(_index);
}
#if (!XBOX)
if (_lastKeyboardState == null && _currentKeyboardState == null)
{
_lastKeyboardState = _currentKeyboardState = Keyboard.GetState();
}
else
{
_lastKeyboardState = _currentKeyboardState;
_currentKeyboardState = Keyboard.GetState();
}
if (_lastMouseState == null && _currentMouseState == null)
{
_lastMouseState = _currentMouseState = Mouse.GetState();
}
else
{
_lastMouseState = _currentMouseState;
_currentMouseState = Mouse.GetState();
}
#endif
}
/// <summary>
/// The previous state of the gamepad.
/// Exposed only for convenience.
/// </summary>
public GamePadState LastGamepadState
{
get { return _lastGamepadState; }
}
/// <summary>
/// the current state of the gamepad.
/// Exposed only for convenience.
/// </summary>
public GamePadState CurrentGamepadState
{
get { return _currentGamepadState; }
}
/// <summary>
/// the index that is used to poll the gamepad.
/// </summary>
public PlayerIndex Index
{
get { return _index; }
set {
_index = value;
if (refreshData)
{
Update();
Update();
}
}
}
#if (!XBOX)
/// <summary>
/// The previous keyboard state.
/// Exposed only for convenience.
/// </summary>
public KeyboardState LastKeyboardState
{
get { return _lastKeyboardState; }
}
/// <summary>
/// The current state of the keyboard.
/// Exposed only for convenience.
/// </summary>
public KeyboardState CurrentKeyboardState
{
get { return _currentKeyboardState; }
}
/// <summary>
/// The previous mouse state.
/// Exposed only for convenience.
/// </summary>
public MouseState LastMouseState
{
get { return _lastMouseState; }
}
/// <summary>
/// The current state of the mouse.
/// Exposed only for convenience.
/// </summary>
public MouseState CurrentMouseState
{
get { return _currentMouseState; }
}
#endif
/// <summary>
/// The current position of the left stick.
/// Y is automatically reversed for you.
/// </summary>
public Vector2 LeftStickPosition
{
get
{
return new Vector2(
_currentGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Left.X,
-CurrentGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Left.Y);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// The current position of the right stick.
/// Y is automatically reversed for you.
/// </summary>
public Vector2 RightStickPosition
{
get
{
return new Vector2(
_currentGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Right.X,
-_currentGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Right.Y);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// The current velocity of the left stick.
/// Y is automatically reversed for you.
/// expressed as:
/// current stick position - last stick position.
/// </summary>
public Vector2 LeftStickVelocity
{
get
{
Vector2 temp =
_currentGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Left -
_lastGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Left;
return new Vector2(temp.X, -temp.Y);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// The current velocity of the right stick.
/// Y is automatically reversed for you.
/// expressed as:
/// current stick position - last stick position.
/// </summary>
public Vector2 RightStickVelocity
{
get
{
Vector2 temp =
_currentGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Right -
_lastGamepadState.ThumbSticks.Right;
return new Vector2(temp.X, -temp.Y);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// the current position of the left trigger.
/// </summary>
public float LeftTriggerPosition
{
get { return _currentGamepadState.Triggers.Left; }
}
/// <summary>
/// the current position of the right trigger.
/// </summary>
public float RightTriggerPosition
{
get { return _currentGamepadState.Triggers.Right; }
}
/// <summary>
/// the velocity of the left trigger.
/// expressed as:
/// current trigger position - last trigger position.
/// </summary>
public float LeftTriggerVelocity
{
get
{
return
_currentGamepadState.Triggers.Left -
_lastGamepadState.Triggers.Left;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// the velocity of the right trigger.
/// expressed as:
/// current trigger position - last trigger position.
/// </summary>
public float RightTriggerVelocity
{
get
{
return _currentGamepadState.Triggers.Right -
_lastGamepadState.Triggers.Right;
}
}
#if (!XBOX)
/// <summary>
/// the current mouse position.
/// </summary>
public Vector2 MousePosition
{
get { return new Vector2(_currentMouseState.X, _currentMouseState.Y); }
}
/// <summary>
/// the current mouse velocity.
/// Expressed as:
/// current mouse position - last mouse position.
/// </summary>
public Vector2 MouseVelocity
{
get
{
return (
new Vector2(_currentMouseState.X, _currentMouseState.Y) -
new Vector2(_lastMouseState.X, _lastMouseState.Y)
);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// the current mouse scroll wheel position.
/// See the Mouse's ScrollWheel property for details.
/// </summary>
public float MouseScrollWheelPosition
{
get
{
return _currentMouseState.ScrollWheelValue;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// the mouse scroll wheel velocity.
/// Expressed as:
/// current scroll wheel position -
/// the last scroll wheel position.
/// </summary>
public float MouseScrollWheelVelocity
{
get
{
return (_currentMouseState.ScrollWheelValue - _lastMouseState.ScrollWheelValue);
}
}
#endif
/// <summary>
/// Used for debug purposes.
/// Indicates if the user wants to exit immediately.
/// </summary>
public bool ExitRequested
{
#if (!XBOX)
get
{
return (
(IsCurPress(Buttons.Start) &&
IsCurPress(Buttons.Back)) ||
IsCurPress(Keys.Escape));
}
#else
get { return (IsCurPress(Buttons.Start) && IsCurPress(Buttons.Back)); }
#endif
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested button is a new press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="button">
/// The button to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selected button is being
/// pressed in the current state but not the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsNewPress(Buttons button)
{
return (
_lastGamepadState.IsButtonUp(button) &&
_currentGamepadState.IsButtonDown(button));
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested button is a current press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="button">
/// the button to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selected button is being
/// pressed in the current state and in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsCurPress(Buttons button)
{
return (
_lastGamepadState.IsButtonDown(button) &&
_currentGamepadState.IsButtonDown(button));
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested button is an old press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="button">
/// the button to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selected button is not being
/// pressed in the current state and is being pressed in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsOldPress(Buttons button)
{
return (
_lastGamepadState.IsButtonDown(button) &&
_currentGamepadState.IsButtonUp(button));
}
#if (!XBOX)
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested key is a new press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="key">
/// the key to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool that indicates whether the selected key is being
/// pressed in the current state and not in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsNewPress(Keys key)
{
return (
_lastKeyboardState.IsKeyUp(key) &&
_currentKeyboardState.IsKeyDown(key));
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested key is a current press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="key">
/// the key to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool that indicates whether the selected key is being
/// pressed in the current state and in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsCurPress(Keys key)
{
return (
_lastKeyboardState.IsKeyDown(key) &&
_currentKeyboardState.IsKeyDown(key));
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested button is an old press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="key">
/// the key to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selectde button is not being
/// pressed in the current state and being pressed in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsOldPress(Keys key)
{
return (
_lastKeyboardState.IsKeyDown(key) &&
_currentKeyboardState.IsKeyUp(key));
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested mosue button is a new press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="button">
/// teh mouse button to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selected mouse button is being
/// pressed in the current state but not in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsNewPress(MouseButtons button)
{
switch (button)
{
case MouseButtons.LeftButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Released &&
_currentMouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.MiddleButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.MiddleButton == ButtonState.Released &&
_currentMouseState.MiddleButton == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.RightButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.RightButton == ButtonState.Released &&
_currentMouseState.RightButton == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.ExtraButton1:
return (
_lastMouseState.XButton1 == ButtonState.Released &&
_currentMouseState.XButton1 == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.ExtraButton2:
return (
_lastMouseState.XButton2 == ButtonState.Released &&
_currentMouseState.XButton2 == ButtonState.Pressed);
default:
return false;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested mosue button is a current press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="button">
/// the mouse button to be checked.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selected mouse button is being
/// pressed in the current state and in the last state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsCurPress(MouseButtons button)
{
switch (button)
{
case MouseButtons.LeftButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.MiddleButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.MiddleButton == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.MiddleButton == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.RightButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.RightButton == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.RightButton == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.ExtraButton1:
return (
_lastMouseState.XButton1 == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.XButton1 == ButtonState.Pressed);
case MouseButtons.ExtraButton2:
return (
_lastMouseState.XButton2 == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.XButton2 == ButtonState.Pressed);
default:
return false;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the requested mosue button is an old press.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="button">
/// the mouse button to check.
/// </param>
/// <returns>
/// a bool indicating whether the selected mouse button is not being
/// pressed in the current state and is being pressed in the old state.
/// </returns>
public bool IsOldPress(MouseButtons button)
{
switch (button)
{
case MouseButtons.LeftButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Released);
case MouseButtons.MiddleButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.MiddleButton == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.MiddleButton == ButtonState.Released);
case MouseButtons.RightButton:
return (
_lastMouseState.RightButton == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.RightButton == ButtonState.Released);
case MouseButtons.ExtraButton1:
return (
_lastMouseState.XButton1 == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.XButton1 == ButtonState.Released);
case MouseButtons.ExtraButton2:
return (
_lastMouseState.XButton2 == ButtonState.Pressed &&
_currentMouseState.XButton2 == ButtonState.Released);
default:
return false;
}
}
#endif
}
}
Just copy it into a separate class fie and move it to your namespace, then declare one (inputHelper variable), initialize it in the initialiaze portion, and call inputHelper.Update() in your update loop before the update logic. Then whenever you need something related to input, just use the InputHelper! for instance, in your situation, you would use InputHelper.IsNewPress([type of input button/key here]) to check if you want to move the menu item down or up. For this example: inputHelper.IsNewPress(Keys.Down)

A nice way of dealing with this kind of thing is to store a counter for each key you're interested in, which you increment every frame if the key is down, and reset to 0 if it's up.
The advantage of this is that you can then test for both the absolute state of the key (if the counter is non-zero the key is down) and also easily check if it's just been pressed this frame for menus and the like (counter is 1). Plus key repeat becomes easy (counter % repeat delay is zero).

If your application is for a Windows machine, I've had great success using this event driven class that I found here: gamedev.net forum post
It handles typical key presses and the short pauses before the repeating starts, just like normal text entry in a Windows application. Also included is mouse move/wheel events.
You can subscribe to the events, for example, using the following code:
InputSystem.KeyDown += new KeyEventHandler(KeyDownFunction);
InputSystem.KeyUp += new KeyEventHandler(KeyUpFunction);
Then in the methods themselves:
void KeyDownFunction(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
if(e.KeyCode == Keys.F)
facepalm();
}
void KeyUpFunction(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
if(e.KeyCode == Keys.F)
release();
}
...and so forth. It really is a great class. I've found it's flexibility much improved over XNA's default keyboard handling. Good Luck!

I thought the previous answers were a bit over-complicated, so I'm giving this one here...
Copy the KeyPress class below in a new file, declare the KeyPress variables, initialize them in your Initialize() method. From there you can do if ([yourkey].IsPressed()) ...
Note: this answer works only for Keyboard input, but it should be easily ported to Gamepad or any other input. I think keeping the code for the different types of input separate is better.
public class KeyPress
{
public KeyPress(Keys Key)
{
key = Key;
isHeld = false;
}
public bool IsPressed { get { return isPressed(); } }
public static void Update() { state = Keyboard.GetState(); }
private Keys key;
private bool isHeld;
private static KeyboardState state;
private bool isPressed()
{
if (state.IsKeyDown(key))
{
if (isHeld) return false;
else
{
isHeld = true;
return true;
}
}
else
{
if (isHeld) isHeld = false;
return false;
}
}
}
Usage:
// Declare variable
KeyPress escape;
// Initialize()
escape = new KeyPress(Keys.Escape)
// Update()
KeyPress.Update();
if (escape.IsPressed())
...
I might be wrong, but I think my answer is easier on resources than the accepted answer and also more readable!

You could store in integer value time from last key pressed (left,right...) and if this time is bigger than some limit you could poll for new key pressed. However this could be done only for menu, because in-game you would need that information immediately.

What you can also do is make yourself a functions combining KyeUp and KeyDown that tells you when the key has been pressed once, only in 1 loop of the update, so that it only works everytime you press the key again.

Ok, I've figured it out. First, I added a
private Keys keyPressed = Keys.None;
and in my Update() method, I do the following:
KeyboardState keyboardState = Keyboard.GetState();
if (keyboardState.IsKeyUp(keyPressed))
{
keyPressed = Keys.None;
}
if (keyboardState.IsKeyDown(keyPressed))
{
return;
}
// Some additionnal stuff is done according to direction
if (keyboardState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Up))
{
keyPressed = Keys.Up;
}
else if (keyboardState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Down))
{
keyPressed = Keys.Down;
}
It seems to be working correctly.

I save the GamePadState and KeyboardState from the previous update run. At the next update run i check for buttons that were not pressed last run, but are pressed now. Then I save the current state.
I have all of this wrapped up in a static class that I can use to query for specific buttons and/or get a list of pressed buttons since the last update. This makes it really easy to work with multiple keys simultaneously (something you certainly want in games) and it would be trivially extensible to chords.

Ranieri, what does that look like? I am having a hard time juggling these update cycles...
Hrmmm...
public static bool CheckKeyPress(Keys key)
{
return keyboardState.IsKeyUp(key) && lastKeyboardState.IsKeyDown(key);
}
SetStates() is private and it is called in the Update()
private static void SetStates()
{
lastKeyboardState = keyboardState;
keyboardState = Keyboard.GetState();
}
Here is the update...
public sealed override void Update(GameTime gameTime)
{
// Called to set the states of the input devices
SetStates();
base.Update(gameTime);
}
I've tried adding extra checks..
if (Xin.CheckKeyPress(Keys.Enter) ||
Xin.CheckButtonPress(Buttons.A))
{
if (Xin.LastKeyboardState != Xin.KeyboardState ||
Xin.LastGamePadState(PlayerIndex.One) != Xin.GamePadState(PlayerIndex.One))
{
doesn't seem to have any noticeable effects - I can't seem to slow down the menu confirmations,

Well what you could do is something like this (Also will track every key)
int[] keyVals;
TimeSpan pressWait = new TimeSpan(0, 0, 1);
Dictionary<Keys, bool> keyDowns = new Dictionary<Keys, bool>();
Dictionary<Keys, DateTime> keyTimes = new Dictionary<Keys, DateTime>();
public ConstructorNameHere
{
keyVals = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Keys)) as int[];
foreach (int k in keyVals)
{
keyDowns.Add((Keys)k, false);
keyTimes.Add((Keys)k, new DateTime()+ new TimeSpan(1,0,0));
}
}
protected override void Update(GameTime gameTime)
{
foreach (int i in keyVals)
{
Keys key = (Keys)i;
switch (key)
{
case Keys.Enter:
keyTimes[key] = (Keyboard.GetState().IsKeyUp(key)) ? ((keyDowns[key]) ? DateTime.Now + pressWait : keyTimes[key]) : keyTimes[key];
keyDowns[key] = (keyTimes[key] > DateTime.Now) ? false : Keyboard.GetState().IsKeyDown(key);
if (keyTimes[key] < DateTime.Now)
{
// Code for what happens when Keys.Enter is pressed goes here.
}
break;
}
}
By doing it this way you're able to check every key. You could also do this for just every key by create separate DateTimes and seperate bool values.

I know this is old, but how about:
Add a threadsafe dictionary:
private ConcurrentDictionary<Keys, DateTime> _keyBounceDict = new ConcurrentDictionary<Keys, DateTime>();
Then use this method to track the keys pressed and determine if there is a key bounce:
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/// IsNotKeyBounce - determines if a key is bouncing and therefore not valid within
/// a certain "delay" period
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
private bool IsNotKeyBounce(Keys thekey, double delay)
{
bool OKtoPress = true;
if (_keyBounceDict.ContainsKey(thekey))
{
TimeSpan ts = DateTime.Now - _keyBounceDict[thekey];
if (ts.TotalMilliseconds < _tsKeyBounceTiming)
{
OKtoPress = false;
}
else
{
DateTime dummy;
_keyBounceDict.TryRemove(thekey, out dummy);
}
}
else
{
_keyBounceDict.AddOrUpdate(thekey, DateTime.Now, (key, oldValue) => oldValue);
}
return OKtoPress;
}
Here is what I put in my Update method:
if (Keyboard.GetState().IsKeyDown(Keys.W))
{
if (IsNotKeyBounce(Keys.W, 50.0)) _targetNew.Distance *= 1.1f;
}
I use 50 ms, but you could use whatever makes sense for your app or tie it to GameTime or whatever...