[.net] How do I create a skinned resizable Form?

There is no built in skinning ability in .Net. There are quite a few private libraries that will do it for you but figure on paying $200.00+ for an individual license.

There are ways to do it yourself, but if you really want custom stuff you have to override the OnDraw methods and owner draw the control yourself.

Now a lot of this depends on your definition of skinning. If you are just talking about colors, locations, layout, ect. then you can do it without too much trouble by creating your own skin class that handles all of that for you. If you want to make round text boxes, and round forms, then for the most part it is to OnDraw and roll your own.

theTroll

Have a look at CustomBorderForm on CodePlex.

For skinning treeview and other controls, you will need to do as TheTroll says and derive your own controls from existing controls and override the various drawing methods (usually just OnDraw) to get the look you want.

Quote:

Original post by Dave Hunt Have a look at CustomBorderForm on CodePlex. For skinning treeview and other controls, you will need to do as TheTroll says and derive your own controls from existing controls and override the various drawing methods (usually just OnDraw) to get the look you want.

Just went and looked at the project and it looks like it is dead. Last update was almost a year ago. Bummer, looked like they had started something pretty nice.

theTroll

Yeah, I noticed that as well. But I figured there was enough there to get Pipo going with what he wants to do.