ToolStrip.Background only changes button's background (C#/.NET/WinForms)

Question

I want my ToolStrip Background to change when an Item is not saved.

To render the background of my toolstrip I use my own renderer:

    class ToolStripRenderer : ToolStripProfessionalRenderer
    {
        private MenuBarForm parent;

        public ToolStripRenderer(MenuBarForm Parent)
        {
            parent = Parent;
        }

        protected override void OnRenderToolStripBackground(ToolStripRenderEventArgs e)
        {
            if (parent.controlItems.Last().Unsaved)
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(new System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush(e.ToolStrip.ClientRectangle, SystemColors.ControlLightLight, Color.Red, 90, true), e.AffectedBounds);
            else
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(new System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush(e.ToolStrip.ClientRectangle, SystemColors.ControlLightLight, SystemColors.ControlDark, 90, true), e.AffectedBounds);
        }
    }

The first time the toolstrip renders it renders correctly with a grey to dark grey design:

But when the bar should become red, only the buttons which the mouse hovers over become red:

I would like the whole toolstrip the be red-colored at once.

I already tried changing e.AffectedBounds to e.ToolStrip.Bounds, to no avail.

Sounds like it dont think it need to update the control. Have you tried calling Invalidate() on the toolstrip? To force it to update? — MrApnea, Jun 02 '16 at 09:43
Please don't post answer as a part of the question. it's confusing for future readers. Post it as an answer. — Reza Aghaei, Jun 02 '16 at 10:52
Instead of changing background color by drawing, you can create a new color table and override relevant properties to change background color, then use it when `UnSaved` changes. — Reza Aghaei, Jun 02 '16 at 10:54
Sounds interesting. I am not familiar with color tables. Could you sample code in which a toolstrip backgroundcolor is changed based on a property using your color table. — Maiko Kingma, Jun 02 '16 at 11:11

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 02 '16 at 11:22

2

You can create a custom color table inheriting ProfessionalColorTable and override relevant properties to change background color:

public class CustomColorTable : ProfessionalColorTable
{
    public override Color ToolStripGradientBegin
    {
        get { return Color.Red; }
    }
    public override Color ToolStripGradientMiddle
    {
        get { return Color.Red; }
    }
    public override Color ToolStripGradientEnd
    {
        get { return SystemColors.ControlLightLight; }
    }
}

To change your ToolStrip background, assign a new ToolStripProfessionalRenderer which uses your custom color table to ToolStripManager.Renderer:

ToolStripManager.Renderer = new ToolStripProfessionalRenderer(new CustomColorTable());

To set the original professional renderer:

ToolStripManager.Renderer = new ToolStripProfessionalRenderer();

answered Jun 02 '16 at 11:22

Reza Aghaei

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Thank you for your quick answer. This solution doesn't work for me unfortunately. I tried adding your CustomColorTable with this code to change the renderer ` if (controlItems.Last().Unsaved) ToolStripManager.Renderer = new ToolStripProfessionalRenderer(); else ToolStripManager.Renderer = new ToolStripProfessionalRenderer(new CustomColorTable());` – Maiko Kingma Jun 02 '16 at 11:46
To test the solution it's enough to set `RenderMode` property of your `ToolStrip` to `ManagerRenderMode` then change `ToolStripManager.Renderer` when you need. To arrange an independent test from your `UnSaved` property you can call `ToolStripManager.Renderer = new ToolStripProfessionalRenderer(new CustomColorTable());` in a button click to make sure it works. – Reza Aghaei Jun 02 '16 at 11:48
Let me know if you have any problem applying the answer. It's tested and works properly. – Reza Aghaei Jun 02 '16 at 11:51
In my previous solution I did not use a `ToolStripManager`. does the `ToolStripManager` need to be connected to the `ToolStrip` for this to work? My `ToolStrip` is also inside a `ToolStripContainer` maybe this interferes with the `ToolStripManager`? – Maiko Kingma Jun 02 '16 at 12:10
Your `ToolStrip` will use a manager if you set `RenderMode` property of your `ToolStrip` to `ManagerRenderMode`. It's the main mechanism for skinning `ToolStrip`. – Reza Aghaei Jun 02 '16 at 12:12

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 02 '16 at 11:13

I Found this solution Thanks to FSDaniel comment:

By adding Invalidate() to the end of the OnRenderToolStripBackground the toolstrip did indeed become fully red but also caused the application to go into a infinite loop. I solved this by creating an event that was triggered by changing the UnSaved property. The form that has the toolstrip then subscribed a method to this event which called toolstrip.Invalidate(). This way Invalidate() is only used when necessary.

ToolStrip.Background only changes button's background (C#/.NET/WinForms)

2 Answers2