Visual C#. NET 2003 Unleashed

IN BRIEF

So far in the section of this book dealing with Windows Forms, you've seen a basic introduction to WinForms programming followed by an introduction to creating reusable controls and using attributes on those controls to make them easier to use.

This chapter will introduce some advanced user interface topics that you might not be familiar with. Continuing the discussion of reusable interface elements, this chapter will illustrate visual inheritance, a technology that allows one form to inherit the user interface of another.

That discussion is followed by an overview of creating dynamic context menus. After that is a discussion of creating custom-drawn elements, complete with samples of custom list boxes and menu items. The chapter finishes with a discussion of custom-shaped forms and form transparency.

WHAT YOU NEED

CREATING VISUALLY COMPELLING WINDOWS FORMS APPLICATIONS AT A GLANCE