Question

MDI Child forms using Visual Styles

Asked by: ah7386

Hi Guys
As I have said previously, im quite new to VB.NET and am going through the motions of creating my first database application.

The app I am creating uses the XP Visual Styles settings.  I have noticed that when forms are created and the MDI Parent is set to the MDI form, the initial drawing of the form is quite rough and jerky.

This doesn't seem to be the case with Visual Styles turned off.
I have tried lockwindowupdate, double buffering but nothing seems to make a difference.

The flicker is only slight, but its enough to "p" me off!  Im a perfectionist and would like my screens to load
nice and smoothly!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to acheive what I want.  Do you guys use Visual Styles and if so, have you noticed this problem?

Is it possible to paint the screen to memory before using Show()?

Many Thanks

Ant

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Asked On
2008-09-09 at 07:52:44ID23715703
Tags

Visual Basic.NET

Topics

Visual Studio

,

Microsoft Visual Basic.Net

Participating Experts
1
Points
250
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: planoczPosted on 2008-09-18 at 10:27:47ID: 22513260

try this code that I use in my app's.


   '///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
        '//  This code will kept the Maximized Child Forms from
        '//  flickering when opening
        '//  Sample:
        '//  Dim objForm As Form = New frmInjuredParty
        '//  With objForm
        '//       .Dock = DockStyle.Fill
        '//       SendMessage(Me.Handle, WM_SETREDRAW, 0, 0)
        '//       .Text = "Injured Party"
        '//        .MdiParent = Me
        '//        .Show()
        '//  End With
        '//  SendMessage(Me.Handle, WM_SETREDRAW, 1, 0)
        '//  Me.Invalidate(True)   <----- the MDI Parent Form
        '//  Cursor = Cursors.Default
        '/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
  Private Function CheckActive(ByVal pChildName As String) As Boolean
        '//////////////////////////////////////////////
        '//  Check to see if the form 
        '//  is already open for viewing
        '//////////////////////////////////////////////
        For Each childForm As Form In Me.MdiChildren
            If TypeName(childForm).ToUpper = pChildName.ToUpper Then
                childForm.Activate()
                Return True
            End If
        Next
        Return False
    End Function
 
    Public Declare Auto Function SendMessage Lib "User32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal msg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As Integer) As Boolean
                                              
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