Beveled Panel with Shadow Effect - Now With Tabs

• Download source code (AdvancedTabPanel.zip) - 27 KB
• Download improved second version (V 2.0) of source code - 27.5 KB

Introduction

This is a modified version of AdvancedPanel that allows drawing tabs and rotated text.

V 2.0  The improved second version: AdvancedTabPanel_CP2.zip.

Background

I liked the original AdvancedPanel but missed a tab drawing routine, so I decided to add a DrawTab routine in the modified AdvancedTab version. I also added a rotated text drawing routine DrawRotatedTabText.

Using the Code

The AdvancedTabPanel acts as a container for controls. For simple purposes, this is the only control that needs to be changed, in the designer, the following properties can be set:

• TabCount
• TabText
• TabActive

For more advanced usage, AdvancedTab controls can be used individually, using the following properties:

• TabNumber
• TabText
• TabFont
• TabSelected
• TabColorSelected
• TabColorUnselected
• TabFontColor
• RotatedTextAngle
• RotatedTextOffsetX
• RotatedTextOffsetY

Do not forget to attach event handlers to the tabs like this:

private void Form1_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    foreach (var tabpanel in this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs)
    {
        // Attach event handler to all tabs.
        tabpanel.Click += this.TabClick;
    }
}

private void TabClick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    BevelPanel.AdvancedTab tab = sender as BevelPanel.AdvancedTab;
    this.labelNumber.Text = tab.TabNumber.ToString();
    this.label1.Text = tab.Name + " click";
    this.advancedTabPanel1.TabActive = tab.TabNumber;
}

New in V2.0

To allow changing the Tag property of controls when in design mode in the AdvancedTabPanel, the designer mode is determined as follows:

designMode = (LicenseManager.UsageMode == LicenseUsageMode.Designtime);

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace PanelExample
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Demonstrates <see cref="BevelPanel.AdvancedTabPanel"/> 
    /// a modified version of AdvancedPanel containing a List of tabs.
    /// </summary>
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            this.advancedTabPanel1.TabActive = 1;
        }

        private void Form1_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            foreach (var tabpanel in this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs)
            {
                // Attach event handler to all tabs.
                tabpanel.Click += this.TabClick;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Note that labelNumber and labelStatus do not have a number as Tag and 
        /// will be visible on all tab pages.
        /// </summary>
        private void TabClick(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            BevelPanel.AdvancedTab tab = sender as BevelPanel.AdvancedTab;
            this.labelNumber.Text = tab.TabNumber.ToString();
            this.labelStatus.Text = tab.Name + " click";
            this.advancedTabPanel1.TabActive = tab.TabNumber;
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.labelStatus.Text = "We wish you happy advanced tab panel usage !";
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[0].TabColorUnselected = Color.Red;
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[1].TabColorUnselected = Color.Yellow;
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[2].TabColorUnselected = Color.Lime;
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[3].TabColorUnselected = Color.Pink;
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[0].RotatedTextAngle = -5;
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[1].RotatedTextAngle = 10;
            this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs[2].RotatedTextAngle = -10;
        }

        private void buttonExit_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Exit button.
            foreach (var tabpanel in this.advancedTabPanel1.Tabs)
            {
                // Remove event handler from all tabs.
                tabpanel.Click -= this.TabClick;
            }

            this.Close();
        }
    }
}

Points of Interest

You might also like to use rounded buttons, see article here.

I noticed too late that only the main form project was set to .NET 4 and the rest was still set to .NET 3.5, if it bothers you just change all projects to the version of your choice.

Note: AdvancedTabPanel sadly has no full designer support for placing controls on the tab pages and switching between them, this has to be done programmatically. I tried to get tab page serialization working in the designer, but only got errors, if someone manages to accomplish this feat, I would like to hear ASAP!

History

• V 1.0
• V 2.0 new
• Simplified usage, no need to change the parent property of controls
• The tab page can now be changed in the designer with the TabActive property, new controls will be Tagged with the chosen tab number
• Fixed the AdvancedTabPanel gradient mode and styles, if BackColor is not transparent the styles will be applied
• When the tab color has been changed, keep the changes