ToolStripManager Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Windows.Forms

Assembly:

System.Windows.Forms.dll

Controls ToolStrip rendering and rafting, and the merging of MenuStrip, ToolStripDropDownMenu, and ToolStripMenuItem objects. This class cannot be inherited.

public ref class ToolStripManager abstract sealed

public static class ToolStripManager

type ToolStripManager = class

Public Class ToolStripManager

Inheritance

Object

ToolStripManager

Examples

The following code example demonstrates all the typical scenarios of menu item merging.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

public enum MergeSample
{
    None,
    Append,
    InsertInSameLocation,
    InsertInSameLocationPreservingOrder,
    ReplacingItems,
    MatchOnly
}
public class Form1 : Form
{
    ContextMenuStrip cmsBase;
    ContextMenuStrip cmsItemsToMerge;

    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        components ??= new Container();
        cmsBase = new ContextMenuStrip(components);
        cmsItemsToMerge = new ContextMenuStrip(components);

        // cmsBase is the base ContextMenuStrip.
        cmsBase.Items.Add("one");
        cmsBase.Items.Add("two");
        cmsBase.Items.Add("three");
        cmsBase.Items.Add("four");

        // cmsItemsToMerge contains the items to merge.
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("one");
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("two");
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("three");
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("four");

        // Distinguish the merged items by setting the shortcut display string.
        foreach (ToolStripMenuItem tsmi in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            tsmi.ShortcutKeyDisplayString = "Merged Item";
        }
        // Associate the ContextMenuStrip with the form so that it displays when
        // the user clicks the right mouse button.
        this.ContextMenuStrip = cmsBase;

        CreateCombo();
    }

    #region ComboBox switching code.
    private void CreateCombo()
    {
        // This ComboBox allows the user to switch between the samples.
        ComboBox sampleSelectorCombo = new ComboBox();
        sampleSelectorCombo.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(MergeSample));
        sampleSelectorCombo.SelectedIndexChanged += new EventHandler(comboBox_SelectedIndexChanged);
        sampleSelectorCombo.Dock = DockStyle.Top;
        this.Controls.Add(sampleSelectorCombo);

        TextBox textBox = new TextBox();
        textBox.Multiline = true;
        textBox.Dock = DockStyle.Left;
        textBox.DataBindings.Add("Text", this, "ScenarioText");
        textBox.ReadOnly = true;
        textBox.Width = 150;
        this.Controls.Add(textBox);
        this.BackColor = ProfessionalColors.MenuStripGradientBegin;
        this.Text = "Right click under selection.";
    }
    void comboBox_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        ComboBox sampleSelectorCombo = sender as ComboBox;
        if (sampleSelectorCombo.SelectedValue != null)
        {
            CurrentSample = (MergeSample)sampleSelectorCombo.SelectedValue;
        }
    }

    private string scenarioText;

    public string ScenarioText
    {
        get { return scenarioText; }
        set
        {
            scenarioText = value;
            if (ScenarioTextChanged != null)
            {
                ScenarioTextChanged(this, EventArgs.Empty);
            }
        }
    }

    public event EventHandler ScenarioTextChanged;

    #endregion

    private void RebuildItemsToMerge()
    {
        // This handles cases where the items collection changes for the sample.
        cmsItemsToMerge.SuspendLayout();
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Clear();
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("one");
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("two");
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("three");
        cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("four");
        // Distinguish the merged items by setting the shortcut display string.
        foreach (ToolStripMenuItem tsmi in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            tsmi.ShortcutKeyDisplayString = "Merged Item";
        }
        cmsItemsToMerge.ResumeLayout();
    }
    #region Switching current samples.
    private MergeSample currentSample = MergeSample.None;
    private MergeSample CurrentSample
    {
        get { return currentSample; }
        set
        {
            if (currentSample != value)
            {
                bool resetRequired = false;

                if (currentSample == MergeSample.MatchOnly)
                {
                    resetRequired = true;
                }
                currentSample = value;
                // Undo previous merge, if any.
                ToolStripManager.RevertMerge(cmsBase, cmsItemsToMerge);
                if (resetRequired)
                {
                    RebuildItemsToMerge();
                }

                switch (currentSample)
                {
                    case MergeSample.None:
                        return;
                    case MergeSample.Append:
                        ScenarioText = "This sample adds items to the end of the list using MergeAction.Append.\r\n\r\nThis is the default setting for MergeAction. A typical scenario is adding menu items to the end of the menu when some part of the program is activated.";
                        ShowAppendSample();
                        break;
                    case MergeSample.InsertInSameLocation:
                        ScenarioText = "This sample adds items to the middle of the list using MergeAction.Insert.\r\n\r\nNotice here how the items are added in reverse order: four, three, two, one. This is because they all have the same merge index.\r\n\r\nA typical scenario is adding menu items to the middle or beginning of the menu when some part of the program is activated. ";
                        ShowInsertInSameLocationSample();
                        break;
                    case MergeSample.InsertInSameLocationPreservingOrder:
                        ScenarioText = "This sample is the same as InsertInSameLocation, except the items are added in normal order by increasing the MergeIndex of \"two merged items\" to be 3, \"three merged items\" to be 5, and so on.\r\n  You could also add the original items backwards to the source ContextMenuStrip.";
                        ShowInsertInSameLocationPreservingOrderSample();
                        break;
                    case MergeSample.ReplacingItems:
                        ScenarioText = "This sample replaces a menu item using MergeAction.Replace. Use this for the MDI scenario where saving does something completely different.\r\n\r\nMatching is based on the Text property. If there is no text match, merging reverts to MergeIndex.";
                        ShowReplaceSample();
                        break;
                    case MergeSample.MatchOnly:
                        ScenarioText = "This sample adds only the subitems from the child to the target ContextMenuStrip.";
                        ShowMatchOnlySample();
                        break;
                }
                // Reapply with the new settings.
                ToolStripManager.Merge(cmsItemsToMerge, cmsBase);
            }
        }
    }
    #endregion

    #region MergeSample.Append
    /* Example 1 - Add all items to the end of the list.
        * one
        * two
        * three
        * four
        * merge-one
        * merge-two
        * merge-three
        * merge-four
         */
    public void ShowAppendSample()
    {
        foreach (ToolStripItem item in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Append;
        }
    }
    #endregion

    #region MergeSample.InsertInSameLocation
    /*  Example 2 - Place all in the same location.
          * one
          * two
          * merge-four
          * merge-three
          * merge-two
          * merge-one
          * three
          * four
           
          */
    public void ShowInsertInSameLocationSample()
    {
        // Notice how the items are in backward order.  
        // This is because "merge-one" gets applied, then a search occurs for the new second position 
        // for "merge-two", and so on.
        foreach (ToolStripItem item in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Insert;
            item.MergeIndex = 2;
        }
    }
    #endregion

    #region MergeSample.InsertInSameLocationPreservingOrder
    /* Example 3 - Insert items in the right order.
        * one
        * two
        * merge-one
        * merge-two
        * merge-three
        * merge-four
        * three
        * four               
        */
    public void ShowInsertInSameLocationPreservingOrderSample()
    {

        // Undo previous merges, if any.
        ToolStripManager.RevertMerge(cmsBase, cmsItemsToMerge);

        // This is the same as above, but increases the MergeIndex so that
        // subsequent items are placed afterwards.
        int i = 0;
        foreach (ToolStripItem item in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Insert;
            item.MergeIndex = 2 + i++;
        }

        // Reapply with new settings.
        ToolStripManager.Merge(cmsItemsToMerge, cmsBase);
    }
    #endregion

    #region MergeSample.ReplacingItems
    /* Example 4 - 
        * merge-one
        * merge-two
        * merge-three
        * merge-four
         */
    public void ShowReplaceSample()
    {

        // MergeAction.Replace compares Text property values. 
        // If matching text is not found, Replace reverts to MergeIndex.                    

        foreach (ToolStripItem item in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Replace;
        }
    }
    #endregion

    #region MergeSample.MatchOnly
    /* Example 5 - Match to add subitems to a menu item.
         * Add items to the flyout menus for the original collection.
         * one -> subitem from "one merged item"
         * two -> subitem from "two merged items"
         * three -> subitem from "three merged items"
         * four -> subitem from "four merged items"
         */
    public void ShowMatchOnlySample()
    {

        foreach (ToolStripMenuItem item in cmsItemsToMerge.Items)
        {
            item.MergeAction = MergeAction.MatchOnly;
            item.DropDownItems.Add("subitem from \"" + item.Text + " " + item.ShortcutKeyDisplayString + "\"");
        }
    }
    #endregion

    private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;
    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing && (components != null))
        {
            components.Dispose();
        }
        base.Dispose(disposing);
    }

    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();
        this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
        this.Text = "Form1";
    }
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public Enum MergeSample
   None
   Append
   InsertInSameLocation
   InsertInSameLocationPreservingOrder
   ReplacingItems
   MatchOnly
End Enum

Public Class Form1
   Inherits Form
   Private cmsBase As ContextMenuStrip
   Private cmsItemsToMerge As ContextMenuStrip
   
   
   Public Sub New()
      InitializeComponent()
      
      If components Is Nothing Then
         components = New Container()
      End If
      cmsBase = New ContextMenuStrip(components)
      cmsItemsToMerge = New ContextMenuStrip(components)
      
      ' cmsBase is the base ContextMenuStrip.
      cmsBase.Items.Add("one")
      cmsBase.Items.Add("two")
      cmsBase.Items.Add("three")
      cmsBase.Items.Add("four")
      
      
      ' cmsItemsToMerge contains the items to merge.
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("one")
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("two")
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("three")
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("four")
      
      ' Distinguish the merged items by setting the shortcut display string.
      Dim tsmi As ToolStripMenuItem
      For Each tsmi In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         tsmi.ShortcutKeyDisplayString = "Merged Item"
      Next tsmi
      ' Associate the ContextMenuStrip with the form so that it displays when
      ' the user clicks the right mouse button.
      Me.ContextMenuStrip = cmsBase
      
      CreateCombo()
   End Sub
   
   
   #Region "ComboBox switching code."
   
   Private Sub CreateCombo()
      ' This ComboBox allows the user to switch between the samples.
      Dim sampleSelectorCombo As New ComboBox()
      sampleSelectorCombo.DataSource = [Enum].GetValues(GetType(MergeSample))
      AddHandler sampleSelectorCombo.SelectedIndexChanged, AddressOf comboBox_SelectedIndexChanged
      sampleSelectorCombo.Dock = DockStyle.Top
      Me.Controls.Add(sampleSelectorCombo)
      Dim textBox As New TextBox()
      textBox.Multiline = True
      textBox.Dock = DockStyle.Left
      textBox.DataBindings.Add("Text", Me, "ScenarioText")
      textBox.ReadOnly = True
      textBox.Width = 150
      Me.Controls.Add(textBox)
      Me.BackColor = ProfessionalColors.MenuStripGradientBegin
      Me.Text = "Right click under selection."
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub comboBox_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
      Dim sampleSelectorCombo As ComboBox = sender 
      If Not (sampleSelectorCombo.SelectedValue Is Nothing) Then
         CurrentSample = CType(sampleSelectorCombo.SelectedValue, MergeSample)
      End If
   End Sub
   
   Private scenarioText1 As String
   
   
   Public Property ScenarioText() As String
      Get
         Return scenarioText1
      End Get
      Set
         scenarioText1 = value
         RaiseEvent ScenarioTextChanged(Me, EventArgs.Empty)
      End Set
   End Property
   
   Public Event ScenarioTextChanged As EventHandler
   
   #End Region
   
   
   Private Sub RebuildItemsToMerge()
      ' This handles cases where the items collection changes for the sample.
      cmsItemsToMerge.SuspendLayout()
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Clear()
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("one")
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("two")
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("three")
      cmsItemsToMerge.Items.Add("four")
      ' Distinguish the merged items by setting the shortcut display string.
      Dim tsmi As ToolStripMenuItem
      For Each tsmi In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         tsmi.ShortcutKeyDisplayString = "Merged Item"
      Next tsmi
      cmsItemsToMerge.ResumeLayout()
   End Sub
   #Region "Switching current samples."
   Private currentSample1 As MergeSample = MergeSample.None
   
   Private Property CurrentSample() As MergeSample
      Get
         Return currentSample1
      End Get
      Set
         If currentSample1 <> value Then
            Dim resetRequired As Boolean = False
            
            If currentSample1 = MergeSample.MatchOnly Then
               resetRequired = True
            End If
            currentSample1 = value
            ' Undo previous merge, if any.
            ToolStripManager.RevertMerge(cmsBase, cmsItemsToMerge)
            If resetRequired Then
               RebuildItemsToMerge()
            End If
            
            Select Case currentSample1
               Case MergeSample.None
                     Return
               Case MergeSample.Append
                  ScenarioText = "This sample adds items to the end of the list using MergeAction.Append." + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + "This is the default setting for MergeAction. A typical scenario is adding menu items to the end of the menu when some part of the program is activated."
                  ShowAppendSample()
               Case MergeSample.InsertInSameLocation
                  ScenarioText = "This sample adds items to the middle of the list using MergeAction.Insert." + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + "Notice here how the items are added in reverse order: four, three, two, one. This is because they all have the same merge index." + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + "A typical scenario is adding menu items to the middle or beginning of the menu when some part of the program is activated. "
                  ShowInsertInSameLocationSample()
               Case MergeSample.InsertInSameLocationPreservingOrder
                  ScenarioText = "This sample is the same as InsertInSameLocation, except the items are added in normal order by increasing the MergeIndex of ""two merged items"" to be 3, ""three merged items"" to be 5, and so on." + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + "  You could also add the original items backwards to the source ContextMenuStrip."
                  ShowInsertInSameLocationPreservingOrderSample()
               Case MergeSample.ReplacingItems
                  ScenarioText = "This sample replaces a menu item using MergeAction.Replace. Use this for the MDI scenario where saving does something completely different." + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + ControlChars.Cr + ControlChars.Lf + "Matching is based on the Text property. If there is no text match, merging reverts to MergeIndex."
                  ShowReplaceSample()
               Case MergeSample.MatchOnly
                  ScenarioText = "This sample adds only the subitems from the child to the target ContextMenuStrip."
                  ShowMatchOnlySample()
            End Select
            
            ' Reapply with the new settings.
            ToolStripManager.Merge(cmsItemsToMerge, cmsBase)
         End If
      End Set
   End Property
   #End Region
   
   #Region "MergeSample.Append"
   
   ' Example 1 - Add all items to the end of the list.
'        * one
'        * two
'        * three
'        * four
'        * merge-one
'        * merge-two
'        * merge-three
'        * merge-four
'         
   Public Sub ShowAppendSample()
      Dim item As ToolStripItem
      For Each item In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Append
      Next item
   End Sub
   #End Region
   
   #Region "MergeSample.InsertInSameLocation"
   
   '  Example 2 - Place all in the same location.
'          * one
'          * two
'          * merge-four
'          * merge-three
'          * merge-two
'          * merge-one
'          * three
'          * four
'           
'          
   Public Sub ShowInsertInSameLocationSample()
      ' Notice how the items are in backward order.  
      ' This is because "merge-one" gets applied, then a search occurs for the new second position 
      ' for "merge-two", and so on.
      Dim item As ToolStripItem
      For Each item In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Insert
         item.MergeIndex = 2
      Next item
   End Sub
   #End Region
   
   #Region "MergeSample.InsertInSameLocationPreservingOrder"
   
   ' Example 3 - Insert items in the right order.
'        * one
'        * two
'        * merge-one
'        * merge-two
'        * merge-three
'        * merge-four
'        * three
'        * four               
'        
   Public Sub ShowInsertInSameLocationPreservingOrderSample()
      
      ' Undo previous merges, if any.
      ToolStripManager.RevertMerge(cmsBase, cmsItemsToMerge)
      
      ' This is the same as above, but increases the MergeIndex so that
      ' subsequent items are placed afterwards.
      Dim i As Integer = 0
      Dim item As ToolStripItem
      For Each item In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Insert
         item.MergeIndex = 2 + i
      Next item
      
      ' Reapply with new settings.
      ToolStripManager.Merge(cmsItemsToMerge, cmsBase)
   End Sub
   #End Region
   
   #Region "MergeSample.ReplacingItems"
   
   ' Example 4 - 
'        * merge-one
'        * merge-two
'        * merge-three
'        * merge-four
'         
   Public Sub ShowReplaceSample()
      
      ' MergeAction.Replace compares Text property values. 
      ' If matching text is not found, Replace reverts to MergeIndex.                    
      Dim item As ToolStripItem
      For Each item In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         item.MergeAction = MergeAction.Replace
      Next item
   End Sub
   
   
   #End Region
   
   #Region "MergeSample.MatchOnly"
   
   ' Example 5 - Match to add subitems to a menu item.
'         * Add items to the flyout menus for the original collection.
'         * one -> subitem from "one merged item"
'         * two -> subitem from "two merged items"
'         * three -> subitem from "three merged items"
'         * four -> subitem from "four merged items"
'         
   Public Sub ShowMatchOnlySample()
      
      Dim item As ToolStripMenuItem
      For Each item In  cmsItemsToMerge.Items
         item.MergeAction = MergeAction.MatchOnly
         item.DropDownItems.Add(("subitem from """ + item.Text + " " + item.ShortcutKeyDisplayString + """"))
      Next item
   End Sub
   
   #End Region
   
   Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer = Nothing
   
   Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(disposing As Boolean)
      If disposing AndAlso Not (components Is Nothing) Then
         components.Dispose()
      End If
      MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
   End Sub
   
   
   Private Sub InitializeComponent()
      Me.components = New System.ComponentModel.Container()
      Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
      Me.Text = "Form1"
   End Sub
   
   <STAThread()>  _
   Shared Sub Main()
      Application.EnableVisualStyles()
      Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(False)
      Application.Run(New Form1())
   End Sub
End Class

The following code example demonstrates a call to ToolStripManager and some of its members.

toolStrip1->RenderMode = 
    ToolStripRenderMode::ManagerRenderMode;
ToolStripManager::Renderer = gcnew RedTextRenderer;

toolStrip1.RenderMode = ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode;
ToolStripManager.Renderer = new RedTextRenderer();

toolStrip1.RenderMode = ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode
ToolStripManager.Renderer = New RedTextRenderer()

Remarks

ToolStripManager supports ToolStrip-related tasks for entire applications, such as merging, settings, and renderer options. The overloaded Merge method combines ToolStrip controls with each other, and the overloaded RevertMerge method undoes a merge operation.

Use the ToolStripRenderer class with the ToolStripManager class to gain even more control and customizability over painting and layout style.

Properties

Renderer	Gets or sets the default painting styles for the form.
RenderMode	Gets or sets the default theme for the form.
VisualStylesEnabled	Gets or sets a value indicating whether a ToolStrip is rendered using visual style information called themes.

Methods

FindToolStrip(String)	Finds the specified ToolStrip or a type derived from ToolStrip.
IsShortcutDefined(Keys)	Retrieves a value indicating whether the specified shortcut key is used by any of the ToolStrip controls of a form.
IsValidShortcut(Keys)	Retrieves a value indicating whether a defined shortcut key is valid.
LoadSettings(Form)	Loads settings for the given Form using the full name of the Form as the settings key.
LoadSettings(Form, String)	Loads settings for the specified Form using the specified settings key.
Merge(ToolStrip, String)	Combines two ToolStrip objects of the same type.
Merge(ToolStrip, ToolStrip)	Combines two ToolStrip objects of different types.
RevertMerge(String)	Undoes a merging of two ToolStrip objects, returning the ToolStrip with the specified name to its state before the merge and nullifying all previous merge operations.
RevertMerge(ToolStrip)	Undoes a merging of two ToolStrip objects, returning the specified ToolStrip to its state before the merge and nullifying all previous merge operations.
RevertMerge(ToolStrip, ToolStrip)	Undoes a merging of two ToolStrip objects, returning both ToolStrip controls to their state before the merge and nullifying all previous merge operations.
SaveSettings(Form)	Saves settings for the given Form using the full name of the Form as the settings key.
SaveSettings(Form, String)	Saves settings for the specified Form using the specified settings key.

Events

RendererChanged

Occurs when the value of the Renderer property changes.

See also

• ToolStripRenderer
• ToolStripProfessionalRenderer
• ToolStripContainer
• MergeAction
• MergeIndex
• MergeAction
• AllowMerge
• How to: Customize Colors in ToolStrip Applications
• How to: Set the ToolStrip Renderer at Run Time
• How to: Set the ToolStrip Renderer for an Application