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[smashapps]

Have you used an Mdi form before? If you have you will have noticed the ugly gray container, you cannot just change the backColor of the form, it will stay gray.

Here is a tutorial i have made to show how you can change it, and of course explain most of the code, with source code and an image

Create a new project, You don't need to add any controls or change any properties I did it all by code.

on for the Form1 load event add this:

Code: Select all

Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        'Here we are declaring a new form, not needed but you can see what the Mdi container is, and of course declare out mdicontainer
        Me.IsMdiContainer = True
        Dim testform As New Windows.Forms.Form
        testform.Text = "Test Form"
        testform.Width = 300
        testform.Height = 300
        testform.MdiParent = Me
        testform.Show()

        'now we are gonig to use a loop to change the backcolor of the mdi container
        'you cannot just change the forms backcolor, it wont work for the container, it will stay gray
        For Each MdiContainer As Control In Me.Controls
            If TypeOf MdiContainer Is MdiClient Then
                MdiContainer.BackColor = Color.Azure
                'You can change the color to any that you wish, and you can use an image, code below
                'MdiContainer.BackgroundImage = Image.FromFile("Image Path")
                'If your image has a transparent background, the back color will be to what ever you have set it to
            End If
        Next MdiContainer

        'make the mdiparent double buffered so there isnt any flickering etc with the child form
        Me.DoubleBuffered = True
    End Sub

I created a ChildForm so you can see what the MdiContainer actually does, to change the backcolor or back image we use a loop. Everything that is an MdiClient will then have the backColor changed to Color.Azure, I also showed how to change the image but commented it, if you want to use an image just remove the ' from the start of MdiContainer.BackgroundImage

Image:



If you liked my tutorial feel free to +rep me and if have any questions or anything I will be glad to try and answer them
Source code:

[hungryhounduk]

Hey Smash

Excellent Tutorial again

keep it up

Chris

[smashapps]

I'm out of ideas now though and thanks