Centering text in a listbox

[Robert W.]

In a WinForms app is there an easy way to center the text entries added to a
listbox?

--
Robert W.
Vancouver, BC
www.mwtech.com

[Jason Hales]

You'll need to create your own OwnerDrawn control based on the list
box. Try this for starters:

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

namespace CentredListBox
{
public class MyListBox : ListBox
{
private System.ComponentModel.Container components = null;

public MyListBox()
{
InitializeComponent();
base.DrawMode = DrawMode.OwnerDrawFixed;
}

[Browsable(false)]
public override DrawMode DrawMode
{
get { return DrawMode.OwnerDrawFixed; }
set {}
}

protected override void OnDrawItem(DrawItemEventArgs e)
{
// Draw background for each item.
e.DrawBackground();

// Get's fired even if there are no itme sin the list!
if (Items.Count > 0)
{
string item = Items[e.Index].ToString();

SizeF itemSize = e.Graphics.MeasureString(item, e.Font, 0);
PointF centredPoint = new PointF(e.Bounds.Left + ((e.Bounds.Width -
itemSize.Width) / 2), e.Bounds.Top);
Brush itemBrush = SystemBrushes.ControlText;
if ((e.State & DrawItemState.Selected) == DrawItemState.Selected)
{
itemBrush = SystemBrushes.HighlightText;
}

// draw item at correct location
e.Graphics.DrawString(item, e.Font, itemBrush, centredPoint);
}

// Draw a focus rectangle around the selected item.
e.DrawFocusRectangle();

}

/// <summary>
/// Clean up any resources being used.
/// </summary>
protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )
{
if( disposing )
{
if(components != null)
{
components.Dispose();
}
}
base.Dispose( disposing );
}

#region Component Designer generated code
/// <summary>
/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
/// </summary>
private void InitializeComponent()
{
components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();
}
#endregion
}
}

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,
"Robert W." <Ro*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AC**********************************@microsof t.com...

In a WinForms app is there an easy way to center the text entries added to
a
listbox?

AFAIK there is no way of doing this..

There are several ways to do it though:
1- Calculate the size of the string in the display ( using
Graphinc.MeasureString ) and then insert the correct number of whitespaces
around the text.

2- Write your own control , take a look at the OwnerDraw control from
opennetcf.org (there is also a forum posting about this control)


--
Ignacio Machin,
ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department Of Transportation

[Robert W.]

Jason,

Thank you! I don't have much experience at building my own custom controls.
Your code was easy to understand and implement.

--
Robert W.
Vancouver, BC
www.mwtech.com

[Robert W.]

The code provided earlier by Jason is good but it doesn't allow larger fonts
to be used. I tried several manipulations to make it more universal but
couldn't figure out the right one. Any thoughts?

--
Robert W.
Vancouver, BC
www.mwtech.com

"Ignacio Machin ( .NET/ C# MVP )" wrote:

Hi,
"Robert W." <Ro*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AC**********************************@microsof t.com...

In a WinForms app is there an easy way to center the text entries added to
a
listbox?

AFAIK there is no way of doing this..

There are several ways to do it though:
1- Calculate the size of the string in the display ( using
Graphinc.MeasureString ) and then insert the correct number of whitespaces
around the text.

2- Write your own control , take a look at the OwnerDraw control from
opennetcf.org (there is also a forum posting about this control)


--
Ignacio Machin,
ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department Of Transportation

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,

Go to
http://www.opennetcf.org/PermaLink.a...8-94ab3c124f63
, download the code and see that the class contain a Font , change it to
your convenience

You can even have different fonts/colors for your items !!!
--
Ignacio Machin,
ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department Of Transportation

"Robert W." <Ro*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AE**********************************@microsof t.com...

The code provided earlier by Jason is good but it doesn't allow larger
fonts
to be used. I tried several manipulations to make it more universal but
couldn't figure out the right one. Any thoughts?

--
Robert W.
Vancouver, BC
www.mwtech.com

"Ignacio Machin ( .NET/ C# MVP )" wrote:

Hi,
"Robert W." <Ro*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AC**********************************@microsof t.com...

> In a WinForms app is there an easy way to center the text entries added
> to
> a
> listbox?

AFAIK there is no way of doing this..

There are several ways to do it though:
1- Calculate the size of the string in the display ( using
Graphinc.MeasureString ) and then insert the correct number of
whitespaces
around the text.

2- Write your own control , take a look at the OwnerDraw control from
opennetcf.org (there is also a forum posting about this control)


--
Ignacio Machin,
ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department Of Transportation