Images vs Icons

toconce · July 2nd, 2012, 08:23 PM

Hi Rod,
Great book!
In VB6 I could attach ICONS to buttons; how can I attach these same ICONS to buttons in VB.Net. It looks like one can only attach images; if so, is there an image file with standard images like Folder, book, list, etc. that I can download?

Rod Stephens · July 2nd, 2012, 09:44 PM

Normally you use some other image file format for button images such as a png or bmp. You can find a ton of standard button images in the Visual Studio Image Library that is installed when you install Visual Studio.

Exactly where it is installed depends on which version of Visual Basic you install but it should look something like:

...\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\VS2010ImageLibrary\1033\VS2010ImageLi brary.zip.

See Visual Studio Image Library for more details.

If you can't find it, try searching your Program Files directory for *ImageLibrary.zip.

toconce · July 3rd, 2012, 12:01 AM

Hi Rod, thanks for the prompt reply,

The free VB 2010 Express version does not include the ImageLibrary. I'll have to wait until I win the lottery before I can purchase the full studio.

But, since I don't give up easily, I was able to attach from my ICON file. When browseing for an image from the control's property, I selected "view all files (*.*)" from the import window, chose the needed ICON and to my surprise it worked. I guess the IDE automatically converted the ICON to BMP, JPEG, or ???? Now if I can find how to change its dimensions to be a little bigger.....

As long as I'm writing this, here is something for the Errata Sheet for the VB 2010 Prgrms Ref book....Page 117, 2nd Paragraph, 3rd sentence, "co mponent" should read "component"

This old die-hard VB6 programer is begining to like the VB.net, mainly due to your book.

Thanks again!

Rod Stephens · July 3rd, 2012, 10:19 AM

Sorry about that. I had forgotten that the image library wasn't included in the Express Editions.

You may be able to download the Visual Studio 2012 RC and pull it out of there. I haven't tried it, though.

To resize, you might be able to find a tool that can do that. Or you can write some code to load the image, resize it, and save it into a new file. See this example:

Resize an image in VB .NET

toconce · July 3rd, 2012, 11:39 AM

Thanks Rod, I'll give it a try, both suggestions.

As I continue to learn VB.net ( at 70 yrs old) I'm sure I will be asking for your help again but only when I'm really stuck so as not to bother you too much.

Martin

Rod Stephens · July 5th, 2012, 01:22 PM

It's really no bother. If I get too busy, replies just take a bit longer.