Walkthrough: Creating a Professionally Styled ToolStrip Control

Article
07/26/2022

You can give your application’s ToolStrip controls a professional appearance and behavior by writing your own class derived from the ToolStripProfessionalRenderer type.

This walkthrough demonstrates how to use ToolStrip controls to create a composite control that resembles the Navigation Pane provided by Microsoft® Outlook®. The following tasks are illustrated in this walkthrough:

Creating a Windows Control Library project.
Designing the StackView Control.
Implementing a Custom Renderer.

When you are finished, you will have a reusable custom client control with the professional appearance of a Microsoft Office® XP control.

To copy the code in this topic as a single listing, see How to: Create a Professionally Styled ToolStrip Control.

Prerequisites

You'll need Visual Studio to complete this walkthrough.

Create the control library project

In Visual Studio, create a new Windows Control Library project named StackViewLibrary.
In Solution Explorer, delete the project's default control by deleting the source file named "UserControl1.cs" or "UserControl1.vb", depending on your language of choice.

For more information, see How to: Remove, Delete, and Exclude Items.
Add a new UserControl item to the StackViewLibrary project. Give the new source file a base name of StackView.

Design the StackView control

The StackView control is a composite control with one child ToolStrip control. For more information about composite controls, see Varieties of Custom Controls.

From the Toolbox, drag a ToolStrip control to the design surface.

In the Properties window, set the ToolStrip control's properties according to the following table.

Property	Value
Name	`stackStrip`
CanOverflow	`false`
Dock	Bottom
Font	`Tahoma, 10pt, style=Bold`
GripStyle	Hidden
LayoutStyle	VerticalStackWithOverflow
Padding	`0, 7, 0, 0`
RenderMode	Professional

In the Windows Forms Designer, click the ToolStrip control's Add button and add a ToolStripButton to the stackStrip control.

In the Properties window, set the ToolStripButton control's properties according to the following table.

Property	Value
Name	`mailStackButton`
CheckOnClick	true
CheckState	Checked
DisplayStyle	ImageAndText
ImageAlign	MiddleLeft
ImageScaling	None
ImageTransparentColor	`238, 238, 238`
Margin	`0, 0, 0, 0`
Padding	`3, 3, 3, 3`
Text	Mail
TextAlign	MiddleLeft

Repeat step 7 for three more ToolStripButton controls.

Name the controls calendarStackButton, contactsStackButton, and tasksStackButton. Set the value of the Text property to Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks, respectively.

Handle events

Two events are important to make the StackView control behave correctly. Handle the Load event to position the control correctly. Handle the Click event for each ToolStripButton to give the StackView control state behavior similar to the RadioButton control.

In the Windows Forms Designer, select the StackView control.
In the Properties window, click Events.
Double-click the Load event to generate the StackView_Load event handler.

In the StackView_Load event handler, copy and paste the following code.

// This method handles the Load event for the UserControl.
private void StackView_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Dock bottom.
    this.Dock = DockStyle.Bottom;

    // Set AutoSize.
    this.AutoSize = true;
}

' This method handles the Load event for the UserControl.
Private Sub StackView_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
   ' Dock bottom.
   Me.Dock = DockStyle.Bottom
   
   ' Set AutoSize.
   Me.AutoSize = True
 End Sub

In the Windows Forms Designer, select the mailStackButton control.
In the Properties window, click Events.
Double-click the Click event.

The Windows Forms Designer generates the mailStackButton_Click event handler.
Rename the mailStackButton_Click event handler to stackButton_Click.

For more information, see Rename a code symbol refactoring.

Insert the following code into the stackButton_Click event handler.

// This method handles the Click event for all
// the ToolStripButton controls in the StackView.
private void stackButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Define a "one of many" state, similar to
    // the logic of a RadioButton control.
    foreach (ToolStripItem item in this.stackStrip.Items)
    {
        if ((item != sender) &&
            (item is ToolStripButton))
        {
            ((ToolStripButton)item).Checked = false;
        }
    }
}

' This method handles the Click event for all
' the ToolStripButton controls in the StackView.
Private Sub stackButton_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles mailStackButton.Click, calendarStackButton.Click, contactsStackButton.Click, tasksStackButton.Click
   ' Define a "one of many" state, similar to
   ' the logic of a RadioButton control.
   Dim item As ToolStripItem
   For Each item In  Me.stackStrip.Items
         If item IsNot sender AndAlso TypeOf item Is ToolStripButton Then
             CType(item, ToolStripButton).Checked = False
         End If
   Next item
 End Sub

In the Windows Forms Designer, select the calendarStackButton control.
In the Properties window, set the Click event to the stackButton_Click event handler.
Repeat steps 10 and 11 for the contactsStackButton and tasksStackButton controls.

Define icons

Each StackView button has an associated icon. For convenience, each icon is represented as a Base64-encoded string, which is deserialized before a Bitmap is created from it. In a production environment, you store bitmap data as a resource, and your icons appear in the Windows Forms Designer. For more information, see How to: Add Background Images to Windows Forms.

In the Code Editor, insert the following code into the StackView class definition. This code initializes the bitmaps for the ToolStripButton icons.

private static Bitmap mailBmp;
private static Bitmap calendarBmp;
private static Bitmap contactsBmp;
private static Bitmap tasksBmp;

private static string mailBmpEnc = @"Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAoAAAA"+
    "GAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u7u7u"+
    "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u"+
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private static string calendarBmpEnc = @"Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAo"+
    "AAAAGAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u"+
    "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u"+
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    "7u7u";

private static string contactsBmpEnc = @"Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAo"+
    "AAAAGAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u"+
    "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u"+
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    "7u7u";

private static string tasksBmpEnc = @"Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAoAAA"+
    "AGAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u3N3fkXxqeGB"+
    "LalE5cVc/c1lBf2JKl3RZiWhMe1xBb1M5aE42Zkw0Zk01aE42YUkxYkk"+
    "xYkkxkod97u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uv62e+ezi69nQ7M6+7Miz6L+prI+"+
    "rWFKqmHyk7rWU77OO77CM8LCK8bCH8a2F8qp98aV13pZnZkwz7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7uv62e//37/vr3/vTw+uvkwLnaJDO/BhmzJjTDybTG99K"+
    "8+NC49syy9sms9sao9cOl8LiV8KR0aU417u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uwK6"+
    "f//7+//z7/Pj3xcTmLDvBFynIMEXkIDbXVGHO6dHO+tzJ+tjD+dW++dK"+
    "5+c+19sWn8qd2Y0kx7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uw7Gj/////Pv9wcTsKDj"+
    "FFCnMRVjuZHX1PlPoFzHSeHPJ+d3O+tzI+tjD+dS9+dG59seq8ayEaEw"+
    "07u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uxrWm9vf9pKzoJjjNGi7TR1nreoj/j5v8ZXf"+
    "0N0zlJjTPv7LP+t7O+tvI+tfC+dS998qv8K+LaU427u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u08W619v5Kz7XJjrfTl/ze4v/tLr59/Dyoab2Znb0LUPmNUTO1sX"+
    "R+9/N+tvH+tjC99C277GNbVI47u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uy7qt6+3+kp7"+
    "4UGT4c4P/sbj+/Pr5/vj16ePykpz5Y3T0KDzfbHHR6dTS++HQ+tvG+dn"+
    "D8bqabVI57u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uybeo////9ff/qLL/wsr//Pz///3"+
    "8/vv5/ff09e7wpav4YnP0KDzajYzQ6NPT/N7O+NrG8b+idFlA7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7uyriq////////+Pn//v7///////////38/vr2/vj08er"+
    "wmaL6WWvyMELXmJbS9OPb+d/Q88mxc1Y97u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uzLq"+
    "s//////////////////////////7+//36/vr3/vn0+fDvsLT1WmruNUb"+
    "Qta/V+uXX9M+6hWdP7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uzryt///////////////"+
    "///////////////7+//79//v3/vj0+O7wurz0TV3sSFTS08fa9t7PmXl"+
    "h7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uz72v/////////////////////fj1+Orh9uH"+
    "W89TD88+78sew9NK99drNm5/xVWbwYWvV6dzgrIlw7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u0L6w////////////////X4ycVYGSTHaIS21/SGN0SGJySF9vdnd"+
    "9pZWQ89TDt7n1TF3oZGvOuJ2L7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u0b+x///////"+
    "/////////dJmou+Xsmd3ofs/fdcXVcMHSbrrNbbHCbHJ69dTD++3nw8H"+
    "uNUjqZGjJ7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u0b+x////////////////i6q2pMn"+
    "StuzzYYycdLG+fs/ed8jaXY2eRl1t8uDU++je/O7mzsnmUFCX7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u0sCy////////////////3ufqdZuqx+30V3aFXoCPaZW"+
    "kjdDeTWx8v7Ko/vr2/fTv/fTu+/XxnZSu7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u6ur"+
    "r2Mq/0b+x0L6wz72vyLeqc5qpoMHLxfD3v+zzruXvkMjVaX6GwK6ewrC"+
    "hwa+gwK6fv62e4OHi7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u5ObnfKa1eaOxcpyrcJWkboiW4+Pj7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7"+
    "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u";

// Static constructor to initialize
// the form's static fields.
static StackView()
{
    // Create the static bitmaps from Base64 encoding.
    CreateBitmaps();
}

public StackView()
{
    this.InitializeComponent();

    // Assign icons to ToolStripButton controls.
    this.InitializeImages();

    // Set up renderers.
    this.stackStrip.Renderer = new StackRenderer();
}

// This utility method assigns icons to each
// ToolStripButton control.
private void InitializeImages()
{
    this.mailStackButton.Image = mailBmp;
    this.calendarStackButton.Image = calendarBmp;
    this.contactsStackButton.Image = contactsBmp;
    this.tasksStackButton.Image = tasksBmp;
}

// This utility method creates bitmaps for all the icons.
// It uses a utility method called DeserializeFromBase64
// to decode the Base64 image data.
private static void CreateBitmaps()
{
    mailBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(mailBmpEnc);
    calendarBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(calendarBmpEnc);
    contactsBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(contactsBmpEnc);
    tasksBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(tasksBmpEnc);
}

// This utility method cretes a bitmap from
// a Base64-encoded string.
internal static Bitmap DeserializeFromBase64(string data)
{
    // Decode the string and create a memory stream
    // on the decoded string data.
    MemoryStream stream =
        new MemoryStream(Convert.FromBase64String(data));

    // Create a new bitmap from the stream.
    Bitmap b = new Bitmap(stream);

    return b;
}

Private Shared mailBmp As Bitmap
Private Shared calendarBmp As Bitmap
Private Shared contactsBmp As Bitmap
Private Shared tasksBmp As Bitmap

 Private Shared mailBmpEnc As String = "Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAoAAAA" + _
         "GAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uv4yFvouE" + _
         "vYmDu4eBuYV/t4N9tYB7s355sXt3tntxsnhwsHZurXNsrHFrp21pomln" + _
         "oGdlnmVjnWNi7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uwY6H9N3C/vDa/ejM+tSp+cye" + _
         "98OS9bqI87F/87KA8qt68KRy76Bu7phl7ZVi7JVi54xb0ntSoGVj7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uwo+Ix6WZ9ujb//bn/u/b/OfL++HA+9iv+tev+tSr" + _
         "+tKo+cyg+Mic9b+S9LqM8al35ZZmoXBSoWdk7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "xZSN9ejayaOY9uvh//js/vXo/e/a/evS/OfL/OTF+927+9u1+tSq+tKl" + _
         "+cqW8buFqHZa7JVdn2hm7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uxZSN//ns9ercxqKV" + _
         "+O7k//nw//fu//fr/vTl/u/c/uvU/eLB/N+7+tev8b6Hq3pe+Lh6/69q" + _
         "oWpp7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7ux5eP//vv//vw9OncxKOX9+7m//v1//nz" + _
         "//jx//bs/+7Z/erQ/eTC8syiqntg+M6a/9Oh/8CFom1s7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7uypqS//z4//v28ebYza2evp6V7+Lb8uzl8+3l8uvk9Ore9ejZ" + _
         "6NO/poVyt4xx5b2T/9ap/8ybpXFw7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uzJ2V///8" + _
         "7uPbzaye/fv6/fv5v6GTvKCQvJ+Nu5qIupmJt5uKsZWE+u3e+unYo4Jq" + _
         "572O/9KjqHd17u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uzqCX7OHbzKud/fr58url5tnQ" + _
         "5dfO5dfN5dfM5NbM49TI3Mq+3Mm93Mm8382/+unbrIJp57WGrH597u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uz6GZ0LGj6uHa/fv67OLc6+Hb7eTd7ePd7eLb7eLb" + _
         "7uPb9e7l9evk9uvj9+zh/PHlzr61r4VtsoWC7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "0aKXfdb/8uzn///////////////////////+//37/Pn3+fXv9fHp8+vl" + _
         "8enk7uXe1si/L6f3tYeC7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uy6mkdM3/+vf1////" + _
         "/////////////////fz8/Pv69fPx7vDw7O/w2OfvxN/swt/thMXnK6ft" + _
         "r4SC7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u1KeevuX6nNf2rN/7nNz9h9X+b8z+VMb/" + _
         "RsT/RsT/PsP/Obz7NLT2MbL0K6vuJ6XpKKfrLqrvr4J/7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u28jC0rSo0O36yOv7x+r7v+f8suP9o97+jtj+idn+htX/e83/" + _
         "a8f/XcD/Tbn/SLf/R7b/rJKJ7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u6ePi" + _
         "07ew29zd1e/61O/60e77y+z8vun9reH+mNn+gdH/ccj/ZMP/Vr3/t7/C" + _
         "uKCX7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u6uXk2b621rux1fH6" + _
         "3fL61/L7y+/8u+f9pt7+jNT+cMn/XcH/rZyW1c3L7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u6N/d07Op3d7f2/P60vD7xez8" + _
         "r+H9k9X+kr/cv6Wb7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u6uXk2L612cG31e73yOv7seL8uKWezLex7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u6eHg1LOpzaeayaqh4dvb7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
         "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u"

 Private Shared calendarBmpEnc As String = "Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAo" + _
          "AAAAGAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uuKOUkXxqemNO" + _
          "alM8YEgwYEgwYkoxYUgwYEgwY0szYkoxYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwZEszYUgw" + _
          "YEgwY0oyYUgwYEgwYEgw7u7u7u7uuqWW6tPE27qlxKCLu5d837OUzKGC" + _
          "t41xsYpt37OUzKGCt41xrodq37OUzKGCt41xrodq37OUzKGCt41xrodq" + _
          "Zk447u7u7u7uvKaX//fz/+3i/NvFwJl6/+nb/d3H+c+1vJV2/+HP/tW8" + _
          "/MWluZJz/9vG/9Gw+8OfuJFy/86y/sKf97eSuJFyYEgw7u7u7u7uvaiZ" + _
          "//j2//Hq/OTY0qiL/+7h/+TR/N3J0KWI/+TU/9vE/9S4zqOF/+LR/9zE" + _
          "/sywzaKE/9e//8yt/sWizaKEYEgw7u7u7u7uv6qb//v5//j1//bx5Lug" + _
          "//Ho//Dl/+nb5Lqg/+fZ/+LQ/97I5Lqf/+XU/+HN/9zF5Lqf/9bC/9S7" + _
          "/9C05LqfYEgw7u7u7u7uwauc4bib1ayOxZyBvpd74LaY0qiKwJd7uJF1" + _
          "4LWWz6WGvJJ2D0XuBTnjBjXQAiy8ACm137OUzKGCt41xrodqYEgw7u7u" + _
          "7u7uxK6f//v6/Ozg/eHQx6CC/+/m+uHQ+tjDwpt9/+re/+DM/9O4I1Tz" + _
          "/9zG/9O5/86wASu4/9fC98Sm87uYuJFyYEgw7u7u7u7uxrCh//39//n0" + _
          "/One1qyQ//v4/vHn+uHR06mM//Pt/+rc/+HMPGr0/+TU/93H/9i/AzHJ" + _
          "/+LP/9i++curzaKEYEgw7u7u7u7ux7Kj//39//38/fbw5Luh//z7/vj1" + _
          "/uzh5Lug//fx//bv/+vgWoH2/+/m/+vd/+PQAzTa/+XU/+XU/97J5Lqf" + _
          "YUkx7u7u7u7uybOk47yh3rab1q2SzaWL4bqe2a+SzKKHwpqA4bmd1q2O" + _
          "x52CbY/5WYD3OWb0IFP0Aj3t4Lib06iJwJV5sopwYEgw7u7u7u7uzbep" + _
          "//39//n1//Dn1a2S/vv6+uvh9+DPyqKG//Tt+eXX+eDSxJx//One+tzH" + _
          "+dC3v5d6/9/K+9C1+8akuI9yalM97u7u7u7u0Lyu//39//r3//f03bWa" + _
          "//7+/vXx+urg1q2R//f0/O3i+eTV06mM//fy/+7i+NfCz6WI/+zg/+DM" + _
          "/9CzyZ6Adl5I7u7u7u7u0sCy//38//39//395L2j//7+//79/vn45L2j" + _
          "//38//n2/vLr5L2j//37//n2/unf5L2j/+/l/+nc/+DN5L2jf2dS7u7u" + _
          "7u7u6KaG6KaG6KSE56OB56B+55565pt25phy5ZVt5ZJp5I5k5Itf5Iha" + _
          "44RV44FR4n5M4ntI4XhE23I812w00mkzyGAo7u7u7u7u6amK/93L/dfD" + _
          "/9a+/s+2/syy/sis/sSl/cGh/byb/LeV+7SO+rCJ+auC+ad9+KN3+KBx" + _
          "95xu95pq9pdn9pVkyGAo7u7u7u7u662P/+LQ/t/M/t3K/drG/dfC/dK8" + _
          "/c63/Mqx/Mer+sKk+r6f+bqY+LaT+LGM96yG9qmA9aV69aB19J1w9Jps" + _
          "yGAo7u7u7u7u7LKV7LKV662P6aeG56F/559855x45pp05pdw5ZRs5ZFo" + _
          "5I5j5Itf5Ihb44VW44JS4n9O4nxK4XpG4XdC4XU/2Ws27u7u7u7upJqU" + _
          "////pJqU////n5aQ////mZCL////kYmF////iIJ+////fnp2////dXJv" + _
          "////bGpo////ZGNi////XV5c////7u7u7u7u7u7uICUg6enpICUg6enp" + _
          "ICUg6enpICUg6enpICUg6enpICUg6enpICUg3t7eICUg0NDQICUgvb29" + _
          "ICUguLi4ICUg7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u"

 Private Shared contactsBmpEnc As String = "Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAo" + _
          "AAAAGAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uuqWWh3FeeWJN" + _
          "alM8YEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgw" + _
          "YEgwYEgwYEgwYEgwYEgw7u7u7u7uuqWW//bx7t3T7trO7tfI79LB7865" + _
          "8Mqy8MWq8cCi8buZ8raR8rKJ862C86l69KV09KFt9Z5o9Zxk9Zph9Zph" + _
          "YEgw7u7u7u7uu6aX//n2//fy//Xv//Lr//Dn/+3j/+re/+ja/+XW/+LR" + _
          "/+DN/93J/9rF/9jB/9W9/9O5/9G2/8+z/86x9ZphYEgw7u7u7u7uvKiZ" + _
          "//z6//r30M/SGlmtA0uuA0WfAz+RATmHADV9zr23/+PTs4t1roRuqX1m" + _
          "pHhgoXRcoXRcoXRc/9C09Z1mYEgw7u7u7u7uvqqb//79//z7FFe3N3rV" + _
          "SYrkQ4XeA0OaGW3eC02nGkF4/+fZ/+TV/+LQ/9/M/9zI/9rE/9fA/9W8" + _
          "/9O59KFtYEgw7u7u7u7uwKyd//////7+E1i3Z57pUZDoTY7nA0SbGGze" + _
          "E2DIAzmD/+vfuZJ9s4t1roRuqX1mpHhgoXRcoXRc/9a99KV0YEgw7u7u" + _
          "7u7uwq6f////////GF69gKvkX5flA0WeGW7iA0+3GWzgEk+j/+7l/+zh" + _
          "/+nc/+bY/+TT/+HP/97L/9zH/9nD86t9YEgw7u7u7u7uxLCh////////" + _
          "tcDPE1StGly1yNXZ+fryBVG5BkGOz8rK//LqvpiEuZJ9s4t1roRuqX1m" + _
          "pHhgoXRc/93I87CHYEgw7u7u7u7uxrKk////////9fX1zdDTYWZsVFVW" + _
          "YWFhBkunubzC//jz//Xw//Ps//Do/+7k/+vf/+jb/+bX/+PS/+DO8raR" + _
          "YEgw7u7u7u7ux7Sm////////xMTEAAAAwcHBoqKihYWFVVVVn56d//r3" + _
          "//j0//bx//Tt//Hp/+/l/+zh/+nd/+fY/+TU8b2cYEgw7u7u7u7uybao" + _
          "////////ODg4LCws1tbWwcHBoqKihYWFZGRk//37//v5//n2//fy//Xv" + _
          "//Lr//Dn/+3j/+re/+ja8MOmYEgw7u7u7u7uy7iq////////U1NTSUlJ" + _
          "tLS01dXVwcHBoqKidXV1///+//38/LeL+7SI+q+D+ap++KV496Bz9p1w" + _
          "/+vg8MmxZk437u7u7u7uzbqs////////fn5+Y2NjXV1dbW1tWFhYwcHB" + _
          "hISE//////////79//z7//v4//n1//bx//Tu//Lq/+/m78+6b1dB7u7u" + _
          "7u7uz7yu////////xcXFbGxsgoKCoaGhjo6OVVVVra2t/////////LeL" + _
          "+7SI+q+D+ap++KV496Bz9p1w//Pr79TEeWJN7u7u7u7u0L6w////////" + _
          "8vLyuLi4jY2NiIiIhYWFtLS08fHx//////////////////////38//z6" + _
          "//r3//j0//bw7tnMgm1Z7u7u7u7u0b+x////////////////////////" + _
          "//////////////////////////////////////79//z7//v4//n1//fy" + _
          "i3Zj7u7u7u7u0sCy0b+x0L6wz72vzrutzLqsy7iqybeoyLWmxrOkxLGi" + _
          "w6+hwa2fv6udvqmbvKiZu6aXuaWWuKOUt6KTtqGStaCR7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u" + _
          "7u7u"

 Private Shared tasksBmpEnc As String = "Qk32BgAAAAAAADYAAAAoAAA" + _
          "AGAAAABgAAAABABgAAAAAAAAAAADEDgAAxA4AAAAAAAAAAAAA7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u3N3fkXxqeGB" + _
          "LalE5cVc/c1lBf2JKl3RZiWhMe1xBb1M5aE42Zkw0Zk01aE42YUkxYkk" + _
          "xYkkxkod97u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uv62e+ezi69nQ7M6+7Miz6L+prI+" + _
          "rWFKqmHyk7rWU77OO77CM8LCK8bCH8a2F8qp98aV13pZnZkwz7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7uv62e//37/vr3/vTw+uvkwLnaJDO/BhmzJjTDybTG99K" + _
          "8+NC49syy9sms9sao9cOl8LiV8KR0aU417u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uwK6" + _
          "f//7+//z7/Pj3xcTmLDvBFynIMEXkIDbXVGHO6dHO+tzJ+tjD+dW++dK" + _
          "5+c+19sWn8qd2Y0kx7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uw7Gj/////Pv9wcTsKDj" + _
          "FFCnMRVjuZHX1PlPoFzHSeHPJ+d3O+tzI+tjD+dS9+dG59seq8ayEaEw" + _
          "07u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uxrWm9vf9pKzoJjjNGi7TR1nreoj/j5v8ZXf" + _
          "0N0zlJjTPv7LP+t7O+tvI+tfC+dS998qv8K+LaU427u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u08W619v5Kz7XJjrfTl/ze4v/tLr59/Dyoab2Znb0LUPmNUTO1sX" + _
          "R+9/N+tvH+tjC99C277GNbVI47u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uy7qt6+3+kp7" + _
          "4UGT4c4P/sbj+/Pr5/vj16ePykpz5Y3T0KDzfbHHR6dTS++HQ+tvG+dn" + _
          "D8bqabVI57u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uybeo////9ff/qLL/wsr//Pz///3" + _
          "8/vv5/ff09e7wpav4YnP0KDzajYzQ6NPT/N7O+NrG8b+idFlA7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7uyriq////////+Pn//v7///////////38/vr2/vj08er" + _
          "wmaL6WWvyMELXmJbS9OPb+d/Q88mxc1Y97u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uzLq" + _
          "s//////////////////////////7+//36/vr3/vn0+fDvsLT1WmruNUb" + _
          "Qta/V+uXX9M+6hWdP7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uzryt///////////////" + _
          "///////////////7+//79//v3/vj0+O7wurz0TV3sSFTS08fa9t7PmXl" + _
          "h7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7uz72v/////////////////////fj1+Orh9uH" + _
          "W89TD88+78sew9NK99drNm5/xVWbwYWvV6dzgrIlw7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u0L6w////////////////X4ycVYGSTHaIS21/SGN0SGJySF9vdnd" + _
          "9pZWQ89TDt7n1TF3oZGvOuJ2L7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u0b+x///////" + _
          "/////////dJmou+Xsmd3ofs/fdcXVcMHSbrrNbbHCbHJ69dTD++3nw8H" + _
          "uNUjqZGjJ7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u0b+x////////////////i6q2pMn" + _
          "StuzzYYycdLG+fs/ed8jaXY2eRl1t8uDU++je/O7mzsnmUFCX7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u0sCy////////////////3ufqdZuqx+30V3aFXoCPaZW" + _
          "kjdDeTWx8v7Ko/vr2/fTv/fTu+/XxnZSu7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u6ur" + _
          "r2Mq/0b+x0L6wz72vyLeqc5qpoMHLxfD3v+zzruXvkMjVaX6GwK6ewrC" + _
          "hwa+gwK6fv62e4OHi7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u5ObnfKa1eaOxcpyrcJWkboiW4+Pj7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7" + _
          "u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u7u"

' Static constructor to initialize
' the form's static fields.
Shared Sub New()
   ' Create the static bitmaps from Base64 encoding.
   CreateBitmaps()
 End Sub

Public Sub New()
   Me.InitializeComponent()
   
   ' Assign icons to ToolStripButton controls.
   Me.InitializeImages()
   
   ' Set up renderers.
   Me.stackStrip.Renderer = New StackRenderer()
 End Sub

' This utility method assigns icons to each
' ToolStripButton control.
Private Sub InitializeImages()
   Me.mailStackButton.Image = mailBmp
   Me.calendarStackButton.Image = calendarBmp
   Me.contactsStackButton.Image = contactsBmp
   Me.tasksStackButton.Image = tasksBmp
 End Sub


' This utility method creates bitmaps for all the icons.
' It uses a utility method called DeserializeFromBase64
' to decode the Base64 image data.
Private Shared Sub CreateBitmaps()
   mailBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(mailBmpEnc)
   calendarBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(calendarBmpEnc)
   contactsBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(contactsBmpEnc)
   tasksBmp = DeserializeFromBase64(tasksBmpEnc)
 End Sub


' This utility method cretes a bitmap from 
' a Base64-encoded string. 
Friend Shared Function DeserializeFromBase64(data As String) As Bitmap
   ' Decode the string and create a memory stream 
   ' on the decoded string data.
   Dim stream As New MemoryStream(Convert.FromBase64String(data))
   
   ' Create a new bitmap from the stream.
   Dim b As New Bitmap(stream)
   
   Return b
 End Function

Add a call to the InitializeImages method in the StackView class constructor.

public StackView()
{
    this.InitializeComponent();

    // Assign icons to ToolStripButton controls.
    this.InitializeImages();

    // Set up renderers.
    this.stackStrip.Renderer = new StackRenderer();
}

Public Sub New()
   Me.InitializeComponent()
   
   ' Assign icons to ToolStripButton controls.
   Me.InitializeImages()
   
   ' Set up renderers.
   Me.stackStrip.Renderer = New StackRenderer()
 End Sub

Implement a custom renderer

You can customize most elements of the StackView control my implementing a class that derives from the ToolStripRenderer class. In this procedure, you will implement a ToolStripProfessionalRenderer class that customizes the grip and draws gradient backgrounds for the ToolStripButton controls.

Insert the following code into the StackView control definition.

This is the definition for the StackRenderer class, which overrides the RenderGrip, RenderToolStripBorder, and RenderButtonBackground methods to produce a custom appearance.

internal class StackRenderer : ToolStripProfessionalRenderer
{
    private static Bitmap titleBarGripBmp;
    private static string titleBarGripEnc = @"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";

    // Define titlebar colors.
    private static Color titlebarColor1 = Color.FromArgb(89, 135, 214);
    private static Color titlebarColor2 = Color.FromArgb(76, 123, 204);
    private static Color titlebarColor3 = Color.FromArgb(63, 111, 194);
    private static Color titlebarColor4 = Color.FromArgb(50, 99, 184);
    private static Color titlebarColor5 = Color.FromArgb(38, 88, 174);
    private static Color titlebarColor6 = Color.FromArgb(25, 76, 164);
    private static Color titlebarColor7 = Color.FromArgb(12, 64, 154);
    private static Color borderColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 128);

    static StackRenderer()
    {
        titleBarGripBmp = StackView.DeserializeFromBase64(titleBarGripEnc);
    }

    public StackRenderer()
    {
    }

    private void DrawTitleBar(Graphics g, Rectangle rect)
    {
        // Assign the image for the grip.
        Image titlebarGrip = titleBarGripBmp;

        // Fill the titlebar.
        // This produces the gradient and the rounded-corner effect.
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor1), rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y);
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor2), rect.X, rect.Y + 1, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 1);
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor3), rect.X, rect.Y + 2, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 2);
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor4), rect.X, rect.Y + 3, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 3);
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor5), rect.X, rect.Y + 4, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 4);
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor6), rect.X, rect.Y + 5, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 5);
        g.DrawLine(new Pen(titlebarColor7), rect.X, rect.Y + 6, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 6);

        // Center the titlebar grip.
        g.DrawImage(
            titlebarGrip,
            new Point(rect.X + ((rect.Width / 2) - (titlebarGrip.Width / 2)),
            rect.Y + 1));
    }

    // This method handles the RenderGrip event.
    protected override void OnRenderGrip(ToolStripGripRenderEventArgs e)
    {
        DrawTitleBar(
            e.Graphics,
            new Rectangle(0, 0, e.ToolStrip.Width, 7));
    }

    // This method handles the RenderToolStripBorder event.
    protected override void OnRenderToolStripBorder(ToolStripRenderEventArgs e)
    {
        DrawTitleBar(
            e.Graphics,
            new Rectangle(0, 0, e.ToolStrip.Width, 7));
    }

    // This method handles the RenderButtonBackground event.
    protected override void OnRenderButtonBackground(ToolStripItemRenderEventArgs e)
    {
        Graphics g = e.Graphics;
        Rectangle bounds = new Rectangle(Point.Empty, e.Item.Size);

        Color gradientBegin = Color.FromArgb(203, 225, 252);
        Color gradientEnd = Color.FromArgb(125, 165, 224);

        ToolStripButton button = e.Item as ToolStripButton;
        if (button.Pressed || button.Checked)
        {
            gradientBegin = Color.FromArgb(254, 128, 62);
            gradientEnd = Color.FromArgb(255, 223, 154);
        }
        else if (button.Selected)
        {
            gradientBegin = Color.FromArgb(255, 255, 222);
            gradientEnd = Color.FromArgb(255, 203, 136);
        }

        using (Brush b = new LinearGradientBrush(
            bounds,
            gradientBegin,
            gradientEnd,
            LinearGradientMode.Vertical))
        {
            g.FillRectangle(b, bounds);
        }

        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(
            SystemPens.ControlDarkDark,
            bounds);

        g.DrawLine(
            SystemPens.ControlDarkDark,
            bounds.X,
            bounds.Y,
            bounds.Width - 1,
            bounds.Y);

        g.DrawLine(
            SystemPens.ControlDarkDark,
            bounds.X,
            bounds.Y,
            bounds.X,
            bounds.Height - 1);

        ToolStrip toolStrip = button.Owner;
        ToolStripButton nextItem = button.Owner.GetItemAt(
            button.Bounds.X,
            button.Bounds.Bottom + 1) as ToolStripButton;

        if (nextItem == null)
        {
            g.DrawLine(
                SystemPens.ControlDarkDark,
                bounds.X,
                bounds.Height - 1,
                bounds.X + bounds.Width - 1,
                bounds.Height - 1);
        }
    }
}

Friend Class StackRenderer
   Inherits ToolStripProfessionalRenderer
   Private Shared titleBarGripBmp As Bitmap
   Private Shared titleBarGripEnc As String = "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"
   
   ' Define titlebar colors.
   Private Shared titlebarColor1 As Color = Color.FromArgb(89, 135, 214)
   Private Shared titlebarColor2 As Color = Color.FromArgb(76, 123, 204)
   Private Shared titlebarColor3 As Color = Color.FromArgb(63, 111, 194)
   Private Shared titlebarColor4 As Color = Color.FromArgb(50, 99, 184)
   Private Shared titlebarColor5 As Color = Color.FromArgb(38, 88, 174)
   Private Shared titlebarColor6 As Color = Color.FromArgb(25, 76, 164)
   Private Shared titlebarColor7 As Color = Color.FromArgb(12, 64, 154)
   Private Shared borderColor As Color = Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 128)
   
   Shared Sub New()
      titleBarGripBmp = StackView.DeserializeFromBase64(titleBarGripEnc)
     End Sub
   
   Public Sub New()
     End Sub
   
     Private Sub DrawTitleBar(ByVal g As Graphics, ByVal rect As Rectangle)

         ' Assign the image for the grip.
         Dim titlebarGrip As Image = titleBarGripBmp

         ' Fill the titlebar. 
         ' This produces the gradient and the rounded-corner effect.
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor1), rect.X, rect.Y, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y)
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor2), rect.X, rect.Y + 1, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 1)
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor3), rect.X, rect.Y + 2, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 2)
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor4), rect.X, rect.Y + 3, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 3)
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor5), rect.X, rect.Y + 4, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 4)
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor6), rect.X, rect.Y + 5, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 5)
         g.DrawLine(New Pen(titlebarColor7), rect.X, rect.Y + 6, rect.X + rect.Width, rect.Y + 6)

         ' Center the titlebar grip.
         g.DrawImage(titlebarGrip, New Point(rect.X + (rect.Width / 2 - titlebarGrip.Width / 2), rect.Y + 1))
     End Sub
   
   
   ' This method handles the RenderGrip event.
   Protected Overrides Sub OnRenderGrip(e As ToolStripGripRenderEventArgs)
      DrawTitleBar(e.Graphics, New Rectangle(0, 0, e.ToolStrip.Width, 7))
     End Sub
   
   
   ' This method handles the RenderToolStripBorder event.
   Protected Overrides Sub OnRenderToolStripBorder(e As ToolStripRenderEventArgs)
      DrawTitleBar(e.Graphics, New Rectangle(0, 0, e.ToolStrip.Width, 7))
     End Sub
   
   
   ' This method handles the RenderButtonBackground event.
   Protected Overrides Sub OnRenderButtonBackground(e As ToolStripItemRenderEventArgs)
      Dim g As Graphics = e.Graphics
      Dim bounds As New Rectangle(Point.Empty, e.Item.Size)
      
      Dim gradientBegin As Color = Color.FromArgb(203, 225, 252)
      Dim gradientEnd As Color = Color.FromArgb(125, 165, 224)
      
         Dim button As ToolStripButton = CType(e.Item, ToolStripButton)
      
      If button.Pressed OrElse button.Checked Then
         gradientBegin = Color.FromArgb(254, 128, 62)
         gradientEnd = Color.FromArgb(255, 223, 154)
      ElseIf button.Selected Then
         gradientBegin = Color.FromArgb(255, 255, 222)
         gradientEnd = Color.FromArgb(255, 203, 136)
      End If
      
      Dim b = New LinearGradientBrush(bounds, gradientBegin, gradientEnd, LinearGradientMode.Vertical)
      Try
         g.FillRectangle(b, bounds)
      Finally
         b.Dispose()
      End Try
      
      e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(SystemPens.ControlDarkDark, bounds)
      
      g.DrawLine(SystemPens.ControlDarkDark, bounds.X, bounds.Y, bounds.Width - 1, bounds.Y)
      
      g.DrawLine(SystemPens.ControlDarkDark, bounds.X, bounds.Y, bounds.X, bounds.Height - 1)
      
      Dim toolStrip As ToolStrip = button.Owner
         Dim nextItem As ToolStripButton = CType(button.Owner.GetItemAt(button.Bounds.X, button.Bounds.Bottom + 1), ToolStripButton)
      
      If nextItem Is Nothing Then
         g.DrawLine(SystemPens.ControlDarkDark, bounds.X, bounds.Height - 1, bounds.X + bounds.Width - 1, bounds.Height - 1)
      End If
     End Sub
 End Class

In the StackView control's constructor, create a new instance of the StackRenderer class and assign this instance to the stackStrip control's Renderer property.

public StackView()
{
    this.InitializeComponent();

    // Assign icons to ToolStripButton controls.
    this.InitializeImages();

    // Set up renderers.
    this.stackStrip.Renderer = new StackRenderer();
}

Public Sub New()
   Me.InitializeComponent()
   
   ' Assign icons to ToolStripButton controls.
   Me.InitializeImages()
   
   ' Set up renderers.
   Me.stackStrip.Renderer = New StackRenderer()
 End Sub

Test the StackView control

The StackView control derives from the UserControl class. Therefore, you can test the control with the UserControl Test Container. For more information, see How to: Test the Run-Time Behavior of a UserControl.

Press F5 to build the project and start the UserControl Test Container.
Move the pointer over the buttons of the StackView control, and then click a button to see the appearance of its selected state.

Next steps

In this walkthrough, you have created a reusable custom client control with the professional appearance of an Office XP control. You can use the ToolStrip family of controls for many other purposes:

Create shortcut menus for your controls with ContextMenuStrip. For more information, see ContextMenu Component Overview.
Create a form with an automatically populated standard menu. For more information, see Walkthrough: Providing Standard Menu Items to a Form.
Create a multiple document interface (MDI) form with docking ToolStrip controls. For more information, see How to: Create an MDI Form with Menu Merging and ToolStrip Controls.

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