I figured out how to do it. I had to make a type converter to do it. I
will post the code so that others who look at this can figured.
Here is the TypeConverter:
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing.Drawing2D
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization
Imports System.Text
Public Class GradientTypeConverter
Inherits ExpandableObjectConverter
Public Overloads Overrides Function CanConvertTo(ByVal context As
System.ComponentModel.ITypeDescriptorContext, ByVal destinationType As
System.Type) As Boolean
If destinationType Is GetType(Gradient) Then
Return True
End If
MyBase.CanConvertFrom(context, destinationType)
End Function
Public Overloads Overrides Function CanConvertFrom(ByVal context As
System.ComponentModel.ITypeDescriptorContext, ByVal sourceType As
System.Type) As Boolean
If sourceType Is GetType(String) Then
Return True
End If
Return MyBase.CanConvertFrom(context, sourceType)
End Function
Public Overloads Overrides Function ConvertFrom(ByVal context As
System.ComponentModel.ITypeDescriptorContext, ByVal culture As
System.Globalization.CultureInfo, ByVal value As Object) As Object
If TypeOf value Is String Then
Try
Dim s As String = CType(value, String)
Dim tempProp As String()
Dim _Gradient As New Gradient
If s.Length > 0 Then
tempProp = Split(s, ";")
If Not IsNothing(tempProp) AndAlso tempProp.Length > 0
Then
Dim i As Short
Dim tempValues() As String
For i = 0 To CShort(tempProp.Length - 1)
tempValues = Split(tempProp(i), "=")
tempValues(0) = LCase(Trim(tempValues(0)))
If IsNothing(tempValues(1)) Then tempValues(1) =
""
Select Case tempValues(0)
Case "bar color 1"
_Gradient.BarColor1 =
Color.FromArgb(CInt(tempValues(1)))
Case "bar color 2"
_Gradient.BarColor2 =
Color.FromArgb(CInt(tempValues(1)))
Case "gradient mode"
_Gradient.GradientMode =
CType(System.Enum.Parse(GetType(System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientMode)
, (tempValues(1))), LinearGradientMode)
Case "sigma focus"
_Gradient.SigmaFocus =
CInt(tempValues(1))
Case "sigma scale"
_Gradient.SigmaScale =
CInt(tempValues(1))
Case "use sigmabell"
_Gradient.UseSigmaBell =
CBool(tempValues(1))
End Select
Next
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
' if we got this far, complain that we
' couldn't parse the string
'
Throw New ArgumentException("Can not convert '" &
value.ToString & "' to type Person")
End Try
End If
Return MyBase.ConvertFrom(context, culture, value)
End Function
Public Overloads Overrides Function ConvertTo(ByVal context As
System.ComponentModel.ITypeDescriptorContext, ByVal culture As
System.Globalization.CultureInfo, ByVal value As Object, ByVal
destinationType As System.Type) As Object
If (destinationType Is GetType(System.String) AndAlso TypeOf value
Is Gradient) Then
Dim _Gradient As Gradient = CType(value, Gradient)
Dim _GradientBuilder As New StringBuilder
With _GradientBuilder
.Append("Bar Color 1=" & _Gradient.BarColor1.ToArgb.ToString
& ";")
.Append("Bar Color 2=" & _Gradient.BarColor2.ToArgb.ToString
& ";")
.Append("Gradient Mode=" & _Gradient.GradientMode & ";")
.Append("Sigma Focus=" & _Gradient.SigmaFocus & ";")
.Append("Sigma Scale=" & _Gradient.SigmaScale & ";")
.Append("Use SigmaBell=" & _Gradient.UseSigmaBell & ";")
End With
Return _GradientBuilder.ToString
End If
Return MyBase.ConvertTo(context, culture, value, destinationType)
End Function
End Class
Here is the class that I am converting:
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing.Drawing2D
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Stores information for making a gradient style ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Stores information for making a gradient style ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<Serializable(), ComVisible(True),
TypeConverter(GetType(GradientTypeConverter))> _
Public Class Gradient
Implements IDisposable
Private mCol1 As Color = Color.FromKnownColor(KnownColor.ActiveCaption)
Private mCol2 As Color = Color.Red
Private mGradientStyle As LinearGradientMode =
LinearGradientMode.Horizontal
Private mblnIsSigmaBell As Boolean = False
Private msngSigmaScale As Single = 0.75
Private msngSigmaFocus As Single = 0.5
Private mintSigmaLocation As Integer = 50
Private mintSigmaScale As Integer = 75
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Creates a new Gradient Class.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Creates a new Gradient Class.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Public Sub New()
'do nothing
End Sub
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Creates a new Gradient Class.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="BarColor1">
''' Sets the color of the first bar of the ProgressBar.
''' </param>
''' <param name="BarColor2">
''' Sets the color of the second bar of the ProgressBar.
''' </param>
''' <param name="GradientStyle">
''' Sets the gradient style of the ProgressBar.
''' </param>
''' <remarks>
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Public Sub New(ByVal BarColor1 As Color, ByVal BarColor2 As Color, ByVal
GradientStyle As LinearGradientMode)
mCol1 = BarColor1
mCol2 = BarColor2
mGradientStyle = GradientStyle
End Sub
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' The mode of the gradient draw.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' The style of the drawing brush as LinearGradientMode
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' The mode of the gradient draw.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible),
Browsable(True), Description("The mode of the gradient draw."),
Category("Appeance"), DefaultValue("")> _
Public Property GradientMode() As LinearGradientMode
Get
Return mGradientStyle
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As LinearGradientMode)
mGradientStyle = Value
End Set
End Property
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' The color of the first bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' A color that represents the first color in the ProgresBar.
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' The color of the first bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible),
Category("Appeance"), Browsable(True), Description("The color of the first
bar in the ProgressBar.")> _
Public Property BarColor1() As Color
Get
Return mCol1
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Color)
mCol1 = Value
End Set
End Property
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' The color of the second bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' A color that represents the second color in the ProgresBar.
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' The color of the second bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible),
Category("Appeance"), Browsable(True), Description("The color of the second
bar in the ProgressBar.")> _
Public Property BarColor2() As Color
Get
Return mCol2
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Color)
mCol2 = Value
End Set
End Property
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Decides if the ProgressBar will use SigmaBella. Default is False.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Decides if the ProgressBar will use SigmaBella. Default is False.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/12/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible),
Category("Appeance"), Browsable(True), Description("Decides if the
ProgressBar will use SigmaBella. Default is False.")> _
Public Property UseSigmaBell() As Boolean
Get
Return Me.mblnIsSigmaBell
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Boolean)
Me.mblnIsSigmaBell = Value
End Set
End Property
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' An integer between 0 and 100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell.
Default is 75.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' Creates a gradient falloff based on a bell-shaped curve.
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' An integer between 0 and 100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell.
Default is 75.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/12/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible),
Category("Appeance"), Browsable(True), Description("An integer between 0 and
100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell. Default is 75.")> _
Public Property SigmaFocus() As Integer
Get
Return Me.mintSigmaLocation
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
If Value < 0 Or Value > 100 Then
Throw New ArgumentException("Value " & Value & " is ouside
of the value of 0-100")
Else
mintSigmaLocation = Value
msngSigmaFocus = CSng(Value / 100.0F)
End If
End Set
End Property
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible),
Category("Appeance"), Browsable(True), Description("An integer between 0 and
100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell. Default is 75.")> _
Public Property SigmaScale() As Integer
Get
Return Me.mintSigmaScale
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
If Value < 0 Or Value > 100 Then
Throw New ArgumentException("Value " & Value & " is ouside
of the value of 0-100")
Else
mintSigmaScale = Value
msngSigmaScale = CSng(Value / 100.0F)
End If
End Set
End Property
Friend Function GetSigmaFocus() As Single
Return msngSigmaFocus
End Function
Friend Function GetSigmaScale() As Single
Return Me.msngSigmaScale
End Function
#Region " Dispose"
Public Sub Dispose() Implements System.IDisposable.Dispose
Me.mCol1 = Nothing
Me.mCol2 = Nothing
End Sub
#End Region
End Class
Here is the property in the control that I am working on:
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Sets the properties for a Gradient ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Sets the properties for a Gradient ProgressBar. Only works for solid
ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Content),
Category("Appearance"), Description("Sets the properties for a Gradient
ProgressBar."), Browsable(True)> _
Public ReadOnly Property GradientInfo() As Gradient
Get
Return Me.mGradient
End Get
End Property
