dotnetmonitor.com

For the implementation of faux-ambient properties we make a distinction in how the dropdown for a ToolStripDropDownItem is created. We automatically flow Font, ImageScalingSize and Renderer to the autocreated dropdown. In the case of explicitly created dropdowns you must set these properties yourself.

Explicit creation of ToolStripDropDown

Refers to instancing a ToolStripDropDown, ToolStripDropDownMenu or ContextMenuStrip, populating it, then assigning to a ToolStripDropDownItems DropDown property:

Implicit (automatic) creation of ToolStripDropDown

Refers to populating a ToolStripDropDownItems DropDownItems collection. When that item is activated, the dropdown in created by use containing the item from the OwnerItems DropDownItems collection.:

Sample

Run the following sample; it shows the font flows into the veggies menu dropdown, but not fruit.

// explicit

ContextMenuStrip cms = new ContextMenuStrip();

cms.Items.Add("Apples");

cms.Items.Add("Bananas");

cms.Items.Add("Cherries");

ToolStripMenuItem fruitMenuItem = new ToolStripMenuItem("Fruit");

fruitMenuItem.DropDown = cms;

// implicit (automatic)

ToolStripMenuItem veggiesMenuItem = new ToolStripMenuItem("Veggies");

veggiesMenuItem.DropDownItems.Add("Asparagus");

veggiesMenuItem.DropDownItems.Add("Bok Choy");

veggiesMenuItem.DropDownItems.Add("Cauliflower");

// menustrip

MenuStrip ms = new MenuStrip();

// set Font to show property flow

ms.Font = new Font("Tebuchet MS", 14, FontStyle.Bold);

ms.Items.Add(fruitMenuItem);

ms.Items.Add(veggiesMenuItem);

this.Controls.Add(ms);

When should I use Paint/OnPaint and when should I override the ToolStripRenderer?

Do I need to worry about double buffering?