This documentation is archived and is not being maintained.

DataGridViewImageColumn Class

Hosts a collection of DataGridViewImageCell objects.

Namespace:  System.Windows.Forms
Assembly:  System.Windows.Forms (in System.Windows.Forms.dll)

'Declaration
<ToolboxBitmapAttribute(GetType(DataGridViewImageColumn), "DataGridViewImageColumn.bmp")> _
Public Class DataGridViewImageColumn _
	Inherits DataGridViewColumn
'Usage
Dim instance As DataGridViewImageColumn

The DataGridViewImageColumn class is a specialized type of the DataGridViewColumn class used to logically host cells that display images. A DataGridViewImageColumn has an associated DataGridViewImageCell in every DataGridViewRow that intersects it. Each cell is capable of containing an Image or an Icon, depending on the value of the DataGridViewImageCell.ValueIsIcon property. Displaying icons is useful to accommodate images with transparency.

By default, empty cells display a default error graphic. To prevent this graphic from appearing for cell values equal to Nothing or DBNull.Value, set the DataGridViewCellStyle.NullValue property of the cell style object returned by the DefaultCellStyle property to Nothing before adding rows to the control. This does not affect the row for new records, however. To prevent the error graphic from appearing in the row for new records when the control AllowUserToAddRows property value is true, you must also either explicitly set the cell value to Nothing in a handler for the control RowsAdded event or set the column CellTemplate property to an instance of a DataGridViewImageCell-derived type with an overridden DefaultNewRowValue property that returns Nothing.

The default sort mode for this column type is NotSortable.

Notes to Inheritors:

When you derive from DataGridViewImageColumn and add new properties to the derived class, be sure to override the Clone method to copy the new properties during cloning operations. You should also call the base class's Clone method so that the properties of the base class are copied to the new cell.

The following code example demonstrates how to use images to create a TicTacToe game.

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System

Public Class TicTacToe
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

    Friend WithEvents dataGridView1 As DataGridView
    Friend WithEvents Button1 As Button = New Button()
    Friend WithEvents turn As Label = New Label()
    Friend WithEvents Button2 As Button = New Button()
    Friend WithEvents Button3 As Button = New Button()
    Friend WithEvents Button4 As Button = New Button()
    Friend WithEvents Button5 As Button = New Button()
    Friend WithEvents Panel1 As FlowLayoutPanel = New FlowLayoutPanel()

#Region "bitmaps" 
    Private oImage As Byte() = { _
        &H42, &H4D, &HC6, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H76, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H28, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &HB, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HA, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H1, &H0, &H4, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H50, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H10, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H10, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H0, &H80, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H80, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H80, _
        &H0, &H0, &HC0, &HC0, &HC0, &H0, &H80, &H80, _
        &H80, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &H0, &HFF, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &H0, &HF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, _
        &HFF, &HF0, &HF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HF0, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HF0, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HF0, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HF0, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, _
        &HFF, &HF0, &HF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &H0, &HF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0}

    Private xImage As Byte() = { _
        &H42, &H4D, &HC6, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H76, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H28, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &HB, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HA, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H1, &H0, &H4, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H50, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H10, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H10, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H0, &H80, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H80, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H80, _
        &H0, &H0, &HC0, &HC0, &HC0, &H0, &H80, &H80, _
        &H80, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &H0, &HFF, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &HF0, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HF0, _
        &HFF, &HF0, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HF, &HF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HF, &HF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HF, &HF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HF0, _
        &HFF, &HF0, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HF0, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0}

    Private blankImage As Byte() = { _
        &H42, &H4D, &HC6, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H76, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H28, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &HB, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HA, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H1, &H0, &H4, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H50, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H10, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H10, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H0, &H80, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &H80, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H0, &H80, &H80, _
        &H0, &H0, &HC0, &HC0, &HC0, &H0, &H80, &H80, _
        &H80, &H0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &H0, &HFF, _
        &H0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &H0, _
        &H0, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0, &HFF, &HFF, _
        &HFF, &HFF, &HFF, &HF0, &H0, &H0}
#End Region

    Private blank As Bitmap = New Bitmap( _
        New MemoryStream(blankImage))
    Private x As Bitmap = New Bitmap(New MemoryStream(xImage))
    Private o As Bitmap = New Bitmap(New MemoryStream(oImage))
    Private xString As String = "X's turn" 
    Private oString As String = "O's turn" 
    Private gameOverString As String = "Game Over" 
    Private bitmapPadding As Integer = 6

    Private Sub InitializeDataGridView(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        SuspendLayout()
        Panel1.SuspendLayout()

        ConfigureForm()
        SizeGrid()
        CreateColumns()
        CreateRows()

        ResumeLayout(False)
        Panel1.ResumeLayout(False)
    End Sub 

    Private Sub ConfigureForm()
        AutoSize = True
        turn.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(75, 34)
        turn.TextAlign = ContentAlignment.MiddleLeft
        turn.Text = xString

        Panel1.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.TopDown
        Panel1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(0, 8)
        Panel1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(120, 196)

        ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(355, 200)
        Controls.Add(Me.Panel1)
        Text = "TicTacToe"

        dataGridView1 = New System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView
        dataGridView1.Location = New Point(120, 0)
        dataGridView1.AllowUserToAddRows = False
        Controls.Add(dataGridView1)
        SetupButtons()
    End Sub 

    Private Sub SetupButtons()
        SetupButton(Button1, "Restart")
        Panel1.Controls.Add(Me.turn)
        SetupButton(Button2, "Increase Cell Size")
        SetupButton(Button3, "Stretch Images")
        SetupButton(Button4, "Zoom Images")
        SetupButton(Button5, "Normal Images")
    End Sub 

    Private Sub SetupButton(ByVal button As Button, _
        ByVal buttonLabel As String)

        Panel1.Controls.Add(button)
        button.Text = buttonLabel
        button.AutoSize = True 

    End Sub 

    Private Sub CreateColumns()

        Dim imageColumn As DataGridViewImageColumn
        Dim columnCount As Integer = 0
        Do
            Dim unMarked As Bitmap = blank
            imageColumn = New DataGridViewImageColumn()

            ' Add twice the padding for the left and  
            ' right sides of the cell.
            imageColumn.Width = x.Width + 2 * bitmapPadding + 1

            imageColumn.Image = unMarked
            imageColumn.ImageLayout = DataGridViewImageCellLayout.NotSet
            imageColumn.Description = "default image layout"
            dataGridView1.Columns.Add(imageColumn)
            columnCount = columnCount + 1
        Loop While columnCount < 3
    End Sub 

    Private Sub CreateRows()
        dataGridView1.Rows.Add()
        dataGridView1.Rows.Add()
        dataGridView1.Rows.Add()
    End Sub 

    Private Sub SizeGrid()
        dataGridView1.ColumnHeadersVisible = False
        dataGridView1.RowHeadersVisible = False
        dataGridView1.AllowUserToResizeColumns = False
        dataGridView1.AllowUserToResizeRows = False
        dataGridView1.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.None

        ' Add twice the padding for the top and bottom of the cell. 
        dataGridView1.RowTemplate.Height = x.Height + _
            2 * bitmapPadding + 1

        dataGridView1.AutoSize = True 
    End Sub 

    Private Sub reset(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs) _
        Handles Button1.Click

        dataGridView1.Dispose()
        InitializeDataGridView(Nothing, Nothing)
    End Sub 

    Private Sub dataGridView1_CellClick(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs) _
        Handles dataGridView1.CellClick

        If turn.Text.Equals(gameOverString) Then Return 

        Dim cell As DataGridViewImageCell = _
            CType(dataGridView1.Rows(e.RowIndex). _
                Cells(e.ColumnIndex), DataGridViewImageCell)
        If (cell.Value Is blank) Then 
            If IsOsTurn() Then
                cell.Value = o
            Else
                cell.Value = x
            End If
            ToggleTurn()
            ToolTip(e)
        End If 
        If IsAWin() Then
            turn.Text = gameOverString
        End If 
    End Sub 

    Private Sub dataGridView1_CellMouseEnter(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs) _
        Handles dataGridView1.CellMouseEnter

        Dim markingUnderMouse As Bitmap = _
            CType(dataGridView1.Rows(e.RowIndex). _
                Cells(e.ColumnIndex).Value, Bitmap)

        If markingUnderMouse Is blank Then
            dataGridView1.Cursor = Cursors.Default
        ElseIf markingUnderMouse Is o OrElse markingUnderMouse Is x Then
            dataGridView1.Cursor = Cursors.No
            ToolTip(e)
        End If 
    End Sub 

    Private Sub ToolTip( _
        ByVal e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs)

        Dim cell As DataGridViewImageCell = _
            CType(dataGridView1.Rows(e.RowIndex). _
            Cells(e.ColumnIndex), DataGridViewImageCell)
        Dim imageColumn As DataGridViewImageColumn = _
            CType(dataGridView1.Columns(cell.ColumnIndex), _
            DataGridViewImageColumn)

        cell.ToolTipText = imageColumn.Description
    End Sub 

    Private Sub dataGridView1_CellMouseLeave(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs) _
        Handles dataGridView1.CellMouseLeave

        dataGridView1.Cursor = Cursors.Default
    End Sub 

    Private Sub Stretch(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click

        For Each column As DataGridViewImageColumn _
            In dataGridView1.Columns
            column.ImageLayout = DataGridViewImageCellLayout.Stretch
            column.Description = "Stretched image layout" 
        Next 
    End Sub 

    Private Sub ZoomToImage(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button4.Click

        For Each column As DataGridViewImageColumn _
            In dataGridView1.Columns
            column.ImageLayout = DataGridViewImageCellLayout.Zoom
            column.Description = "Zoomed image layout" 
        Next 
    End Sub 

    Private Sub NormalImage(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button5.Click

        For Each column As DataGridViewImageColumn _
            In dataGridView1.Columns
            column.ImageLayout = DataGridViewImageCellLayout.Normal
            column.Description = "Normal image layout" 
        Next 
    End Sub 

    Private Sub MakeCellsLarger(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

        For Each column As DataGridViewImageColumn _
            In dataGridView1.Columns
            column.Width = column.Width * 2
        Next 
        For Each row As DataGridViewRow In dataGridView1.Rows
            If row.IsNewRow Then Continue For
            row.Height = CInt(row.Height * 1.5)
        Next 
    End Sub 

    Private Function IsAWin() As Boolean 
        If ARowIsSame() OrElse AColumnIsSame() OrElse ADiagonalIsSame() Then 
            Return True 
        Else  
            Return False 
        End If 
    End Function 

    Private Function ARowIsSame() As Boolean 
        Dim marking As Bitmap = Nothing 
        If marking Is blank Then Return False 
        For Each row As DataGridViewRow In dataGridView1.Rows
            If row.IsNewRow Then Continue For
            marking = CType(row.Cells(0).Value, Bitmap)
            If marking IsNot blank Then 
                If marking Is row.Cells(1).Value AndAlso _
                    marking Is row.Cells(2).Value Then Return True 
            End If 
        Next 
        Return False 
    End Function 

    Private Function AColumnIsSame() As Boolean 

        Dim columnIndex As Integer = 0
        Dim marking As Bitmap
        Do
            marking = CType(dataGridView1.Rows(0).Cells(columnIndex).Value, _
                Bitmap)
            If marking IsNot blank Then 
                If marking Is _
                    dataGridView1.Rows(1).Cells(columnIndex).Value _
                    AndAlso marking Is _
                    dataGridView1.Rows(2).Cells(columnIndex).Value _
                    Then Return True 
            End If
            columnIndex = columnIndex + 1
        Loop While columnIndex < _
            dataGridView1.Columns.GetColumnCount( _
            DataGridViewElementStates.Visible)
        Return False 
    End Function 

    Private Function ADiagonalIsSame() As Boolean 

        If LeftToRightDiagonalIsSame() Then Return True 
        If RightToLeftDiagonalIsSame() Then Return True 
        Return False 
    End Function 

    Private Function LeftToRightDiagonalIsSame() As Boolean 
        Return IsDiagonalSame(0, 2)
    End Function 

    Private Function RightToLeftDiagonalIsSame() As Boolean 
        Return IsDiagonalSame(2, 0)
    End Function 

    Private Function IsDiagonalSame(ByVal startingColumn As Integer, _
        ByVal lastColumn As Integer) As Boolean 

        Dim marking As Bitmap = CType( _
            dataGridView1.Rows(0).Cells(startingColumn).Value, Bitmap)
        If marking Is blank Then Return False 
        If marking Is dataGridView1.Rows(1).Cells(1).Value AndAlso _
            marking Is dataGridView1.Rows(2).Cells(lastColumn).Value _
            Then Return True 
    End Function 

    Private Sub ToggleTurn()
        If turn.Text.Equals(xString) Then turn.Text = oString _
        Else turn.Text = xString
    End Sub 

    Private Function IsOsTurn() As Boolean 
        If turn.Text.Equals(oString) Then Return True _
        Else  : Return False 
    End Function

    <STAThread> Public Shared Sub Main()
        Application.Run(New TicTacToe())
    End Sub 

End Class

Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0
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