LED like buttons

[OzzieGeorge]

A newbie question I have dabbled in the past and do a bit in VBA but this is only my second excursion into VB and I get stuck almost straight away.

I need to place on a form some "led" like indicators that I can illuminate either red or green depending on certain conditions. Can anyone point me to where I could find such a thing?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[johnwm]

Use a Shape object with its shape property set to Circle. Set its FillColor property as required (VBRed, VBGreen etc)

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[OzzieGeorge]

I wanted to use mousemove to allow me to show which led style button the mouse was on but that doesn't seem to work with a shape. Am I doing something wrong or is that not possible? If not, is there another solution?

 

[johnwm]

If you want to get events then the easy way is to use a Command Button with its Style set to Graphical and its Picture property set to a suitable GIF (produced in your favourite picture editor. You can use the MaskColor and UseMaskColor properties to get a round image in your button.

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If you want the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first.
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[johnwm]

If you don't want the border then you could also use an Image control.

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If you want the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first.
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
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Steam Engine Prints

 

[dilettante]

Or just make a UserControl.

 

[johnwm]

Any of this work for you OzzieGeorge?

___________________________________________________________
If you want the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first.
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
Drive a Steam Roller
Steam Engine Prints

 

[OzzieGeorge]

Hi

I decided to go with using a control button which I have left square as there are 8 rows of 32 of them. I am still trying to work out how best to switch colours as I am unsure how to include the coloured bit map when it gets compiled. Still a lot to do on it though. Most of the writing I have done has been in VBA with excel, so expect lots more questions.

 

[HughLerwill]

Ok if you are happy with them square; set Style to Graphical and then just use the Backcolor property to set the color (you will not need to use bitmaps).

 

[jzr]

Speaking as someone has been red/green colorblind for a great many years - stay away from this !! I can think of not many things more annoying then seeing a lit LED, and wondering what is wrong, never knowing that there were didfferent colors on it ...

 

[Andrzejek]

[,,,]there are 8 rows of 32 of them [...]
Most of the writing I have done has been in VBA with excel [...]

Now, since you are using VB, try to put all of your command buttons in a control array(s), I don't think you had this option in VBA.
It will make your coding a LOT easier since you will have just one _Click event for all controls in an array.

Have fun.

---- Andy

 

[tedsmith]

Put a transparent label over the "Led button" and use the mouse move or click on that. Make sure the label is 'to the front' using Format/Order

Also I put a tiny yellow dot (a tiny line) slightly off center on the "led" button that gives it a three dimensional look of a reflection of light on a spherical surface.

 

[AndyGroom]

I thought it was possible to change the default images used on a standard VB checkbox, or am I dreaming it? That way you could have a green LED for checked and red for unchecked.

- Andy
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[BobRodes]

jzr makes an important point, and I couldn't agree more: color should NOT be considered a reliable indicator of state by itself. An alternative, such as a numeric reading, should be provided.

Bob