Library tutorials & articles
PictureBox Control
By James Crowley, published on 14 Jul 2001
Introduction
The picture box is a fairly simple control that allows you to display, draw and save images. It also can act as a container - it can contain other controls. Both of these uses are explained in this tutorial.
James first started this website when learning Visual Basic back in 1999 whilst studying his GCSEs. The site grew steadily over the years while being run as a hobby - to a regular monthly audience ...
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I'm using a picturebox to display text and I would like to know if anyone can please tell me the code to printout the picturebox. The picturebox is called PictureResult.
Thanks
Hi, can anybody please help me, my project is a keypress game, where randomly generated letter are suppose to move down the screen and before they get to the bottom of the screen the player has to press the correct key. is there anyway of animating the text in a picture box so it moves down as the each interval of a timer passes please please help.
Hi I wish to save the clipboard from an access 2000 database which has an active x Web Browser built into it.
Using the following command Call keybd_event(vbKeySnapshot, 0, 0, 0)
I can copy the currennt page
I can successfuly get an image into the clipboard. (this work by doing Control and V into a word/excel doc.)
However I really want to be able direct to a file.
I have tried using the following statement
SavePicture Clipboard.GetData(vbCFBitmap), "c:\screenshot.bmp"
But get a message Object required. Any ideas to develop further
Thanks
Hi,
I want to Copy a Picture from access Database Directly to a PictureBox Control with vb.NET, with this code for line
picBLOB.Image = Image.FromStream(stmBLOBData)
I got error. The message is 'Invalid parameter used.'
Is it due to Ms Access images storing mechanism?
Any help is appreciable.
Thanks,
Vaishali
I'm using a picturebox to display text. This in itself is not a problem. The problem comes because part of the text remains the same and part is constantly changing. The part that is changing will keep writing over itself and after just a short while is unreadable because it doesn't remove the old before printing the new data. I need to find a way to delete a small section of text before I print new text. I know many would say don't use the picture box but because of many reasons I almost have to. I'm reading data from an old DOS system that sends out header and label information and the uses X & Y data to locate and print data. There are many sections that do the same thing and to create labels and such for each section would be a massive mess.
Any help would be appreciated.
Jim
Create the Visual Basic .NET Sample
1. Create a SQL Server table or an Access table with the following structure:
CREATE TABLE BLOBTest
(
BLOBID INT IDENTITY NOT NULL,
BLOBData IMAGE NOT NULL
)
2. Follow these steps to create a new Visual Basic Windows Forms application: a. Start Visual Studio .NET.
b. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Project.
c. In the New Project dialog box, click Visual Basic Projects under Project Types, and then click Windows Application under Templates.
3. Drag a PictureBox control and two Button controls from the toolbox to the default form, Form1. Change the Name property of the PictureBox to picBlob. Set the Text property of Button1 to File to Database, and then set the Text property of Button2 to Database to PictureBox.
4. Add the following Imports statements at the top of the Form1 code module:
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Drawing.Imaging
5. Add the following declaration for the database connection string below Public Class Form1, and then modify the connection string as necessary for your environment:
Dim strCn As String = "Data Source=<server>;" & _
"Initial Catalog=<database>;Integrated Security=SSPI"
6. Add the following code in the Click event procedure of Button1, and then modify the file path to an available sample image file as necessary:
Dim cn As New SqlConnection(strCn)
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("INSERT INTO BLOBTest (BLOBData) " & _
"VALUES (@BLOBData)", cn)
Dim strBLOBFilePath As String = _
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents" & _
"\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\winter.jpg"
Dim fsBLOBFile As New FileStream(strBLOBFilePath, _
FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Dim bytBLOBData(fsBLOBFile.Length() - 1) As Byte
fsBLOBFile.Read(bytBLOBData, 0, bytBLOBData.Length)
fsBLOBFile.Close()
Dim prm As New SqlParameter("@BLOBData", SqlDbType.VarBinary, _
bytBLOBData.Length, ParameterDirection.Input, False, _
0, 0, Nothing, DataRowVersion.Current, bytBLOBData)
cmd.Parameters.Add(prm)
cn.Open()
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
cn.Close()
This code uses a FileStream object to read the image file from disk to a Byte array and then uses a parameterized Command object to insert the data in the database.
7. Add the following code in the Click event procedure of Button2:
Dim cn As New SqlConnection(strCn)
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("SELECT BLOBID, " & _
"BLOBData FROM BLOBTest ORDER BY BLOBID", cn)
Dim da As New SqlDataAdapter(cmd)
Dim ds As New DataSet()
da.Fill(ds, "BLOBTest")
Dim c As Integer = ds.Tables("BLOBTest").Rows.Count
If c > 0 Then
Dim bytBLOBData() As Byte = _
ds.Tables("BLOBTest").Rows(c - 1)("BLOBData")
Dim stmBLOBData As New MemoryStream(bytBLOBData)
picBLOB.Image = Image.FromStream(stmBLOBData)
End If
This code retrieves the rows from the BLOBTest table in the database into a DataSet object, copies the image that is most recently added into a Byte array and then into a MemoryStream object, and then loads the MemoryStream into the Image property of the PictureBox control.
8. Run the project.
9. Click File to Database to load at least one sample image into the database.
10. Click Database to PictureBox to display the image that you saved in the PictureBox control.
11. To retrieve the image in a DataReader object instead of a DataSet object, modify the code in the Click event procedure of Button2 as follows:
Dim cn As New SqlConnection(strCn)
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("SELECT BLOBID, " & _
"BLOBData FROM BLOBTest ORDER BY BLOBID", cn)
Dim dr As SqlDataReader
cn.Open()
dr = cmd.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior.CloseConnection)
If dr.Read Then
Dim bytBLOBData(dr.GetBytes(1, 0, Nothing, 0, Integer.MaxValue) - 1) As Byte
dr.GetBytes(1, 0, bytBLOBData, 0, bytBLOBData.Length)
Dim stmBLOBData As New MemoryStream(bytBLOBData)
picBLOB.Image = Image.FromStream(stmBLOBData)
End If
dr.Close()
12. To insert the image from the PictureBox control directly into the database, add a third Button control (Button3) to your form. Set the Text property of Button3 to PictureBox to Database, and then add the following code in the Click event procedure of Button3:
Dim cn As New SqlConnection(strCn)
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("INSERT INTO BLOBTest (BLOBData) " & _
"VALUES (@BLOBData)", cn)
Dim ms As MemoryStream = New MemoryStream()
picBLOB.Image.Save(ms, ImageFormat.Jpeg)
Dim bytBLOBData(ms.Length - 1) As Byte
ms.Position = 0
ms.Read(bytBLOBData, 0, ms.Length)
Dim prm As New SqlParameter("@BLOBData", SqlDbType.VarBinary, _
bytBLOBData.Length, ParameterDirection.Input, False, _
0, 0, Nothing, DataRowVersion.Current, bytBLOBData)
cmd.Parameters.Add(prm)
cn.Open()
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
cn.Close()
This code retrieves the image data from the PictureBox control in a MemoryStream object, copies the MemoryStream into a Byte array, and then uses a parameterized Command object to save the Byte array to the database.
13. Run the project. Click Database to PictureBox to dis
Can somebody kindly enough to enlighten me how can i make common dialog boxes like "Save as","Print", print text in a picturebox and save it/copy to clipboard?
My email is josephtan83@yahoo.com. Urgent.
THanks!!
Regards, Joseph.
I hope better late then never.
Once you have the PictureBox print text to it. Then you have to save the new image to the pictureBox before you can do anything else. Picture1.Picture = Picture1.Image
Now just save it to a file as BMP (It’s the only format)
SavePicture Picture1, "c:\test.bmp"
Or to the Clip board.
Clipboard.SetData Picture1.Picture, vbCFDIB
David Hoegen
I have added text to a picturebox, I then saved the picture using savepicture picture1.image, "c:\textinpicture.bmp" but it only saves the picture and not the text. does anyone have a solution please?
is any there to help me
is there any activeX control to save photo/image/picture in vb to db
sunitha_bharadwaj@yahoo.com
is there any activeX control to save a image/ picture/photo into database
Is it possible to rotate a picture in VB?
can someone help me? i want to make a picture in line with text.
i already know how to add a line with text with the print command, but i cant get a small picture in the same line, like the emoticons from msn messenger.
(object).Picture = LoadPicture("")
where (object) will be your image or picture box name
ppsssttt Jared ... the caps lock key is on the left side of your keyboard
i ALREADY HAVE A PICTURE, BUT IN ORDER TO GET RID OF DUPLICATE iWOULD LIKE TO TURN THEM BACK INTO "" SO i CAN REUSE THAT BOX FOR DIFFERENT PICS
hOW MIGHT i DO THIS AS THE MOST LOGICAL WAY DIDN'T WORK
uNLESS i MADE A SIMPLE MISTAKE
i ALREADY HAVE A PICTURE, BUT IN ORDER TO GET RID OF DUPLICATE iWOULD LIKE TO TURN THEM BACK INTO "" SO i CAN REUSE THAT BOX FOR DIFFERENT PICS
hOW MIGHT i DO THIS AS THE MOST LOGICAL WAY DIDN'T WORK
uNLESS i MADE A SIMPLE MISTAKE
well, the picturebox doesn't have a move method, only an event
and i couldn't find a image object either
either in .net V10 nor in .net V11
whats my error?
hi Nagesh!!
thanx for ur reply!! i really appreciate and tried ur method but i'm facing one problem. there's no any setfocus command for picturebox control. is there any other methods to setfocus to picturebox after pressing the command button??
Just make in any command button the picturebox .setfocus and then in the keycode event of picture box wirte the code as If KeyCode = vbKeyRight Then Picture1.Move 100, 100
I hope this shud solve your problem
i juz wanna to know that is there any way to control the movements of the image or picture box using keyboard control?? coz i need help badly to complete my projects!!
if anyone got any idea on it, do reply me soon!! thanks!!
Here is an example for updating an Access Database with a jpg file or reading an image from an Access Database and displaying it in a picturebox using the ADODB Stream Object:
' Project references the Microsoft Active Data Objects Library v 2.5
Dim Conn As ADODB.Connection
Dim RS As ADODB.Recordset
Const SQLSERVERDATABASE = "Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=MYSERVER; Initial Catalog=MYDATABASE; User ID=MYUSERID;Password=MYPASSWORD;"
Const ACCESS_DATABASE = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Persist Security Info=False;Data Source=C:\Code\RPMShell\data\nwind.mdb"
Private Sub cmdUpdateImage_Click()
' You can use code like this to save out to a file, but only bmp supported
' SavePicture Picture1.Picture, "c:\winnt\compaq.bmp"
' Open your recordset
Set RS = New ADODB.Recordset
With RS
.Source = "Select * From Employees"
.ActiveConnection = Conn
.CursorType = adOpenDynamic
.LockType = adLockOptimistic
.Open
' you can use code like this to add a new record
' .AddNew
' RS("caption").Value = "compaq logo image"
' AddImage RS, "c:\winnt\compaq.bmp"
' either add a new record or find an existing one
.Find "[LASTNAME] = 'Dougan'"
' call the function to update the Photo field of the recordset
AddImage RS, "c:\Code\moitessier.jpg"
' close the recordset
.Close
End With
Set RS = Nothing
MsgBox "Update Complete"
End Sub
Private Sub cmdReadImage_Click()
' Open your recordset
Set RS = New ADODB.Recordset
With RS
.Source = "Select * From Employees"
.ActiveConnection = Conn
.CursorType = adOpenDynamic
.LockType = adLockOptimistic
.Open
' Find a particular record
.Find "[LASTNAME] = 'Dougan'"
' Save the Photo to a local file
ReadImage RS, "c:\test.jpg"
' Load the local file into a picturebox
Picture1.Picture = LoadPicture("c:\test.jpg")
.Close
End With
Set RS = Nothing
MsgBox "Read Complete"
End Sub
Sub AddImage(RS As ADODB.Recordset, ByVal FileName As String)
' Declare a stream object
Dim oStream As ADODB.Stream
' Create a new instance
Set oStream = New ADODB.Stream
oStream.Type = adTypeBinary
oStream.Open
' Tell it the source of the stream
oStream.LoadFromFile FileName
'Load the binary object into the field value
RS.Fields("Photo").Value = oStream.Read
' Update the recordset (either here or you could do this elsewhere)
RS.Update
' Close the stream and clean house
oStream.Close
Set oStream = Nothing
End Sub
Sub ReadImage(RS As ADODB.Recordset, ByVal FileName As String)
' Declare a stream object
Dim oStream As ADODB.Stream
' Create a new instance
Set oStream = New ADODB.Stream
oStream.Type = adTypeBinary
oStream.Open
' Read the field value into the stream object
oStream.Write RS.Fields("Photo").Value
' Save out to a local file
oStream.SaveToFile FileName, adSaveCreateOverWrite
' Close the stream and clean house
oStream.Close
Set oStream = Nothing
End Sub
Private Sub FormLoad()
' Open your database connection
Set Conn = New ADODB.Connection
With Conn
' .ConnectionString = RPMDATABASE
.ConnectionString = ACCESS_DATABASE
.CursorLocation = adUseClient
.Open
End With
End Sub
Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
'Close your database connection
Conn.Close
Set Conn = Nothing
End Sub
It's not bad if you are not going to have thousands of images, however, if you are, then storing simply the path to the image (You can use UNC names like "\myserver\photos\photo1.jpg" to make it possible to use the same paths from all computers on the network) and then loading the image into a picturebox using LoadPicture as indicated in the above example.
.... and dont forget those nasty patents for GIF.. see my signature footer...
This is a very cool dll. If you have not already downloaded it, do so by clicking the download link above. On your Windows PC click start + run and type:
REGSVR32 GIF89.DLL
This will register the GUID with your system.
Now open your Visual Basic IDE and click Project + components and select Gif89 1.0. You should now see the control in your tool box. Dbl Click to place it on your form. In the properties look for 'FileName' and enter a path to file example:C:\Graphics\YourAnimatedGraphic.gif
Now run VB....Cool!!!
Gif89a is the Compuserve format for animated gifs.
Charcoal
I need to be able save changes to a picturebox control to a image file with the changes / drawing in the new file. I bet this is easy, but I can't seen to be able to do it...
Please help...
Hi, now I am doing some work on the picturebox,one problem is when I maximize the form,how the picture change the size at the same time?
hi i am erdem
i am working on a database project
everything is ok.,
adding,updating,deleting,loading..etc.
but saving and loading an image not ok.
if you solved your problem then please write me how.
my e-mail:erdemcengiz82@hotmail.com
how can i save an image on to sql server 7.0
and how can i load it?
please help me.
i am searching one week for it.
How would you load a picture from a database onto a picture box?
This thread is for discussions of PictureBox Control.