Change the color of a disabled TEdit

Problem/Question/Abstract:

How can I change the color of a disabled (Edit1.Enabled := false;) control? I do not want the normal grey color.

Answer:

Two options: Place the control on a panel and disable the panel instead of the control. This way the color stays to whatever you set it. Or make a descendent and take over the painting when it is disabled. Here is an example:

unit PBExEdit;

interface

uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs, StdCtrls;

type
TPBExEdit = class(Tedit)
private
{ Private declarations }
FDisabledColor: TColor;
FDisabledTextColor: TColor;
procedure WMPaint(var msg: TWMPaint); message WM_PAINT;
procedure WMEraseBkGnd(var msg: TWMEraseBkGnd); message WM_ERASEBKGND;
procedure SetDisabledColor(const Value: TColor); virtual;
procedure SetDisabledTextColor(const Value: TColor); virtual;
protected
{ Protected declarations }
public
{ Public declarations }
constructor Create(aOwner: TComponent); override;
published
{ Published declarations }
property DisabledTextColor: TColor read FDisabledTextColor write
SetDisabledTextColor
default clGrayText;
property DisabledColor: TColor read FDisabledColor write SetDisabledColor default
clWindow;
end;

procedure Register;

implementation

procedure Register;
begin
RegisterComponents('PBGoodies', [TPBExEdit]);
end;

constructor TPBExEdit.Create(aOwner: TComponent);
begin
inherited;
FDisabledColor := clWindow;
FDisabledTextColor := clGrayText;
end;

procedure TPBExEdit.SetDisabledColor(const Value: TColor);
begin
if FDisabledColor <> Value then
begin
FDisabledColor := Value;
if not Enabled then
Invalidate;
end;
end;

procedure TPBExEdit.SetDisabledTextColor(const Value: TColor);
begin
if FDisabledTextColor <> Value then
begin
FDisabledTextColor := Value;
if not Enabled then
Invalidate;
end;
end;

procedure TPBExEdit.WMEraseBkGnd(var msg: TWMEraseBkGnd);
var
canvas: TCanvas;
begin
if Enabled then
inherited
else
begin
canvas := TCanvas.Create;
try
canvas.Handle := msg.DC;
SaveDC(msg.DC);
try
canvas.Brush.Color := FDisabledColor;
canvas.Brush.Style := bsSolid;
canvas.Fillrect(clientrect);
msg.result := 1;
finally
RestoreDC(msg.DC, -1);
end;
finally
canvas.free
end;
end;
end;

procedure TPBExEdit.WMPaint(var msg: TWMPaint);
var
canvas: TCanvas;
ps: TPaintStruct;
callEndPaint: Boolean;
begin
if Enabled then
inherited
else
begin
callEndPaint := False;
canvas := TCanvas.Create;
try
if msg.DC <> 0 then
begin
canvas.Handle := msg.DC;
ps.fErase := true;
end
else
begin
BeginPaint(handle, ps);
callEndPaint := true;
canvas.handle := ps.hdc;
end;
if ps.fErase then
Perform(WM_ERASEBKGND, canvas.handle, 0);
SaveDC(canvas.handle);
try
canvas.Brush.Style := bsClear;
canvas.Font := Font;
canvas.Font.Color := FDisabledTextColor;
canvas.TextOut(1, 1, Text);
finally
RestoreDC(canvas.handle, -1);
end;
finally
if callEndPaint then
EndPaint(handle, ps);
canvas.free
end;
end;
end;

end.