How to paint on a TControlCanvas in a TMemo

Problem/Question/Abstract:

How to paint on a TControlCanvas in a TMemo

Answer:

Solve 1:

Create a new component derived from TMemo and override its drawing. Something like this:


type
  TMyMemo = class(TMemo)
  protected
    procedure WMPaint(var Message: TWMPaint); message WM_PAINT;
  end;

procedure TMyMemo.WMPaint(var Message: TWMPaint);
var
  MCanvas: TControlCanvas;
  DrawBounds: TRect;
begin
  inherited;
  MCanvas := TControlCanvas.Create;
  DrawBounds := ClientRect;
  try
    MCanvas.Control := Self;
    with MCanvas do
    begin
      Brush.Color := clBtnFace;
      FrameRect(DrawBounds);
      InflateRect(DrawBounds, -1, -1);
      FrameRect(DrawBounds);
      FillRect(DrawBounds);
      MoveTo(33, 0);
      Brush.Color := clWhite;
      LineTo(33, ClientHeight);
      PaintImages;
    end;
  finally
    MCanvas.Free;
  end;
end;


The PaintImages procedure draws images on the TMemo's canvas.


procedure TMyMemo.PaintImages;
var
  MCanvas: TControlCanvas;
  DrawBounds: TRect;
  i, j: Integer;
  OriginalRegion: HRGN;
  ControlDC: HDC;
begin
  MCanvas := TControlCanvas.Create;
  DrawBounds := ClientRect;
  try
    MCanvas.Control := Self;
    ControlDC := GetDC(Handle);
    MCanvas.Draw(0, 1, Application.Icon);
  finally
    MCanvas.Free;
  end;
end;


Solve 2:

Basically you will need to intercept WM_ERASEBKGND and WM_PAINT messages. Let's say you have a TImage control the same size as your TMemo holding a bitmap that you want to use as your background. Let's assume you have this hooked in a TImage field called FImage available in your memo component code. The following should give you a good start:

In your class definition for TMyMemo:


procedure WMEraseBkGnd(var Message: TWMEraseBkGnd); message WM_ERASEBKGND;
procedure WMPaint(var Message: TWMPaint); message WM_PAINT;
    {...}

procedure TMyMemo.WMEraseBkGnd(var Message: TWMEraseBkGnd);
begin
  {assuming we get a good DC in Message - you should check this of course}
  BitBlt(Message.dc, 0, 0, Width, Height, FImage.Canvas.Handle, 0, 0, SRCCOPY);
  Message.Result := -1;
end;

procedure TMyMemo.WMPaint(var Message: TWMPaint);
var
  bm: TBitmap;
  dc: HDC;
  hDummy: HWND;
  i: integer;
  tm: TEXTMETRIC;
  Y: integer;
begin
  bm := TBitmap.Create;
  try
    bm.Width := Width;
    bm.Height := Height;
    Perform(WM_ERASEBKGND, bm.Canvas.Handle, 0); {always in this simple example}
    bm.Canvas.Font.Assign(Font);
    GetTextMetrics(bm.Canvas.Handle, tm);
    SetBkMode(bm.Canvas.Handle, TRANSPARENT);
    Y := 0;
    for i := 0 to Lines.Count - 1 do
    begin
      bm.Canvas.TextOut(0, Y, Lines[i]);
      Inc(Y, tm.tmHeight);
    end;
    dc := GetDeviceContext(hDummy);
    BitBlt(dc, 0, 0, Width, Height, bm.Canvas.Handle, 0, 0, SRCCOPY);
    ReleaseDC(hDummy, dc);
  finally
    bm.Free;
  end;
  Message.Result := 0;
end;


Note that this is only good for displaying transparently. Editing is another story. What I do is call the inherited behavior when I'm editing (so no transparency while typing). Obviously this example has no error checking. Also, the Message parameter for WM_PAINT may contain a device context to use in lieu of GetDeviceContext. The text always draws at X = 0 so it ignores the border style & width. Finally, you should check for clipping to improve performance (I did this last).