Selection Markers and Indicator Customization

Selection Markers and Indicator Customization empower developers to visually indicate the selected state of a control by displaying a left-side indicator bar with customizable width, colors, etc.

Overview

This feature enables the control to display a visual indicator—a left-side bar—that highlights the currently selected button. The properties ShowLeftIndicator, IndicatorWidth, IndicatorColor, and IndicatorGradientColor allow for extensive customization of the indicator’s appearance. Whether using a solid color or a gradient effect, the indicator provides immediate, clear feedback on the control's selection state. This documentation outlines the configuration, best practices, usage scenarios, and troubleshooting tips for implementing selection markers in your .NET WinForms applications.

Properties and Configuration

The table below summarizes the key properties related to Selection Markers and Indicator Customization:

Property Name

Description

Default Value / Range

Sample Usage Example

ShowLeftIndicator

Determines whether a selection indicator bar is displayed on the left side of the control when selected.

Boolean (default is false)

myButton.ShowLeftIndicator = true;

IndicatorWidth

Specifies the width of the selection indicator bar; typically a value between 0 and 8 pixels.

0–8 (default is 4)

myButton.IndicatorWidth = 4;

IndicatorColor

Sets the primary color of the selection indicator bar.

Color.FromArgb(0, 123, 255)

myButton.IndicatorColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 123, 255);

IndicatorGradientColor

Sets the secondary gradient color used for a gradient effect on the selection indicator bar.

Color.FromArgb(0, 183, 255)

myButton.IndicatorGradientColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 183, 255);

Key Points

Key Point

Details

Visual Feedback

The indicator bar provides a clear visual cue that a button is selected, enhancing the overall navigation and usability of the interface.

Customizable Appearance

Developers can adjust the indicator's width, primary color, and gradient color to match the application’s design scheme.

Dynamic Behavior

The indicator appears only when the control is selected or during the selection animation, ensuring a responsive user experience.

Integrated with State Changes

The indicator seamlessly integrates with other interactive states (such as hover and press), reinforcing visual consistency.

Best Practices

Best Practice

Description

Example Code Snippet

Enable Only for Key Controls

Use selection indicators on controls that require strong visual feedback to highlight the active element, rather than on every control in the UI.

csharp if(isPrimaryAction) { myButton.ShowLeftIndicator = true; } 

Match Indicator with Theme

Ensure that the chosen IndicatorColor and IndicatorGradientColor align with your overall color scheme to provide a consistent look and feel.

csharp myButton.IndicatorColor = theme.PrimaryColor; myButton.IndicatorGradientColor = theme.AccentColor; 

Test Different IndicatorWidths

Experiment with different IndicatorWidth values to find the optimal balance between visibility and space utilization.

csharp myButton.IndicatorWidth = 6; 

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall

Description

How to Avoid

Overuse of Indicators

Displaying the indicator on every button can clutter the interface and reduce its effectiveness as a selection cue.

Reserve indicators for key or grouped controls where selection is critical.

Inadequate Contrast

Using indicator colors that do not contrast well with the control’s background can make the indicator hard to notice.

Choose colors for IndicatorColor and IndicatorGradientColor that offer clear contrast with the background.

Misaligned Indicator Due to Padding Issues

Custom adjustments to the control’s padding may affect the placement of the indicator, resulting in a misaligned appearance.

Test indicator positioning after any layout or padding modifications.

Usage Scenarios

Scenario

Description

Sample Integration Code

Navigation Menus

Use the indicator to highlight the active menu item in a sidebar or toolbar, ensuring users know which section they are viewing.

csharp // Creating a menu button with a left indicator SiticoneGroupButton menuButton = new SiticoneGroupButton(); menuButton.Text = "Dashboard"; menuButton.ShowLeftIndicator = true; menuButton.IndicatorWidth = 4; menuButton.IndicatorColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 123, 255); menuButton.IndicatorGradientColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 183, 255); this.Controls.Add(menuButton); 

Grouped Option Selectors

In forms where only one option can be selected at a time, the indicator clearly marks the active selection among multiple buttons.

csharp // Grouping option buttons SiticoneGroupButton option1 = new SiticoneGroupButton(); SiticoneGroupButton option2 = new SiticoneGroupButton(); option1.Text = "Option 1"; option2.Text = "Option 2"; option1.ShowLeftIndicator = true; option2.ShowLeftIndicator = true; option1.IsSelected = true; // This will activate the indicator this.Controls.Add(option1); this.Controls.Add(option2); 

Real Life Usage Scenarios

Real Life Scenario

Description

Example Implementation

Dashboard Navigation

In enterprise dashboards, using a selection indicator helps users quickly identify the active module or section, streamlining navigation.

csharp if(userNavigates) { dashboardButton.ShowLeftIndicator = true; dashboardButton.IndicatorColor = Color.Green; dashboardButton.IndicatorGradientColor = Color.LightGreen; } 

Settings Panels

When multiple settings categories are displayed, the indicator can denote which category is currently active, improving usability in complex UIs.

csharp settingsButton.ShowLeftIndicator = true; settingsButton.IndicatorWidth = 5; settingsButton.IndicatorColor = Color.Purple; 

Troubleshooting Tips

Issue

Potential Cause

Resolution

Indicator Not Appearing

The ShowLeftIndicator property may not be enabled or the control is not in a selected state.

Ensure that ShowLeftIndicator is set to true and that IsSelected is properly updated.

Misaligned Indicator

Incorrect IndicatorWidth or padding settings may cause the indicator to appear offset.

Adjust the IndicatorWidth and verify the control's padding and layout settings to align the indicator.

Inconsistent Gradient Effect

Improper values for IndicatorColor and IndicatorGradientColor can lead to a non-uniform gradient appearance.

Test and adjust the colors to ensure a smooth gradient transition across the indicator area.

Integration Code Sample

The following example demonstrates how to integrate Selection Markers and Indicator Customization into a simple WinForms application:

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI; // Make sure the correct namespace is referenced

public class MainForm : Form
{
    public MainForm()
    {
        // Initialize and configure a SiticoneGroupButton with selection marker customization
        SiticoneGroupButton indicatorButton = new SiticoneGroupButton
        {
            Text = "Profile",
            Size = new Size(220, 50),
            Location = new Point(20, 20),
            // Enable the left-side selection indicator
            ShowLeftIndicator = true,
            IndicatorWidth = 4,
            IndicatorColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 123, 255),
            IndicatorGradientColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 183, 255),
            // Set other interactive properties
            NormalColor = Color.FromArgb(100, 100, 100),
            HoverColor = Color.FromArgb(80, 80, 80),
            PressColor = Color.FromArgb(50, 50, 50),
            TextColor = Color.LightGray,
            SelectedTextColor = Color.White,
            IsSelected = false  // Set to true when selection is required
        };

        // Set the button to selected on click to show the indicator
        indicatorButton.Click += (sender, e) =>
        {
            indicatorButton.IsSelected = true;
        };

        // Add the button to the form
        Controls.Add(indicatorButton);
    }

    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new MainForm());
    }
}

Review

Review Aspect

Details

Visual Clarity

The indicator provides an immediate visual cue for the selected state, enhancing overall usability in navigation and grouped selections.

Ease of Customization

With simple property assignments, developers can quickly tailor the indicator's appearance to match the design requirements of their application.

Integration with Interactive States

The indicator works seamlessly with other interactive properties, ensuring that state transitions (selection, hover, press) are visually coherent.

Performance

The drawing and animation routines for the indicator are optimized to minimize performance overhead, even on resource-constrained devices.

Summary

Summary Point

Description

Enhanced Selection Feedback

The selection marker clearly indicates the active control, providing users with intuitive navigation cues.

Flexible Customization

Developers can easily customize the indicator’s width, primary color, and gradient effect to achieve the desired visual impact.

Seamless Integration

The indicator integrates naturally with the control’s other interactive states, ensuring a unified look and feel across the application.

Optimized User Experience

By offering clear, dynamic visual feedback on selection, this feature enhances usability and contributes to a more engaging user interface.

Additional Useful Sections

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question

Answer

How do I enable the selection indicator?

Set ShowLeftIndicator to true to display the indicator when the control is selected.

Can I change the indicator colors at runtime?

Yes, you can update IndicatorColor and IndicatorGradientColor dynamically to reflect theme changes or user preferences.

What if the indicator does not appear?

Verify that IsSelected is set to true when needed and check that the control’s layout does not override the indicator positioning.

Integration Checklist

Checklist Item

Status

Enable Selection Indicator

Confirm that ShowLeftIndicator is set to true for the desired controls.

Configure Indicator Appearance

Ensure IndicatorWidth, IndicatorColor, and IndicatorGradientColor are set to match your UI design.

Test Group Selection Behavior

Validate that only one control in a group shows the selection indicator when selected.

Verify Layout Alignment

Check that the indicator is properly aligned with the control’s edge across different screen sizes and resolutions.

Test Dynamic Updates

Ensure that updating selection properties at runtime reflects immediately in the UI.

By following this comprehensive documentation for Selection Markers and Indicator Customization, developers can integrate clear and attractive selection indicators into their .NET WinForms applications, thereby improving navigation, focus, and overall user experience.

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Last updated 18 days ago