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How to: Draw an Outlined Shape

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This example draws outlined ellipses and rectangles on a form.

Example

private:
    void DrawEllipse()
    {
        System::Drawing::Pen^ myPen =
            gcnew System::Drawing::Pen(System::Drawing::Color::Red);
        System::Drawing::Graphics^ formGraphics;
        formGraphics = this->CreateGraphics();
        formGraphics->DrawEllipse(myPen, Rectangle(0, 0, 200, 300));
        delete myPen;
        delete formGraphics;
    }

private:
    void DrawRectangle()
    {
        System::Drawing::Pen^ myPen =
            gcnew System::Drawing::Pen(System::Drawing::Color::Red);
        System::Drawing::Graphics^ formGraphics;
        formGraphics = this->CreateGraphics();
        formGraphics->DrawRectangle(myPen, Rectangle(0, 0, 200, 300));
        delete myPen;
        delete formGraphics;
    }


private void DrawEllipse()
{
    System.Drawing.Pen myPen = new System.Drawing.Pen(System.Drawing.Color.Red);
    System.Drawing.Graphics formGraphics;
    formGraphics = this.CreateGraphics();
    formGraphics.DrawEllipse(myPen, new Rectangle(0, 0, 200, 300));
    myPen.Dispose();
    formGraphics.Dispose();
}

private void DrawRectangle()
{
    System.Drawing.Pen myPen = new System.Drawing.Pen(System.Drawing.Color.Red);
    System.Drawing.Graphics formGraphics;
    formGraphics = this.CreateGraphics();
    formGraphics.DrawRectangle(myPen, new Rectangle(0, 0, 200, 300));
    myPen.Dispose();
    formGraphics.Dispose();
}


Private Sub DrawEllipse()
    Dim myPen As New System.Drawing.Pen(System.Drawing.Color.Red)
    Dim formGraphics As System.Drawing.Graphics
    formGraphics = Me.CreateGraphics()
    formGraphics.DrawEllipse(myPen, New Rectangle(0, 0, 200, 300))
    myPen.Dispose()
    formGraphics.Dispose()
End Sub

Private Sub DrawRectangle()
    Dim myPen As New System.Drawing.Pen(System.Drawing.Color.Red)
    Dim formGraphics As System.Drawing.Graphics
    formGraphics = Me.CreateGraphics()
    formGraphics.DrawRectangle(myPen, New Rectangle(0, 0, 200, 300))
    myPen.Dispose()
    formGraphics.Dispose()
End Sub

Compiling the Code

You cannot call this method in the Load event handler. The drawn content will not be redrawn if the form is resized or obscured by another form. To make your content automatically repaint, you should override the OnPaint method.

Robust Programming

You should always call Dispose on any objects you create that consume system resources. In the previous example, the Pen and Graphics objects were created and then disposed.

See also