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How to: Display Option Buttons in a MenuStrip (Windows Forms)

Option buttons, also known as radio buttons, are similar to check boxes except that users can select only one at a time. Although by default the ToolStripMenuItem class does not provide option-button behavior, the class does provide check-box behavior that you can customize to implement option-button behavior for menu items in a MenuStrip control.

When the CheckOnClick property of a menu item is true, users can click the item to toggle the display of a check mark. The Checked property indicates the current state of the item. To implement basic option-button behavior, you must ensure that when an item is selected, you set the Checked property for the previously selected item to false.

The following procedures describe how to implement this and additional functionality in a class that inherits the ToolStripMenuItem class. The ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem class overrides members such as OnCheckedChanged and OnPaint to provide the selection behavior and appearance of option buttons. Additionally, this class overrides the Enabled property so that options on a submenu are disabled unless the parent item is selected.

To implement option-button selection behavior

  1. Initialize the CheckOnClick property to true to enable item selection.

    // Called by all constructors to initialize CheckOnClick.
    private void Initialize()
    {
        CheckOnClick = true;
    }
    
  2. Override the OnCheckedChanged method to clear the selection of the previously selected item when a new item is selected.

    protected override void OnCheckedChanged(EventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnCheckedChanged(e);
    
        // If this item is no longer in the checked state or if its
        // parent has not yet been initialized, do nothing.
        if (!Checked || this.Parent == null) return;
    
        // Clear the checked state for all siblings.
        foreach (ToolStripItem item in Parent.Items)
        {
            ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem radioItem =
                item as ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem;
            if (radioItem != null && radioItem != this && radioItem.Checked)
            {
                radioItem.Checked = false;
    
                // Only one item can be selected at a time,
                // so there is no need to continue.
                return;
            }
        }
    }
    
  3. Override the OnClick method to ensure that clicking an item that has already been selected will not clear the selection.

    protected override void OnClick(EventArgs e)
    {
        // If the item is already in the checked state, do not call
        // the base method, which would toggle the value.
        if (Checked) return;
    
        base.OnClick(e);
    }
    

To modify the appearance of the option-button items

  1. Override the OnPaint method to replace the default check-mark with an option button by using the RadioButtonRenderer class.

    // Let the item paint itself, and then paint the RadioButton
    // where the check mark is normally displayed.
    protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
    {
        if (Image != null)
        {
            // If the client sets the Image property, the selection behavior
            // remains unchanged, but the RadioButton is not displayed and the
            // selection is indicated only by the selection rectangle.
            base.OnPaint(e);
            return;
        }
        else
        {
            // If the Image property is not set, call the base OnPaint method
            // with the CheckState property temporarily cleared to prevent
            // the check mark from being painted.
            CheckState currentState = this.CheckState;
            this.CheckState = CheckState.Unchecked;
            base.OnPaint(e);
            this.CheckState = currentState;
        }
    
        // Determine the correct state of the RadioButton.
        RadioButtonState buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedNormal;
        if (Enabled)
        {
            if (mouseDownState)
            {
                if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedPressed;
                else buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedPressed;
            }
            else if (mouseHoverState)
            {
                if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedHot;
                else buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedHot;
            }
            else
            {
                if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedNormal;
            }
        }
        else
        {
            if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedDisabled;
            else buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedDisabled;
        }
    
        // Calculate the position at which to display the RadioButton.
        Int32 offset = (ContentRectangle.Height -
            RadioButtonRenderer.GetGlyphSize(
            e.Graphics, buttonState).Height) / 2;
        Point imageLocation = new Point(
            ContentRectangle.Location.X + 4,
            ContentRectangle.Location.Y + offset);
    
        // Paint the RadioButton.
        RadioButtonRenderer.DrawRadioButton(
            e.Graphics, imageLocation, buttonState);
    }
    
  2. Override the OnMouseEnter, OnMouseLeave, OnMouseDown, and OnMouseUp methods to track the state of the mouse and ensure that the OnPaint method paints the correct option-button state.

    private bool mouseHoverState = false;
    
    protected override void OnMouseEnter(EventArgs e)
    {
        mouseHoverState = true;
    
        // Force the item to repaint with the new RadioButton state.
        Invalidate();
    
        base.OnMouseEnter(e);
    }
    
    protected override void OnMouseLeave(EventArgs e)
    {
        mouseHoverState = false;
        base.OnMouseLeave(e);
    }
    
    private bool mouseDownState = false;
    
    protected override void OnMouseDown(MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        mouseDownState = true;
    
        // Force the item to repaint with the new RadioButton state.
        Invalidate();
    
        base.OnMouseDown(e);
    }
    
    protected override void OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        mouseDownState = false;
        base.OnMouseUp(e);
    }
    

To disable options on a submenu when the parent item is not selected

  1. Override the Enabled property so that the item is disabled when it has a parent item with both a CheckOnClick value of true and a Checked value of false.

    // Enable the item only if its parent item is in the checked state
    // and its Enabled property has not been explicitly set to false.
    public override bool Enabled
    {
        get
        {
            ToolStripMenuItem ownerMenuItem =
                OwnerItem as ToolStripMenuItem;
    
            // Use the base value in design mode to prevent the designer
            // from setting the base value to the calculated value.
            if (!DesignMode &&
                ownerMenuItem != null && ownerMenuItem.CheckOnClick)
            {
                return base.Enabled && ownerMenuItem.Checked;
            }
            else
            {
                return base.Enabled;
            }
        }
        set
        {
            base.Enabled = value;
        }
    }
    
  2. Override the OnOwnerChanged method to subscribe to the CheckedChanged event of the parent item.

    // When OwnerItem becomes available, if it is a ToolStripMenuItem
    // with a CheckOnClick property value of true, subscribe to its
    // CheckedChanged event.
    protected override void OnOwnerChanged(EventArgs e)
    {
        ToolStripMenuItem ownerMenuItem =
            OwnerItem as ToolStripMenuItem;
        if (ownerMenuItem != null && ownerMenuItem.CheckOnClick)
        {
            ownerMenuItem.CheckedChanged +=
                new EventHandler(OwnerMenuItem_CheckedChanged);
        }
        base.OnOwnerChanged(e);
    }
    
  3. In the handler for the parent-item CheckedChanged event, invalidate the item to update the display with the new enabled state.

    // When the checked state of the parent item changes,
    // repaint the item so that the new Enabled state is displayed.
    private void OwnerMenuItem_CheckedChanged(
        object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Invalidate();
    }
    

Example

The following code example provides the complete ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem class, and a Form class and Program class to demonstrate the option-button behavior.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles;

public class ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem : ToolStripMenuItem
{
    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem()
        : base()
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(string text)
        : base(text, null, (EventHandler)null)
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(Image image)
        : base(null, image, (EventHandler)null)
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(string text, Image image)
        : base(text, image, (EventHandler)null)
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(string text, Image image,
        EventHandler onClick)
        : base(text, image, onClick)
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(string text, Image image,
        EventHandler onClick, string name)
        : base(text, image, onClick, name)
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(string text, Image image,
        params ToolStripItem[] dropDownItems)
        : base(text, image, dropDownItems)
    {
        Initialize();
    }

    public ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem(string text, Image image,
        EventHandler onClick, Keys shortcutKeys)
        : base(text, image, onClick)
    {
        Initialize();
        this.ShortcutKeys = shortcutKeys;
    }

    // Called by all constructors to initialize CheckOnClick.
    private void Initialize()
    {
        CheckOnClick = true;
    }

    protected override void OnCheckedChanged(EventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnCheckedChanged(e);

        // If this item is no longer in the checked state or if its
        // parent has not yet been initialized, do nothing.
        if (!Checked || this.Parent == null) return;

        // Clear the checked state for all siblings.
        foreach (ToolStripItem item in Parent.Items)
        {
            ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem radioItem =
                item as ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem;
            if (radioItem != null && radioItem != this && radioItem.Checked)
            {
                radioItem.Checked = false;

                // Only one item can be selected at a time,
                // so there is no need to continue.
                return;
            }
        }
    }

    protected override void OnClick(EventArgs e)
    {
        // If the item is already in the checked state, do not call
        // the base method, which would toggle the value.
        if (Checked) return;

        base.OnClick(e);
    }

    // Let the item paint itself, and then paint the RadioButton
    // where the check mark is normally displayed.
    protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
    {
        if (Image != null)
        {
            // If the client sets the Image property, the selection behavior
            // remains unchanged, but the RadioButton is not displayed and the
            // selection is indicated only by the selection rectangle.
            base.OnPaint(e);
            return;
        }
        else
        {
            // If the Image property is not set, call the base OnPaint method
            // with the CheckState property temporarily cleared to prevent
            // the check mark from being painted.
            CheckState currentState = this.CheckState;
            this.CheckState = CheckState.Unchecked;
            base.OnPaint(e);
            this.CheckState = currentState;
        }

        // Determine the correct state of the RadioButton.
        RadioButtonState buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedNormal;
        if (Enabled)
        {
            if (mouseDownState)
            {
                if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedPressed;
                else buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedPressed;
            }
            else if (mouseHoverState)
            {
                if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedHot;
                else buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedHot;
            }
            else
            {
                if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedNormal;
            }
        }
        else
        {
            if (Checked) buttonState = RadioButtonState.CheckedDisabled;
            else buttonState = RadioButtonState.UncheckedDisabled;
        }

        // Calculate the position at which to display the RadioButton.
        Int32 offset = (ContentRectangle.Height -
            RadioButtonRenderer.GetGlyphSize(
            e.Graphics, buttonState).Height) / 2;
        Point imageLocation = new Point(
            ContentRectangle.Location.X + 4,
            ContentRectangle.Location.Y + offset);

        // Paint the RadioButton.
        RadioButtonRenderer.DrawRadioButton(
            e.Graphics, imageLocation, buttonState);
    }

    private bool mouseHoverState = false;

    protected override void OnMouseEnter(EventArgs e)
    {
        mouseHoverState = true;

        // Force the item to repaint with the new RadioButton state.
        Invalidate();

        base.OnMouseEnter(e);
    }

    protected override void OnMouseLeave(EventArgs e)
    {
        mouseHoverState = false;
        base.OnMouseLeave(e);
    }

    private bool mouseDownState = false;

    protected override void OnMouseDown(MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        mouseDownState = true;

        // Force the item to repaint with the new RadioButton state.
        Invalidate();

        base.OnMouseDown(e);
    }

    protected override void OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        mouseDownState = false;
        base.OnMouseUp(e);
    }

    // Enable the item only if its parent item is in the checked state
    // and its Enabled property has not been explicitly set to false.
    public override bool Enabled
    {
        get
        {
            ToolStripMenuItem ownerMenuItem =
                OwnerItem as ToolStripMenuItem;

            // Use the base value in design mode to prevent the designer
            // from setting the base value to the calculated value.
            if (!DesignMode &&
                ownerMenuItem != null && ownerMenuItem.CheckOnClick)
            {
                return base.Enabled && ownerMenuItem.Checked;
            }
            else
            {
                return base.Enabled;
            }
        }
        set
        {
            base.Enabled = value;
        }
    }

    // When OwnerItem becomes available, if it is a ToolStripMenuItem
    // with a CheckOnClick property value of true, subscribe to its
    // CheckedChanged event.
    protected override void OnOwnerChanged(EventArgs e)
    {
        ToolStripMenuItem ownerMenuItem =
            OwnerItem as ToolStripMenuItem;
        if (ownerMenuItem != null && ownerMenuItem.CheckOnClick)
        {
            ownerMenuItem.CheckedChanged +=
                new EventHandler(OwnerMenuItem_CheckedChanged);
        }
        base.OnOwnerChanged(e);
    }

    // When the checked state of the parent item changes,
    // repaint the item so that the new Enabled state is displayed.
    private void OwnerMenuItem_CheckedChanged(
        object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Invalidate();
    }
}

public class Form1 : Form
{
    private MenuStrip menuStrip1 = new MenuStrip();
    private ToolStripMenuItem mainToolStripMenuItem = new ToolStripMenuItem();
    private ToolStripMenuItem toolStripMenuItem1 = new ToolStripMenuItem();
    private ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem1 =
        new ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem();
    private ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem2 =
        new ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem();
    private ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem3 =
        new ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem();
    private ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem4 =
        new ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem();
    private ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem5 =
        new ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem();
    private ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem6 =
        new ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem();

    public Form1()
    {
        mainToolStripMenuItem.Text = "main";
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem1.Text = "option 1";
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem2.Text = "option 2";
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem3.Text = "option 2-1";
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem4.Text = "option 2-2";
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem5.Text = "option 3-1";
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem6.Text = "option 3-2";
        toolStripMenuItem1.Text = "toggle";
        toolStripMenuItem1.CheckOnClick = true;

        mainToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.AddRange(new ToolStripItem[] {
            toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem1, toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem2,
            toolStripMenuItem1});
        toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem2.DropDownItems.AddRange(
            new ToolStripItem[] {toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem3,
            toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem4});
        toolStripMenuItem1.DropDownItems.AddRange(new ToolStripItem[] {
            toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem5, toolStripRadioButtonMenuItem6});

        menuStrip1.Items.AddRange(new ToolStripItem[] {mainToolStripMenuItem});
        Controls.Add(menuStrip1);
        MainMenuStrip = menuStrip1;
        Text = "ToolStripRadioButtonMenuItem demo";
    }
}

static class Program
{
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

Compiling the Code

This example requires:

  • References to the System, System.Drawing, and System.Windows.Forms assemblies.

See also