A programming guide

Simplest input validation using Char.IsNumber and Char.IsLetter

The following example demonstrates how to validate a user input by using the Char.IsNumber and Char.IsLetter character manipulation functions:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
//creates a font
let ffont=new Font("Verdana", 9.75F,FontStyle.Regular, GraphicsUnit.Point)  
let validateform = new Form(Text="Validate Inputs",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 200),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our controls
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(190, 170))  
let okbutton=new Button(Text="Ok", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(100, 170)) 
let label1=new Label(Text="Enter a name:",Location=new System.Drawing.Point(0, 10),AutoSize=true)
let nametxtbox=new TextBox(Location=new System.Drawing.Point(120,10),BorderStyle=BorderStyle.FixedSingle)
validateform.Font<-ffont
//adds the controls to our form
validateform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
validateform.Controls.Add(okbutton)
validateform.Controls.Add(label1)
validateform.Controls.Add(nametxtbox)
//when the oK button is clicked
okbutton.Click.Add(fun ok->
//if the input begins with a letter then
if (Char.IsLetter(Convert.ToChar(nametxtbox.Text.Chars(0)))) then
//prompt that its a valid name
MessageBox.Show("The name you entered is valid ", "Validate Inputs",MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information)|>ignore
//if the input begins with a number then                         
if (Char.IsNumber(Convert.ToChar(nametxtbox.Text.Chars(0)))) then
//prompt that its an invalid name
MessageBox.Show("You must enter a valid name", "Validate Inputs",MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information)|>ignore)
//when the exit button is clicked
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun exit->validateform.Close())
//executes our application
Application.Run(validateform)

Click the run icon when done entering these codes in Visual F# code editor window. Try entering any number in the name text box and clicking the ok button. You should see an output similar to the following:

Paint Application in Visual F#

The following example demonstrates how to make a simple Paint-like application in Visual F#:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
open System.Drawing.Drawing2D
let drawingform = new Form(Text="Draw Objects",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let erasebutton=new Button(Text="Erase", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(120, 200))
let colorbutton=new Button(Text="Brush Color", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(40, 200))
drawingform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
drawingform.Controls.Add(erasebutton)
drawingform.Controls.Add(colorbutton)
//creates a color dialog box
let colordlg=new ColorDialog()
//creates a colorblend object
let mutable color=new ColorBlend()

let gr=drawingform.CreateGraphics()
gr.SmoothingMode<-SmoothingMode.HighQuality
//when the form is loaded, change its color to white
drawingform.Load.Add(fun background->
//set the default brush color to indigo
color.Colors<-[|Color.Indigo|]
                        drawingform.BackColor<-Color.White)

drawingform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->
//when the mouse button is moved and the left button is clicked

if (trail.Button=System.Windows.Forms.MouseButtons.Left)then
//draw the object assign the color seleted from the color dialog as a brush color
gr.FillRectangle(new SolidBrush(color.Colors.[0]),new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,5,5))) 
//when the erase button is clicked
//erase the object drawn in the form
erasebutton.Click.Add(fun erase->gr.Clear(Color.White)) 
//when the exit button is clicked
//quit the form                                                                                                              
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->drawingform.Close())
//when the brush color button is selected                                                          
colorbutton.Click.Add(fun colors->
//display the Color Dialog box
if colordlg.ShowDialog()=DialogResult.OK then
//store the value selected by the user in our colorblend object
color.Colors<-[|colordlg.Color|])
//executes our application
Application.Run(drawingform)

Click the run icon once you are done entering these codes in the code editor window. You should see the following outputs:

Mouse Trails using Basic shapes

Obsessed with mouse trails? Try the following sample applications:
1. Line Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.DrawLine(Pens.Peru,trail.X,trail.Y,trail.X+1,trail.Y+1))                                                                                                                
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

2. Circle Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.DrawEllipse(Pens.IndianRed,new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,10,10)))                                                                                                                    
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

3. Rectangle Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.DrawRectangle(Pens.Fuchsia,new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,5,5)))                                                                                                                    
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

4. Arc Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.DrawArc(Pens.Violet,new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,5,5),180.0f,-180.0f))                                                                                                               
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

5. Filled-Arc/FillPie Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.FillPie(Brushes.MidnightBlue,new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,10,10),180.0f,180.0f))                                                                                                               
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

6. Filled Circle Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.FillEllipse(Brushes.Tomato,new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,10,10)))                                                                                                               
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

7. Filled Rectangle Mouse Trail
Code:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let trailform = new Form(Text="Display Mouse Trail",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let gr=trailform.CreateGraphics()
trailform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
trailform.MouseMove.Add(fun trail->gr.FillRectangle(Brushes.Indigo,new Rectangle(trail.X,trail.Y,20,20)))                                                                                                               
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->trailform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(trailform)

Output:

Creating a Customized Mouse Pointer

Aside from using pre-defined mouse pointers such as Cursors.Arrow and Cursors.Cross, you can also use customized mouse pointers in Visual F#. Follow these steps for a simple example:

1. Download a cursor creator software such as Axialis CursorWorkShop or Icon Craft.

2. Create a .cur file and name it “pointer.cur”.

3. Start Visual F#>Create a new Project.

4. Enter the following codes:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let mouseform = new Form(Text="Cutom Mouse Pointer",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let customcur=new System.Windows.Forms.Cursor("pointer.cur")
mouseform.MouseHover.Add(fun cutom->mouseform.Cursor<-customcur) 
mouseform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)                                                                                                
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->mouseform.Close())                                                          
//executes our application
Application.Run(mouseform)

5. Click the Open Folder>bin>debug> then copy and paste pointer.cur.

6. Run your application

Printing an Image Data

To print an image or text, use a PrintDocument control. To following example shows how to print an image data, using a PrintDocument control.

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
open System.Drawing.Printing

open System.Drawing.Imaging
let imageform = new Form(Text="Print Form",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(200, 200))
let loadbutton=new Button(Text="Load", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(120, 200))
let prnbutton=new Button(Text="Print", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(40, 200))
let pic=new PictureBox(SizeMode=PictureBoxSizeMode.StretchImage,Location=new System.Drawing.Point(20, 20),BorderStyle=BorderStyle.FixedSingle,Size=new System.Drawing.Size(100, 100))
let label=new Label(AutoSize=true,Location=new System.Drawing.Point(0, 120))
let dlg=new OpenFileDialog()
let gr=imageform.CreateGraphics()
let prn=new System.Drawing.Printing.PrintDocument()
imageform .Controls.Add(pic)
imageform.Controls.Add(loadbutton)
imageform.Controls.Add(label)
imageform.Controls.Add(prnbutton)
imageform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
//sends the data to the printer
prnbutton.Click.Add(fun startprint->prn.Print())

loadbutton.Click.Add(fun load->
//filter dialog result
dlg.Filter <- "JPEG Images (*.jpg,*.jpeg)|*.jpg;*.jpeg|Gif Images (*.gif)|*.gif"
//adds title to your dialog box
                   dlg.Title<-"Select an Image File"
                   if dlg.ShowDialog()=DialogResult.OK then
//creates a bitmap object
//assigns the image selected by the user as its value
                      let bmp=new System.Drawing.Bitmap(dlg.FileName)
                      bmp.RotateFlip(RotateFlipType.RotateNoneFlipNone)
//assigns the loaded image as a picturebox value
                      pic.Image<-bmp
//displays the image url in our label
                      label.Text<-"\t\tFilename:" + Convert.ToString(Convert.ToChar(32))+ (dlg.FileName)) 
//specifies the data to be printed
//in this case our image                      
prn.PrintPage.Add(fun printdata->gr.DrawImage(pic.Image,10,10))
//close the form                                                                                                        
exitbutton.Click.Add(fun quit->imageform.Close())                                         
[]                    
//executes our application
Application.Run(imageform)

Drawing Triangles and Circles

To draw a triangle, use the DrawLine or DrawPolygon method. Here’s an example that uses DrawPolygon method:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let graphicform = new Form(Text="Draw Triangle",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(190, 200))
graphicform.Paint.Add(fun draw->
let array=[|new Point(0,150);new Point(150,10);new Point(300,150)|]
let pen=new Pen(Color.Blue,Width=12.0f)
draw.Graphics.DrawPolygon(pen,array))
graphicform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
//executes our application
Application.Run(graphicform)

To draw a filled triangle, use the FillPolygon method:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let graphicform = new Form(Text="Draw Triangle",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(190, 200))
graphicform.Paint.Add(fun draw->
let array=[|new Point(0,150);new Point(150,10);new Point(300,150)|]
let brush=new SolidBrush(Color.Blue)
draw.Graphics.FillPolygon(brush,array))
graphicform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
//executes our application
Application.Run(graphicform)

To draw a circle, use the DrawEllipse method:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let graphicform = new Form(Text="Draw Circle",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(190, 200))
graphicform.Paint.Add(fun draw->

let pen=new Pen(Color.Blue,Width=12.0f)
draw.Graphics.DrawEllipse(pen,0.0f,0.0f,100.0f,100.0f))

graphicform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
//executes our application
Application.Run(graphicform)

To draw a solid circle, use the FillEllipse method:

// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
// Learn more about F# at http://fsharp.net
//specifies the memory location of the class files
//that will be needed in our application
open System.Collections.Generic
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.ComponentModel
open System.Drawing
let graphicform = new Form(Text="Draw Circle",AutoScaleDimensions=new System.Drawing.SizeF(60.0F, 13.0F),ClientSize=new System.Drawing.Size(300, 250),StartPosition=FormStartPosition.CenterScreen)
//creates our control
let exitbutton=new Button(Text="Exit", Location=new System.Drawing.Point(190, 200))
graphicform.Paint.Add(fun draw->

let brush=new SolidBrush(Color.Blue)
draw.Graphics.FillEllipse(brush,0.0f,0.0f,100.0f,100.0f))

graphicform.Controls.Add(exitbutton)
//executes our application
Application.Run(graphicform)