C# - Questions Asked By Me

I use C# in my work and I still encounter questions that should be answered. Sometimes I am able to find an answer by myself, sometimes I search the WWW Pages or ask on many newsgroups. Below you'll find a list of questions I was looking for and was able to find an answer.

Here you'll find only answer to questions I was not able to easily find elsewhere. I will NOT duplicate other FAQs here! For other info search other FAQ pages.

Q1. How to get the path to the .NET Framework?
Q2. How to check whether a program is running from within VS.NET or as a standalone application?
Q3. How to create custom-shaped forms and controls?
Q4. How to create a custom mouse cursor?

Q1. How to get the path to the .NET Framework?
A1. Use following trick:

	string    msNETPath;
	// this will return "file:///c:/winnt/microsoft.net/framework/v1.0.3705/mscorlib.dll"
	msNETPath = typeof(object).Assembly.CodeBase;
	// some additional work
	msNETPath = msNETPath.Remove(0, 8);
	msNETPath = Directory.GetParent(msNETPath).ToString();

Q2. How to check whether a program is running from within VS.NET or as a standalone application?
A2. Look at Debugger.IsAttached variable state

Q3. How to create custom-shaped forms and controls?
A3. Use the .Region property. For example

	GraphicsPath gP = new GraphicsPath();
	gP.AddEllipse ( 0, 0, this.Width, this.Height );
	this.Region = new Region ( gP );

Q4. How to create a custom mouse cursor?
A4. Surprisingly, this is really easy.

	// create any bitmap
	Bitmap b    = new Bitmap( 55, 25 );
	Graphics g  = Graphics.FromImage ( b );
	// do whatever you wish
	g.DrawString ( "myText", this.Font, Brushes.Blue, 0, 0 );
	// this is the trick!
	IntPtr ptr  = b.GetHicon();
	Cursor c    = new Cursor( ptr );
	// attach cursor to the form
	this.Cursor = c;