Drawing Framework in C# to avoid flickering

Question

I am just beginning to learn C# and I would like to seek advice on good practices when it comes to painting to avoid flickering.

I have used methods as mentioned on here, such as double buffering and turning on WS_EX_COMPOSITED, but the method that works for me is:

Calling the PaintEventHandler :

this.dgData.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.myPaint);

and using the PaintEventArgs to draw:

private void myPaint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
{
    Graphics myGraphics = e.Graphics;
    // Use myGraphics to draw
}

And that the PaintEventHandler is triggered via a Refresh() on a Timer.

private void TimerElapsed(object sender, System.EventArgs eventArgs)
{
    Refresh();
}

However, my concern is that this way of drawing would require me to have a PaintEventHandler for every control that I have on my form.

As such, I would like to ask if there is a more elegant way of accomplishing this.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I cannot tell any more where I found this code but this is what I do to remove flickering: I set these styles in my control's constructor:

public partial class MyControl : Control
{    
    public MyControl()
    {
        InitializeComponent()
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.UserPaint, true);
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, true);
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, true);
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true);
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.UserMouse, true);
    }
}