Solved Transparent icons in ribbon bar

[Saphirah]

Hello everyone,

for my current project i created a custom Ribbon Bar using XML. For that i want to use custom icons, as you can see in this screenshot.

Basically my goal is to load an image (Red circles with numbers from 1-10) and display one of them, depending on a variable.
I created a bunch of bmp files with gimp, 32 bit using alpha channel, and the image displays correct in my photo viewer.

But every time i try to load the image using this access vba code

Public Sub LoadImages(imageId As String, ByRef Image)
    Set Image = LoadPicture(CurrentProject.Path & "\Icons\" & imageId)
End Sub

it prints an error:

Error 481: Invalid Picture

I did read online that the tool i used to export the images (GIMP) exports bmp files as an invalid format. That is why i pasted the image in Paint, exported it as a bmp and it loaded fine, but lost its transparency, as you can see in the screenshot.

So here is my question. What tools do you use to create a custom Ribbon icon? How can i import a transparent image as a ribbon icon? Maybe a different file format?
Thank you very much!

 

[theDBguy]

Hi. I haven't tried it myself, but have you tried using a PNG image?

 

[Saphirah]

Hi. I haven't tried it myself, but have you tried using a PNG image?

Yeah but PNG images are not supported by the LoadPicture function.

The file name of the graphic to be loaded. The graphic can be a bitmap file (.bmp), icon file (.ico), run-length encoded file (.rle), or metafile (.wmf).

 

[theDBguy]

Yeah but PNG images are not supported by the LoadPicture function.

The file name of the graphic to be loaded. The graphic can be a bitmap file (.bmp), icon file (.ico), run-length encoded file (.rle), or metafile (.wmf).

Oh, that's a bummer.

PS. Have you checked this out?

Ribbons for Access 2007 / Access 2010 – User Defined Icons / Pictures In Ribbon Controls

Access 2007 Ribbon Website * Access 2010 Ribbon Website * Home of Ribbon Creator

www.accessribbon.de

 

[cheekybuddha]

Hi, try converting to wmf.

IIRC they support transparency (but not opacity)

 

[Saphirah]

Oh, that's a bummer.

PS. Have you checked this out?

Ribbons for Access 2007 / Access 2010 – User Defined Icons / Pictures In Ribbon Controls

Access 2007 Ribbon Website * Access 2010 Ribbon Website * Home of Ribbon Creator

www.accessribbon.de

Hey, thank you for the link. Finally it is working using the basGDI Module! Thank you very much!

For future viewers: i changed the code

Public Sub LoadImages(imageId As String, ByRef Image)
    Set Image = LoadPicture(CurrentProject.Path & "\Icons\" & imageId)
End Sub

to

Public Sub LoadImages(imageId As String, ByRef image)
    Set image = LoadPictureGDIP(CurrentProject.Path & "\Icons\" & imageId)
End Sub

and imported the basGDI Module from the following file: https://www.accessribbon.de/Count/count.php?id=73
and it works like a charm

 

[theDBguy]

Hey, thank you for the link. Finally it is working using the basGDI Module! Thank you very much!

For future viewers: i changed the code

Public Sub LoadImages(imageId As String, ByRef Image)
    Set Image = LoadPicture(CurrentProject.Path & "\Icons\" & imageId)
End Sub

to

Public Sub LoadImages(imageId As String, ByRef image)
    Set image = LoadPictureGDIP(CurrentProject.Path & "\Icons\" & imageId)
End Sub

and imported the basGDI Module from the following file: https://www.accessribbon.de/Count/count.php?id=73
and it works like a charm
View attachment 82727

Hi. Congratulations! Glad to hear you got it to work. Good luck with your project.