transparrency and special effect in textbox

[John_Lamb]

I would like to have both a transparrency and raised effect on a textbox as is the case with Access. I have an application that I am currently converting and I am having to use a frame and 4 lines to create the effect of a raised surface. I cannot however get transparrency. Is there a simple way to acieve both of these in VB?

Help appreciated

[goddess_spanky]

As far as I know, there is not a way to make a text box transparent. You can with a label, but that doesn't help much. Sorry

[shree]

The 'simple' way I know of is to use a picturebox. Blt the background onto it to give a transparent effect. This method to make it transparent is effective as long as your background doesn't change frequently.

You can now draw the textbox frame as you like it - raised or sunken. You'll have to create the caret yourself using related API functions. Fill in the text in the KeyDown event. Better make it a user control.

[John_Lamb]

The problem I have with this method it that my system is a learning system that users move controls with the mouse to build up words and the backgrounds vary.
I have converted most of the system already and as it is, if the text box does not require focus then replaced it with a lablel. Of course I cannot have a raised effect but I can modify the question designer to stup users doing this for transparrency.

Thanks for responding

John Lamb

P.S I also have limited experience in using Blt and API functions, I shall go an research this now