GDI+ Shapes: Lines

A line is a junction of two points. This means that a line has a beginning and an end:

The beginning and the end are two distinct points. Based on this, a line is represented either with two Point values or by four numbers representing its values on the Cartesian axes. To draw a line, the Graphics class is equipped with the following overloaded DrawLine() method: 

public void DrawLine(Pen pen,
		  Point pt1,
		  Point pt2);
public void DrawLine(Pen pen,
		  PointF pt1,
		  PointF pt2);
public void DrawLine(Pen pen,
		  int x1,
		  int y1,
		  int x2,
		  int y2);
public void DrawLine(Pen pen,
		  float x1,
		  float y1,
		  float x2,
		  float y2);

If the line is represented with natural numbers, its origin can be specified as a Point pt1 and its end would be represented with a Point pt2. If the line is drawn using floating numbers, you can start it at one PointF pt1 and end it at another PointF pt2. Otherwise, you can specify the starting point with coordinates (x1, y1) and the end would be represented with coordinates (x2, y2). The same type of line can be drawn using decimal values from coordinates (x1, y1) to coordinates (x2, y2).

Here is an example that draws three lines:

private void Exercise_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
        Pen penCurrent = new Pen(Color.Red);
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(penCurrent, 20, 20, 205, 20);

        penCurrent = new Pen(Color.Green, 3.50F);
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(penCurrent, 40, 40, 225, 40);

        penCurrent = new Pen(Color.Blue, 7.25F);
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(penCurrent, 30, 60, 215, 60);
}

The above DrawLine() method is used to draw one line. If you intend to draw a group of lines at once, you can use the Graphics.DrawLines() method. It is overloaded with two versions as follows:

public  void DrawLines(Penpen, Point[] points);
public void DrawLines(Penpen, PointF[] points);

To use this method, you should first define an array of either Point for natural numbers that represent Cartesian coordinates or PointF for floating numbers. Here is an example:

private void Exercise_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
        Point[] Coordinates = { new Point(20, 10), new Point(205, 20),
                                new Point(40, 40), new Point(225, 60),
                                new Point(30, 80), new Point(215, 100) };

        Pen penCurrent = new Pen(Color.Red);
        e.Graphics.DrawLines(penCurrent, Coordinates);
}

This would produce: