Introduction

This article will teach us how to attach an image list to a toolstrip. A toolstrip is a collection of tools that can be used to perform various tasks. Tools can be anything from buttons and menus to text boxes and combo boxes. In order to attach an image list to a toolstrip, we need to first create an image list.

What is an ImageList?

An ImageList is a collection of images that you can use in your Windows Forms applications. An image in an ImageList is typically 16×16 pixels, although you can change the size of the images. You can use an ImageList to provide a set of small images that you can use in your application, such as icons or toolbar buttons.

How to Attach an ImageList to a ToolStrip

You can add images to your ToolStrip by using the ImageList control. With the ImageList control, you can manage a set of images that are used by controls in your Windows Forms application. The ImageList control is placed on the form and then you can set the ImageList property of the ToolStrip to the ImageList control.

Step 1: Create a new Windows Forms Application project

In Visual Studio, create a new Windows Forms Application project.

From the Toolbox, drag a ToolStrip control onto the form.

In the Properties Window, set the ToolStrip’s Dock property to Top.

From the Toolbox, drag an ImageList control onto the form.
The ImageList appears in the component tray at the bottom of the Visual Studio designer.

Step 2: Add an ImageList to the project

In Solution Explorer, right-click the project node and then click Add Reference. The Add Reference dialog box appears. In the Add Reference dialog box, click the Components tab. In the Components tab, select the System.Windows.Forms.ImageList component, and then click OK

Step 3: Add items to the ImageList

Now that you have an ImageList component added to your project, it’s time to add some images! You can add images in a number of ways, but for this article we’ll just use the simple method of adding all images from a directory.

To add all images from a directory:

1. In the Visual Studio Designer, select the ImageList component that you want to add images to.
2. In the Properties window, click the ellipsis (…) next to the Images property. The Select Resource dialog box appears.
3. Click Import From File, and then browse to and select the directory that contains the images that you want to add. All image files (.jpg, .png, etc.) in the directory will be added to your ImageList component.
   Step 4: Set the ImageList property of the ToolStrip
   In the Properties window, click the ImageList property and then click the ellipsis (…) button that appears. The Select Resource dialog box appears. In the Project/Assembly list, click the image list resource file that you want to use.
   Conclusion
   In conclusion, you have learned how to attach an ImageList control to a ToolStrip control, how to add images to the ImageList control, and how to display those images on the ToolStrip control