Path Class

The Gdiplus::Path class stores a series of lines and curves. It is used with Graphics::DrawPath and Graphics::FillPath to render complex shapes.

Namespace

Gdiplus

Syntax

class Path {
public:
    Path();
    Path(const PointF* points, const BYTE* types, INT count);
    Path(const Point* points, const BYTE* types, INT count);
    Path(const Path& src);
    ~Path();

    Status AddLine(PointF pt1, PointF pt2);
    Status AddLines(const PointF* points, INT count);
    Status AddArc(RectF rect, REAL startAngle, REAL sweepAngle);
    // ... many more members
};

Constructors

Signature	Description
`Path()`	Creates an empty path.
`Path(const PointF* points, const BYTE* types, INT count)`	Creates a path from an array of points and type flags.
`Path(const Point* points, const BYTE* types, INT count)`	Creates a path from integer‑based points.
`Path(const Path& src)`	Copy constructor.

Key Methods

Method	Signature	Returns
AddLine	`Status AddLine(const PointF& pt1, const PointF& pt2)`	`Status::Ok` on success.
AddLines	`Status AddLines(const PointF* points, INT count)`	Status
AddArc	`Status AddArc(const RectF& rect, REAL startAngle, REAL sweepAngle)`	Status
CloseFigure	`Status CloseFigure()`	Status
Reset	`Status Reset()`	Status
GetBounds	`Status GetBounds(RectF* bounds, const Pen* pen = nullptr) const`	Status
SetFillMode	`Status SetFillMode(FillMode fillMode)`	Status
GetFillMode	`FillMode GetFillMode() const`	FillMode enumeration

Properties

FillMode – Determines how the interior of the path is filled (FillModeAlternate or FillModeWinding).
PathData – Retrieves the raw point and type data for the path.

Remarks

A Path can contain multiple figures. Each figure can be opened with AddLine, AddBezier, or AddArc and closed with CloseFigure. If a figure is not closed, GDI+ automatically closes it when rendering.

Example

#include <windows.h>
#include <gdiplus.h>
using namespace Gdiplus;

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInst, HINSTANCE, LPSTR, int nCmdShow) {
    GdiplusStartupInput gdiplusStartupInput;
    ULONG_PTR gdiplusToken;
    GdiplusStartup(&gdiplusToken, &gdiplusStartupInput, nullptr);

    HWND hwnd = CreateWindowEx(0, L"STATIC", L"Path Demo", WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW,
                               CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT, 400, 300,
                               nullptr, nullptr, hInst, nullptr);
    ShowWindow(hwnd, nCmdShow);

    MSG msg;
    while (GetMessage(&msg, nullptr, 0, 0)) {
        if (msg.message == WM_PAINT) {
            PAINTSTRUCT ps;
            HDC hdc = BeginPaint(msg.hwnd, &ps);
            Graphics graphics(hdc);
            Pen pen(Color(255,0,0,255), 2);
            Path path;
            PointF points[] = { {50,150}, {150,50}, {250,150}, {150,250} };
            BYTE types[] = { PathPointTypeStart, PathPointTypeLine, PathPointTypeLine, PathPointTypeLine };
            path.AddPath(&Path(points, types, 4), FALSE);
            path.CloseFigure();
            graphics.DrawPath(&pen, &path);
            EndPaint(msg.hwnd, &ps);
        }
        TranslateMessage(&msg);
        DispatchMessage(&msg);
    }

    GdiplusShutdown(gdiplusToken);
    return (int)msg.wParam;
}

MSDN Community