Peter -
> 1) How do I create a control which has a fixed size in the
> form design view in VS. I tried
> overriding OnResize but didn't like the effect - is there a
> better way?
If you are talking about one derived from Control, you would create a custom designer
for your control. Something like the following:
<Code snippet = VB.NET>
<Designer(GetType(UnsizeableControlDesigner))> _
Public Class UnsizeableControl
Inherits Control
Public Class UnsizeableControlDesigner
Inherits ControlDesigner
Public Overrides ReadOnly Property SelectionRules() As SelectionRules
Get
Return SelectionRules.Moveable Or SelectionRules.Visible
End Get
End Property
End Class
End Class
</Code Snippet>
UserControl should be similar
> 2) ControlStyles - FixedHeight, FixedWidth - what do these
> actually do?
These prevent the control from being resized. I am guessing that you can't get them
to work?
> 3) By what mechanism is a UserControl automatically placed in
> the toolbar in design view in VS?
Magic. Plain and simple. The UserControl designer adds the item in question when
it's shown. It uses IToolboxService.
>
> 4) By what mechanism are the Properties in the Properties
> window in design view in VS created?
> Obviously some are properties of the actual Control but where
> does 'Locked' get introduced?
Most properties are discerned from the selected object. The designer, however, has a
method called PrefilterProperties. This allows you to add other properties, should
you desire. The locked property actually sets a SelectionRule in the designer.
> 5) Are there any good reasons why I should derive from
> UserControl rather than Control? (When
> there doesn't seem to be anything that I need in UserControl.)
UserControl should be used for aggregating other controls. Otherwise, use Control.
>
> Links to any good articles on this area would be appreciated.
Any article by Shawn Burke on MSDN.
Hope this helps.
Jacob A. Grass
Microsoft .NET MVP
Check out http://Windowsforms.net
You can read messages from the DOTNET archive, unsubscribe from DOTNET, or
subscribe to other DevelopMentor lists at http://discuss.develop.com.
