Adding custom TabPages at design time

[Pete Kane]

Hi All, does anyone know how to add TabPages of ones own classes at design time ? ideally when adding a new TabControl it would
contain tab pages of my own classes, I know you can achieve this with ListView columns so it should be doable, thanks

[Mick Doherty]

Either add the ToolBoxItemAttr ibute to your custom TabPage Class so that you
can drag and drop it from the toolbox, or Inherit from TabControl and give
it a custom TabPageCollecti on.

You'll find an example of the latter on my TabControls tips page
http://www.dotnetrix.co.uk/tabcontrols.html

For VS2005 you'll need to add a ScrollableContr olDesigner to the custom
TabPage or it will misbehave in the IDE.

--
Mick Doherty
http://dotnetrix.co.uk/nothing.html
"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:eG******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P02.phx.gbl...

Hi All, does anyone know how to add TabPages of ones own classes at design
time ? ideally when adding a new TabControl it would contain tab pages of
my own classes, I know you can achieve this with ListView columns so it
should be doable, thanks

[Pete Kane]

Mick Doherty wrote:

Either add the ToolBoxItemAttr ibute to your custom TabPage Class so that you
can drag and drop it from the toolbox, or Inherit from TabControl and give
it a custom TabPageCollecti on.

You'll find an example of the latter on my TabControls tips page
http://www.dotnetrix.co.uk/tabcontrols.html

For VS2005 you'll need to add a ScrollableContr olDesigner to the custom
TabPage or it will misbehave in the IDE.

Thanks Mick, It (your sample tabcontrol with custom tabpages) looks very impressive but which parts do I need to have my custom
pages added by default (i.e. when adding a tabcontrol in the IDE) and when adding subsequent pages in the designer ? thanks a lot

[Mick Doherty]

You need most of the code.

The actual TabControl and Custom TabPage class are not too extensive. In
order to modify the DesignerVerbs (Add Tab, Remove Tab) you must supply a
custom TabControlDesig ner, and in VS2005 you must supply a custom
TabPageDesigner .

The TabPageDesigner is very simple as it only needs to be assigned as a
ScrollableContr olDesigner, but the TabControlDesig ner is quite complex as
the control needs to be navigated at DesignTime as well as at Runtime and
the System.Windows. Forms.Design.Ta bControlDesigne r cannot be Inherited.

I've created an example in it's most basic form, but there's still a fair
amount of code here.

The System.Windows. Forms.TabPage will misbehave in the VS2005 IDE, and so I
have created a basic TabPage class with no special function. It is simply an
Inherited System.Windows. Forms.TabPage which uses a ScrollControlDe signer.
All of your Custom TabPages should be inherited from this class. For the
purpose of the example, I have created a RandomColorTabP age, just to show
implementation.

The Add verb/SmartTag will add a basic TabPage.
The CollectionEdito r will add a basic TabPage if you simply click on the Add
button, but the button has a dropdown which will allow you to choose a
RandomColorTabP age to add instead.
To change the TabPage types that will show in the dropdown list, simply
modify the MyTabPageCollec tionEditor's CreateNewItemTy pes() method to return
the Type Array that you want.
To Change the TabPage type added via the Add Tab verb, simply modify the
type in the TabControlDesig ner's OnAddPage() method.
At runtime you may add instances of System.Windows. Forms.TabPage without
penalty.

Here's the code: (note that you will need to add a reference to
System.Design.d ll)
\\\
using System;
using System.Componen tModel;
using System.Componen tModel.Design;
using System.Drawing. Design;

namespace Dotnetrix.Examp les
{
[Designer(typeof (MyTabControlDe signer))]
public class MyTabControl : System.Windows. Forms.TabContro l
{
[Editor(typeof(M yTabPageCollect ionEditor), typeof(UITypeEd itor))]
public new TabPageCollecti on TabPages
{
get
{
return base.TabPages;
}
}

internal class MyTabPageCollec tionEditor : CollectionEdito r
{
protected override CollectionEdito r.CollectionFor m
CreateCollectio nForm()
{
CollectionForm baseForm = base.CreateColl ectionForm();
baseForm.Text = "MyTabPage Collection Editor";
return baseForm;
}

public MyTabPageCollec tionEditor(Syst em.Type type)
: base(type)
{
}
protected override Type CreateCollectio nItemType()
{
return typeof(RandomCo lorTabPage);
}
protected override Type[] CreateNewItemTy pes()
{
return new Type[] { typeof(TabPage) ,
typeof(RandomCo lorTabPage) };
}

}

}

[Designer(typeof (System.Windows .Forms.Design.S crollableContro lDesigner))]
public class TabPage : System.Windows. Forms.TabPage
{
public TabPage()
: base()
{
}
}

public class RandomColorTabP age : TabPage
{
public RandomColorTabP age()
: base()
{
this.BackColor = RandomColor();
}

private static Random ColorRandomizer = new Random();

private System.Drawing. Color RandomColor()
{
return System.Drawing. Color.FromArgb( ColorRandomizer .Next(256),
ColorRandomizer .Next(256),
ColorRandomizer .Next(256));
}
}
internal class MyTabControlDes igner :
System.Windows. Forms.Design.Pa rentControlDesi gner
{

#region Private Instance Variables

private DesignerVerbCol lection m_verbs = new
DesignerVerbCol lection();
private IDesignerHost m_DesignerHost;
private ISelectionServi ce m_SelectionServ ice;

#endregion

public MyTabControlDes igner()
: base()
{
DesignerVerb verb1 = new DesignerVerb("A dd Tab", new
EventHandler(On AddPage));
DesignerVerb verb2 = new DesignerVerb("R emove Tab", new
EventHandler(On RemovePage));
m_verbs.AddRang e(new DesignerVerb[] { verb1, verb2 });
}

#region Properties

public override DesignerVerbCol lection Verbs
{
get
{
if (m_verbs.Count == 2)
{
MyTabControl MyControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;
if (MyControl.TabC ount 0)
{
m_verbs[1].Enabled = true;
}
else
{
m_verbs[1].Enabled = false;
}
}
return m_verbs;
}
}

public IDesignerHost DesignerHost
{
get
{
if (m_DesignerHost == null)
m_DesignerHost =
(IDesignerHost) (GetService(typ eof(IDesignerHo st)));

return m_DesignerHost;
}
}

public ISelectionServi ce SelectionServic e
{
get
{
if (m_SelectionSer vice == null)
m_SelectionServ ice =
(ISelectionServ ice)(this.GetSe rvice(typeof(IS electionService )));
return m_SelectionServ ice;
}
}

#endregion

void OnAddPage(Objec t sender, EventArgs e)
{
MyTabControl ParentControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;
System.Windows. Forms.Control.C ontrolCollectio n oldTabs =
ParentControl.C ontrols;

RaiseComponentC hanging(TypeDes criptor.GetProp erties(ParentCo ntrol)["TabPages"]);

System.Windows. Forms.TabPage P =
(System.Windows .Forms.TabPage) (DesignerHost.C reateComponent( typeof(TabPage) ));
P.Text = P.Name;
ParentControl.T abPages.Add(P);

RaiseComponentC hanged(TypeDesc riptor.GetPrope rties(ParentCon trol)["TabPages"],
oldTabs, ParentControl.T abPages);
ParentControl.S electedTab = P;

SetVerbs();

}

void OnRemovePage(Ob ject sender, EventArgs e)
{
MyTabControl ParentControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;
System.Windows. Forms.Control.C ontrolCollectio n oldTabs =
ParentControl.C ontrols;

if (ParentControl. SelectedIndex < 0) return;

RaiseComponentC hanging(TypeDes criptor.GetProp erties(ParentCo ntrol)["TabPages"]);

DesignerHost.De stroyComponent( ParentControl.T abPages[ParentControl.S electedIndex]);

RaiseComponentC hanged(TypeDesc riptor.GetPrope rties(ParentCon trol)["TabPages"],
oldTabs, ParentControl.T abPages);

SelectionServic e.SetSelectedCo mponents(new IComponent[] {
ParentControl }, SelectionTypes. Auto);

SetVerbs();

}

private void SetVerbs()
{
MyTabControl ParentControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;

switch (ParentControl. TabPages.Count)
{
case 0:
Verbs[1].Enabled = false;
break;
default:
Verbs[1].Enabled = true;
break;
}
}

private const int WM_NCHITTEST = 0x84;

private const int HTTRANSPARENT = -1;
private const int HTCLIENT = 1;

protected override void WndProc(ref System.Windows. Forms.Message m)
{
base.WndProc(re f m);
if (m.Msg == WM_NCHITTEST)
{
//select tabcontrol when Tabcontrol clicked outside of
TabItem.
if (m.Result.ToInt 32() == HTTRANSPARENT)
m.Result = (IntPtr)HTCLIEN T;
}

}

private enum TabControlHitTe st
{
TCHT_NOWHERE = 1,
TCHT_ONITEMICON = 2,
TCHT_ONITEMLABE L = 4,
TCHT_ONITEM = TCHT_ONITEMICON | TCHT_ONITEMLABE L
}

private const int TCM_HITTEST = 0x130D;

private struct TCHITTESTINFO
{
public System.Drawing. Point pt;
public TabControlHitTe st flags;
}

protected override bool GetHitTest(Syst em.Drawing.Poin t point)
{
if (this.Selection Service.Primary Selection == this.Control)
{
TCHITTESTINFO hti = new TCHITTESTINFO() ;

hti.pt = this.Control.Po intToClient(poi nt);
hti.flags = 0;

System.Windows. Forms.Message m = new
System.Windows. Forms.Message() ;
m.HWnd = this.Control.Ha ndle;
m.Msg = TCM_HITTEST;

IntPtr lparam =
System.Runtime. InteropServices .Marshal.AllocH Global(System.R untime.InteropS ervices.Marshal .SizeOf(hti));
System.Runtime. InteropServices .Marshal.Struct ureToPtr(hti,
lparam, false);
m.LParam = lparam;

base.WndProc(re f m);
System.Runtime. InteropServices .Marshal.FreeHG lobal(lparam);

if (m.Result.ToInt 32() != -1)
return hti.flags != TabControlHitTe st.TCHT_NOWHERE ;

}

return false;
}

protected override void
OnPaintAdornmen ts(System.Windo ws.Forms.PaintE ventArgs pe)
{
//Don't want DrawGrid dots.
}

//Fix the AllSizable selectionrule on DockStyle.Fill
public override System.Windows. Forms.Design.Se lectionRules
SelectionRules
{
get
{
if (Control.Dock == System.Windows. Forms.DockStyle .Fill)
return
System.Windows. Forms.Design.Se lectionRules.Vi sible;
return base.SelectionR ules;
}
}

}

}
///

HTH

--
Mick Doherty
http://dotnetrix.co.uk/nothing.html
"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:ez******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

Mick Doherty wrote:

>Either add the ToolBoxItemAttr ibute to your custom TabPage Class so that
you can drag and drop it from the toolbox, or Inherit from TabControl and
give it a custom TabPageCollecti on.

You'll find an example of the latter on my TabControls tips page
http://www.dotnetrix.co.uk/tabcontrols.html

For VS2005 you'll need to add a ScrollableContr olDesigner to the custom
TabPage or it will misbehave in the IDE.

Thanks Mick, It (your sample tabcontrol with custom tabpages) looks very
impressive but which parts do I need to have my custom pages added by
default (i.e. when adding a tabcontrol in the IDE) and when adding
subsequent pages in the designer ? thanks a lot

[Pete Kane]

Mick Doherty wrote:

You need most of the code.

The actual TabControl and Custom TabPage class are not too extensive. In
order to modify the DesignerVerbs (Add Tab, Remove Tab) you must supply a
custom TabControlDesig ner, and in VS2005 you must supply a custom
TabPageDesigner .

The TabPageDesigner is very simple as it only needs to be assigned as a
ScrollableContr olDesigner, but the TabControlDesig ner is quite complex as
the control needs to be navigated at DesignTime as well as at Runtime and
the System.Windows. Forms.Design.Ta bControlDesigne r cannot be Inherited.

I've created an example in it's most basic form, but there's still a fair
amount of code here.

The System.Windows. Forms.TabPage will misbehave in the VS2005 IDE, and so I
have created a basic TabPage class with no special function. It is simply an
Inherited System.Windows. Forms.TabPage which uses a ScrollControlDe signer.
All of your Custom TabPages should be inherited from this class. For the
purpose of the example, I have created a RandomColorTabP age, just to show
implementation.

The Add verb/SmartTag will add a basic TabPage.
The CollectionEdito r will add a basic TabPage if you simply click on the Add
button, but the button has a dropdown which will allow you to choose a
RandomColorTabP age to add instead.
To change the TabPage types that will show in the dropdown list, simply
modify the MyTabPageCollec tionEditor's CreateNewItemTy pes() method to return
the Type Array that you want.
To Change the TabPage type added via the Add Tab verb, simply modify the
type in the TabControlDesig ner's OnAddPage() method.
At runtime you may add instances of System.Windows. Forms.TabPage without
penalty.

Here's the code: (note that you will need to add a reference to
System.Design.d ll)
\\\
using System;
using System.Componen tModel;
using System.Componen tModel.Design;
using System.Drawing. Design;

namespace Dotnetrix.Examp les
{
[Designer(typeof (MyTabControlDe signer))]
public class MyTabControl : System.Windows. Forms.TabContro l
{
[Editor(typeof(M yTabPageCollect ionEditor), typeof(UITypeEd itor))]
public new TabPageCollecti on TabPages
{
get
{
return base.TabPages;
}
}

internal class MyTabPageCollec tionEditor : CollectionEdito r
{
protected override CollectionEdito r.CollectionFor m
CreateCollectio nForm()
{
CollectionForm baseForm = base.CreateColl ectionForm();
baseForm.Text = "MyTabPage Collection Editor";
return baseForm;
}

public MyTabPageCollec tionEditor(Syst em.Type type)
: base(type)
{
}
protected override Type CreateCollectio nItemType()
{
return typeof(RandomCo lorTabPage);
}
protected override Type[] CreateNewItemTy pes()
{
return new Type[] { typeof(TabPage) ,
typeof(RandomCo lorTabPage) };
}

}

}

[Designer(typeof (System.Windows .Forms.Design.S crollableContro lDesigner))]
public class TabPage : System.Windows. Forms.TabPage
{
public TabPage()
: base()
{
}
}

public class RandomColorTabP age : TabPage
{
public RandomColorTabP age()
: base()
{
this.BackColor = RandomColor();
}

private static Random ColorRandomizer = new Random();

private System.Drawing. Color RandomColor()
{
return System.Drawing. Color.FromArgb( ColorRandomizer .Next(256),
ColorRandomizer .Next(256),
ColorRandomizer .Next(256));
}
}
internal class MyTabControlDes igner :
System.Windows. Forms.Design.Pa rentControlDesi gner
{

#region Private Instance Variables

private DesignerVerbCol lection m_verbs = new
DesignerVerbCol lection();
private IDesignerHost m_DesignerHost;
private ISelectionServi ce m_SelectionServ ice;

#endregion

public MyTabControlDes igner()
: base()
{
DesignerVerb verb1 = new DesignerVerb("A dd Tab", new
EventHandler(On AddPage));
DesignerVerb verb2 = new DesignerVerb("R emove Tab", new
EventHandler(On RemovePage));
m_verbs.AddRang e(new DesignerVerb[] { verb1, verb2 });
}

#region Properties

public override DesignerVerbCol lection Verbs
{
get
{
if (m_verbs.Count == 2)
{
MyTabControl MyControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;
if (MyControl.TabC ount 0)
{
m_verbs[1].Enabled = true;
}
else
{
m_verbs[1].Enabled = false;
}
}
return m_verbs;
}
}

public IDesignerHost DesignerHost
{
get
{
if (m_DesignerHost == null)
m_DesignerHost =
(IDesignerHost) (GetService(typ eof(IDesignerHo st)));

return m_DesignerHost;
}
}

public ISelectionServi ce SelectionServic e
{
get
{
if (m_SelectionSer vice == null)
m_SelectionServ ice =
(ISelectionServ ice)(this.GetSe rvice(typeof(IS electionService )));
return m_SelectionServ ice;
}
}

#endregion

void OnAddPage(Objec t sender, EventArgs e)
{
MyTabControl ParentControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;
System.Windows. Forms.Control.C ontrolCollectio n oldTabs =
ParentControl.C ontrols;

RaiseComponentC hanging(TypeDes criptor.GetProp erties(ParentCo ntrol)["TabPages"]);

System.Windows. Forms.TabPage P =
(System.Windows .Forms.TabPage) (DesignerHost.C reateComponent( typeof(TabPage) ));
P.Text = P.Name;
ParentControl.T abPages.Add(P);

RaiseComponentC hanged(TypeDesc riptor.GetPrope rties(ParentCon trol)["TabPages"],
oldTabs, ParentControl.T abPages);
ParentControl.S electedTab = P;

SetVerbs();

}

void OnRemovePage(Ob ject sender, EventArgs e)
{
MyTabControl ParentControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;
System.Windows. Forms.Control.C ontrolCollectio n oldTabs =
ParentControl.C ontrols;

if (ParentControl. SelectedIndex < 0) return;

RaiseComponentC hanging(TypeDes criptor.GetProp erties(ParentCo ntrol)["TabPages"]);

DesignerHost.De stroyComponent( ParentControl.T abPages[ParentControl.S electedIndex]);

RaiseComponentC hanged(TypeDesc riptor.GetPrope rties(ParentCon trol)["TabPages"],
oldTabs, ParentControl.T abPages);

SelectionServic e.SetSelectedCo mponents(new IComponent[] {
ParentControl }, SelectionTypes. Auto);

SetVerbs();

}

private void SetVerbs()
{
MyTabControl ParentControl = (MyTabControl)C ontrol;

switch (ParentControl. TabPages.Count)
{
case 0:
Verbs[1].Enabled = false;
break;
default:
Verbs[1].Enabled = true;
break;
}
}

private const int WM_NCHITTEST = 0x84;

private const int HTTRANSPARENT = -1;
private const int HTCLIENT = 1;

protected override void WndProc(ref System.Windows. Forms.Message m)
{
base.WndProc(re f m);
if (m.Msg == WM_NCHITTEST)
{
//select tabcontrol when Tabcontrol clicked outside of
TabItem.
if (m.Result.ToInt 32() == HTTRANSPARENT)
m.Result = (IntPtr)HTCLIEN T;
}

}

private enum TabControlHitTe st
{
TCHT_NOWHERE = 1,
TCHT_ONITEMICON = 2,
TCHT_ONITEMLABE L = 4,
TCHT_ONITEM = TCHT_ONITEMICON | TCHT_ONITEMLABE L
}

private const int TCM_HITTEST = 0x130D;

private struct TCHITTESTINFO
{
public System.Drawing. Point pt;
public TabControlHitTe st flags;
}

protected override bool GetHitTest(Syst em.Drawing.Poin t point)
{
if (this.Selection Service.Primary Selection == this.Control)
{
TCHITTESTINFO hti = new TCHITTESTINFO() ;

hti.pt = this.Control.Po intToClient(poi nt);
hti.flags = 0;

System.Windows. Forms.Message m = new
System.Windows. Forms.Message() ;
m.HWnd = this.Control.Ha ndle;
m.Msg = TCM_HITTEST;

IntPtr lparam =
System.Runtime. InteropServices .Marshal.AllocH Global(System.R untime.InteropS ervices.Marshal .SizeOf(hti));
System.Runtime. InteropServices .Marshal.Struct ureToPtr(hti,
lparam, false);
m.LParam = lparam;

base.WndProc(re f m);
System.Runtime. InteropServices .Marshal.FreeHG lobal(lparam);

if (m.Result.ToInt 32() != -1)
return hti.flags != TabControlHitTe st.TCHT_NOWHERE ;

}

return false;
}

protected override void
OnPaintAdornmen ts(System.Windo ws.Forms.PaintE ventArgs pe)
{
//Don't want DrawGrid dots.
}

//Fix the AllSizable selectionrule on DockStyle.Fill
public override System.Windows. Forms.Design.Se lectionRules
SelectionRules
{
get
{
if (Control.Dock == System.Windows. Forms.DockStyle .Fill)
return
System.Windows. Forms.Design.Se lectionRules.Vi sible;
return base.SelectionR ules;
}
}

}

}
///

HTH

Thanks Mick , where did you learn all this ?, is there a book I can buy which explains how to create custom designers ?, once again
thanks very much for your comprehensive solution

[Mick Doherty]

"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:uq******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

Mick Doherty wrote:

>>

<--SNIP-->

>>

Thanks Mick , where did you learn all this ?, is there a book I can buy
which explains how to create custom designers ?

The only .Net book that I have ever used was '.Net Windows Forms Custom
Controls'. ISBN: 0-672-32333-8
I couldn't say how that compares with other books, but it only briefly goes
into Designers. I really only used the book to help convert my existing
VBClassic coding skills to .Net.

If I can't find an answer or a hint within Google Groups then I generally
get direction via the help files or the MSDN Library and then just play
until it works. This is the most satisfying way to do it, but it can also be
quite stressful.

I probably spend far too much time on the PC programming, and not enough
down the pub ;-)

thanks very much for your comprehensive solution

You're welcome.

--
Mick Doherty
http://dotnetrix.co.uk/nothing.html

[Pete Kane]

I think there is a market for a book on the designer / class attributes
- you could write it in the pub ! , thanks again
Mick Doherty wrote:

"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:uq******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

>>Mick Doherty wrote:

<--SNIP-->

>>Thanks Mick , where did you learn all this ?, is there a book I can buy
which explains how to create custom designers ?

The only .Net book that I have ever used was '.Net Windows Forms Custom
Controls'. ISBN: 0-672-32333-8
I couldn't say how that compares with other books, but it only briefly goes
into Designers. I really only used the book to help convert my existing
VBClassic coding skills to .Net.

If I can't find an answer or a hint within Google Groups then I generally
get direction via the help files or the MSDN Library and then just play
until it works. This is the most satisfying way to do it, but it can also be
quite stressful.

I probably spend far too much time on the PC programming, and not enough
down the pub ;-)

>>thanks very much for your comprehensive solution

You're welcome.

[Pete Kane]

Mick Doherty wrote:

"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:uq******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

>Mick Doherty wrote:

<--SNIP-->

>Thanks Mick , where did you learn all this ?, is there a book I can buy
which explains how to create custom designers ?

The only .Net book that I have ever used was '.Net Windows Forms Custom
Controls'. ISBN: 0-672-32333-8
I couldn't say how that compares with other books, but it only briefly goes
into Designers. I really only used the book to help convert my existing
VBClassic coding skills to .Net.

If I can't find an answer or a hint within Google Groups then I generally
get direction via the help files or the MSDN Library and then just play
until it works. This is the most satisfying way to do it, but it can also be
quite stressful.

I probably spend far too much time on the PC programming, and not enough
down the pub ;-)

>thanks very much for your comprehensive solution

You're welcome.

Hello Mick, don't know if you're still following this thread but here goes, I have my class working very well now in the IDE, what I
would like to be able to do is control the "Name" it is given at design time - it's not a huge issue but would save some time
renaming, no matter what I try my TabPages are always "Named" e.g. PJKBaseTabPage1 etc..., my OnAddPage() is as shown below, the
"Text" property takes the new value but the "Name" doesn't , any ideas ?, thanks

void OnAddPage(Objec t sender, EventArgs e)
{
PJKBaseTabContr ol ParentControl = (PJKBaseTabCont rol)Control;
System.Windows. Forms.Control.C ontrolCollectio n oldTabs = ParentControl.C ontrols;

RaiseComponentC hanging(TypeDes criptor.GetProp erties(ParentCo ntrol)["TabPages"]);

PJKBaseTabPage P = (PJKBaseTabPage )(DesignerHost. CreateComponent (typeof(PJKBase TabPage)));

int NewPageNumber = ParentControl.T abCount + 1;
string PageName = "Page " + NewPageNumber.T oString();
P.Text = PageName;
ParentControl.T abPages.Add(P);
RaiseComponentC hanged(TypeDesc riptor.GetPrope rties(ParentCon trol)["TabPages"], oldTabs, ParentControl.T abPages);
ParentControl.T abPages[NewPageNumber - 1].Name = PageName.Remove (PageName.LastI ndexOf(" "), 1);
ParentControl.S electedTab = P;
SetVerbs();
}

[Mick Doherty]

You were almost there ;-)

The IDesignerHost.C reateComponent( ) method has an overload that takes a Name
value.

int NewPageNumber = ParentControl.T abCount + 1;
PJKBaseTabPage P =
(PJKBaseTabPage )(DesignerHost. CreateComponent (typeof(PJKBase TabPage), "Page"
+ NewPageNumber.T oString()));
P.Text = PageName;
ParentControl.T abPages.Add(P);

However, this will only result in those tabpages added via the 'Add Tab'
verb/smart tag to be custom named and of course, if you remove a tabpage,
the naming algorithm will fail.

I haven't actually tried to modify the Name of the control/component being
added before, so I don't have the correct answer off the top of my head. I
probably won't have a chance to look into it this side of Christmas now, but
if you've not found the answer by the time I do get a chance to look, I'll
post it here.

--
Mick Doherty
http://dotnetrix.co.uk/nothing.html
"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:uL******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P06.phx.gbl...

Mick Doherty wrote:

>"Pete Kane" <pj**********@u ku.co.ukwrote in message
news:uq******* *******@TK2MSFT NGP03.phx.gbl.. .

>>Mick Doherty wrote:

<--SNIP-->

>>Thanks Mick , where did you learn all this ?, is there a book I can buy
which explains how to create custom designers ?

The only .Net book that I have ever used was '.Net Windows Forms Custom
Controls'. ISBN: 0-672-32333-8
I couldn't say how that compares with other books, but it only briefly
goes into Designers. I really only used the book to help convert my
existing VBClassic coding skills to .Net.

If I can't find an answer or a hint within Google Groups then I generally
get direction via the help files or the MSDN Library and then just play
until it works. This is the most satisfying way to do it, but it can also
be quite stressful.

I probably spend far too much time on the PC programming, and not enough
down the pub ;-)

>>thanks very much for your comprehensive solution

You're welcome.

Hello Mick, don't know if you're still following this thread but here
goes, I have my class working very well now in the IDE, what I would like
to be able to do is control the "Name" it is given at design time - it's
not a huge issue but would save some time renaming, no matter what I try
my TabPages are always "Named" e.g. PJKBaseTabPage1 etc..., my OnAddPage()
is as shown below, the "Text" property takes the new value but the "Name"
doesn't , any ideas ?, thanks

void OnAddPage(Objec t sender, EventArgs e)
{
PJKBaseTabContr ol ParentControl = (PJKBaseTabCont rol)Control;
System.Windows. Forms.Control.C ontrolCollectio n oldTabs =
ParentControl.C ontrols;
RaiseComponentC hanging(TypeDes criptor.GetProp erties(ParentCo ntrol)["TabPages"]);

PJKBaseTabPage P =
(PJKBaseTabPage )(DesignerHost. CreateComponent (typeof(PJKBase TabPage)));

int NewPageNumber = ParentControl.T abCount + 1;
string PageName = "Page " + NewPageNumber.T oString();
P.Text = PageName;
ParentControl.T abPages.Add(P);

RaiseComponentC hanged(TypeDesc riptor.GetPrope rties(ParentCon trol)["TabPages"],
oldTabs, ParentControl.T abPages);
ParentControl.T abPages[NewPageNumber - 1].Name =
PageName.Remove (PageName.LastI ndexOf(" "), 1);
ParentControl.S electedTab = P;
SetVerbs();
}

[Pete Kane]

Mick Doherty wrote:

You were almost there ;-)

The IDesignerHost.C reateComponent( ) method has an overload that takes a Name
value.

int NewPageNumber = ParentControl.T abCount + 1;
PJKBaseTabPage P =
(PJKBaseTabPage )(DesignerHost. CreateComponent (typeof(PJKBase TabPage), "Page"
+ NewPageNumber.T oString()));
P.Text = PageName;
ParentControl.T abPages.Add(P);

However, this will only result in those tabpages added via the 'Add Tab'
verb/smart tag to be custom named and of course, if you remove a tabpage,
the naming algorithm will fail.

I haven't actually tried to modify the Name of the control/component being
added before, so I don't have the correct answer off the top of my head. I
probably won't have a chance to look into it this side of Christmas now, but
if you've not found the answer by the time I do get a chance to look, I'll
post it here.

Thanks Mick, last question ? if my TabPage took a parameter how could I pass it using CreateComponent () ?, cheers