Plug-In Architecture

[TusharP]

Hi,
Before asking my doubt, first I want to tell you about my application
structure. I want to design a Client Desktop program, which has an MDI form.
This MDi Form has one Horizontal Toolbar. Button of Toolbar get added
whenever it find Plug-in dlls in "Plug-In" directory. Now this Plug in dll
is nothing but form (child form of MDI form).
I want your help to sort this problem. i.e When MDi form create instance of
dll(form.dll) that form should me child of MDI application.
I want this type of architecture to simplify next development of
application.

Thank You in Advance
Tushar P.

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[TusharP]

Hi Rakesh,
I done one program based on sohki's plugin architecture(From CodeProject).
In that Instance of UserControls created in Panel control of Host
application. Using this architectue I design Plugin interface for Form
control. Now I have problem of how to Instantiate Form Dll into Host
application. I cann't instantiate it in Panel control coz it is low level
control.
If know any idea please infom me.

Thank You
Tushar

"Rakesh Rajan" <Ra*********@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0D**********************************@microsof t.com...

This design might do:

You define an interface to specify what all members the dynamically
pluggable components should implement.

At runtime, you iterate thru all the types that exists in a specified
folder, and find out whether types derived from this interface exists or not. Or, you could also use the app.config file to specify which all types are the pluggable ones.

Once the type is identified, you could create an instance of that type using reflection and refer that using a Form ref or so, and then set the Mdi
properties as required. You could work with this instance in the same way as you with with normal type instances.

There are a number of articles on the same in MSDN Mag, codeproject etc.

eg:
http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/plugins.asp

HTH,
Rakesh

"TusharP" wrote:

Hi,
Before asking my doubt, first I want to tell you about my application
structure. I want to design a Client Desktop program, which has an MDI form. This MDi Form has one Horizontal Toolbar. Button of Toolbar get added
whenever it find Plug-in dlls in "Plug-In" directory. Now this Plug in dll is nothing but form (child form of MDI form).
I want your help to sort this problem. i.e When MDi form create instance of dll(form.dll) that form should me child of MDI application.
I want this type of architecture to simplify next development of
application.

Thank You in Advance
Tushar P.

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.740 / Virus Database: 494 - Release Date: 16-Aug-04

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.740 / Virus Database: 494 - Release Date: 16-Aug-04