I would suggest that you look into Reflection.
The XML file lists an initial set of plug-in modules for your application.
You use Reflection to load each one.
Your main app defines a set of interfaces that each plug-in must conform to.
One of the interfaces provides your main app with a mechanism for building
the navigation tree (e.g. each plug in adds itself to the navigation... you
don't add it). This means that the plug-ins themselves register for the
event that will occur when their item is clicked.
A good start, using VB.Net, is in this article.
http://www.divil.co.uk/net/articles/plugins/plugins.asp
HTH
--
--- Nick Malik [Microsoft]
MCSD, CFPS, Certified Scrummaster
http://blogs.msdn.com/nickmalik
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this forum are my own, and not
representative of my employer.
I do not answer questions on behalf of my employer. I'm just a
programmer helping programmers.
--
"Ryan Smith" <Ry*******@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D0**********************************@microsof t.com...
I have an app that I need to build and it consists of 5 distinct sections
with many subitems for each. I am going to layout the software in a way
similar to MS Money.
I want to autogenerate the left hand navigation from an XML file and that
is not hard. What I can't figure out is how to encapsulate each portion of
the software in a separate .dll and then call that form from the dll and
display it to the user. This would make it ideal for future updates and
additions.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!