How to get a usercontrol to automatically add code to the initialization code in a form...

[Simon Verona]

Hope somebody can help!

I want to automatically be able to add code to the initialize routine on a Windows form when I add a custom control that I've written to a form.

Specifically, I'm trying to data bind to a normal class. So I've extended the standard text box to include a field for object name and property name. I want to be able to add a line such as :

controlname.Dat aBindings.Add(" Text", objectName, "myPropertyName ")
I've tried using google and looking at the documentation but can't seem to find this... I don't know if there is an alternative way of doing it in the startup code of the form (I seem to have a thought that reflection could be used to get the instance of the object for the data binding code above but I can't work out how!!).

I would be grateful for any pointers.

Many thanks in advance

Simon

[Simon Verona]

sleep?? whats that????

Simon
"Michael Maes" <mi*****@merlot .com> wrote in message news:OA******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...
Dont forget to sleep J

All the best and "play a lot" with the 'IComponentChan geService'. It's powerfull to use (but a hell to Debug...Since it's IDE)

Michael
"Simon Verona" <ne**@aphrodite uk.com> wrote in message news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP09.phx.gbl. ..
Thanks Michael,

I think I'll sit down when I have a quiet few hours and play with this... I think I have to get to grip with the concepts that you have outlined.

I'll let you know how I get on!

Regards
Simon
"Michael Maes" <mi*****@merlot .com> wrote in message news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP09.phx.gbl. ..
Hey Simon,

Does this fully answer your questions, because I came to the conclusion I didn't point out how to actually set your binding.

On the other hand, I was thinking if your DataObjects are on the Form or ComponentTray, you could set the Binding in Design-time through the Property-Window. Sure your DataObjects must all inherit from the same BaseClass, so you could do something like:
Dim _DataSource As YourBaseClass

<EditorBrowsabl e(EditorBrowsab leState.Always) , _

Category("Data" ), _

Browsable(True) , _

Bindable(True), _

Description("Th e DataObject to bind the TextBox to."), _

TypeConverter(" System.Windows. Forms.Design.Da taSourceConvert er, System.Design") , _

RefreshProperti es(RefreshPrope rties.All)> _

Public Overloads Property DataSource() As Object

Get

Return _DataSource

End Get

Set(ByVal Value As Object)

_DataSource = Value

End Set

End Property

Should you use this approach, then you have to fine-tune this property, because it's for Complex-DataBinding and as you know, the TextBox-Class has Simple DataBinding. Doing this you would get a dropdown-list with all possible DataObjects your TextBox can bind to.

Anyway: should you furthermore want to make use of the 'IComponentChan geService' then you would defently need Reflection to Get/Set some values of Components/Controls which you don't know of in Design-Time. Something like:
Private Sub OnComponentRena me(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal ce As ComponentRename EventArgs)

If IsNothing(ce) Or IsNothing(ce.Co mponent) Then Exit Sub

Dim ot As Object = ce.Component

Dim s As String = ot.GetType.ToSt ring

Dim p As PropertyInfo

' Set a Boolean-Property
p = ot.GetType.GetP roperty("MyDesi redPropertyName ")

p.SetValue(ot, False, Nothing)

' Set a String-Property

p = ot.GetType.GetP roperty("MyOthe rDesiredPropert yName")

p.SetValue(ot, ce.NewName, Nothing)

' Continue other logic

............... ............... ............... ............

............... ............... ............... ............

End Sub

Also keep in mind with the 'IComponentChan geService' that you address the right INSTANCE, because if you have two or more controls of the same type on a form, then it will loop through all those controls (even if this service is called from within a single control)!!

I wish you the best, and let me know if you could manage your goal.

Kind regards,

Michael

"Simon Verona" <ne**@aphrodite uk.com> wrote in message news:uA******** ******@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl...
Michael,

Thanks very much for digging out the code.

Regards
Simon

[Michael Maes]

J
"Simon Verona" <ne**@aphrodite uk.com> wrote in message news:On******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...
sleep?? whats that????

Simon
"Michael Maes" <mi*****@merlot .com> wrote in message news:OA******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...
Dont forget to sleep J

All the best and "play a lot" with the 'IComponentChan geService'. It's powerfull to use (but a hell to Debug...Since it's IDE)

Michael
"Simon Verona" <ne**@aphrodite uk.com> wrote in message news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP09.phx.gbl. ..
Thanks Michael,

I think I'll sit down when I have a quiet few hours and play with this... I think I have to get to grip with the concepts that you have outlined.

I'll let you know how I get on!

Regards
Simon
"Michael Maes" <mi*****@merlot .com> wrote in message news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP09.phx.gbl. ..
Hey Simon,

Does this fully answer your questions, because I came to the conclusion I didn't point out how to actually set your binding.

On the other hand, I was thinking if your DataObjects are on the Form or ComponentTray, you could set the Binding in Design-time through the Property-Window. Sure your DataObjects must all inherit from the same BaseClass, so you could do something like:
Dim _DataSource As YourBaseClass

<EditorBrowsabl e(EditorBrowsab leState.Always) , _

Category("Data" ), _

Browsable(True) , _

Bindable(True), _

Description("Th e DataObject to bind the TextBox to."), _

TypeConverter(" System.Windows. Forms.Design.Da taSourceConvert er, System.Design") , _

RefreshProperti es(RefreshPrope rties.All)> _

Public Overloads Property DataSource() As Object

Get

Return _DataSource

End Get

Set(ByVal Value As Object)

_DataSource = Value

End Set

End Property

Should you use this approach, then you have to fine-tune this property, because it's for Complex-DataBinding and as you know, the TextBox-Class has Simple DataBinding. Doing this you would get a dropdown-list with all possible DataObjects your TextBox can bind to.

Anyway: should you furthermore want to make use of the 'IComponentChan geService' then you would defently need Reflection to Get/Set some values of Components/Controls which you don't know of in Design-Time. Something like:
Private Sub OnComponentRena me(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal ce As ComponentRename EventArgs)

If IsNothing(ce) Or IsNothing(ce.Co mponent) Then Exit Sub

Dim ot As Object = ce.Component

Dim s As String = ot.GetType.ToSt ring

Dim p As PropertyInfo

' Set a Boolean-Property
p = ot.GetType.GetP roperty("MyDesi redPropertyName ")

p.SetValue(ot, False, Nothing)

' Set a String-Property

p = ot.GetType.GetP roperty("MyOthe rDesiredPropert yName")

p.SetValue(ot, ce.NewName, Nothing)

' Continue other logic

............... ............... ............... ............

............... ............... ............... ............

End Sub

Also keep in mind with the 'IComponentChan geService' that you address the right INSTANCE, because if you have two or more controls of the same type on a form, then it will loop through all those controls (even if this service is called from within a single control)!!

I wish you the best, and let me know if you could manage your goal.

Kind regards,

Michael

"Simon Verona" <ne**@aphrodite uk.com> wrote in message news:uA******** ******@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl...
Michael,

Thanks very much for digging out the code.

Regards
Simon