Abstract classes and the Forms Designer

[Graham]

Hi everyone,

I would like to create a base class which inherits from
System.Windows.Forms.Form and contains several pure-virtual
("MustOverride") functions. For example:
Public MustInherit Class MyInterfaceForm
Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

[ forms designed code omitted ]

Public MustOverride Function MyFunction() As Boolean
End Class
Public Class MyForm
Inherits MyInterfaceForm

[ forms designer code omitted ]

Public Overrides Function MyFunction() As Boolean
Return True
End Function
End Class
The above code compiles fine, but the forms designer chokes
on it -- so I can't design the inherited form!

Any ideas?

My current ugly hack is this:
Public Interface IMyInterface
Function MyFunction() As Boolean
Function Form() As System.Windows.Forms.Form
End Interface
Public Class MyForm
Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
Implements IMyInterface

[ forms designer code omitted ]

Public Function MyFunction() As Boolean _
Implements IMyInterface.MyFunction

Return True
End Function

Public Function Form() As Form _
Implements IMyInterface.Form

Return Me
End Function
End Class
With this, I can store an object reference of type
IMyInterface... but if I want to manipulate it as a Form,
then I have to make a function call to get that interface.

If anyone knows of a cleaner solution, please let me know.
Thanks.

-- graham