VB.NET Question

[Ryan Smith]

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!

[Chris, Master of All Things Insignificant]

Re: VB.NET Question

You will want each section to be in it's own project. Set all each project
to a class library type. If they are all in the same solution you can then
reference the new classes just as if they were all in the same project like
you are use to now.

Let me know if you need me to go into more detail.
Chris


"Ryan Smith" <RyanSmith@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:D0F86434-A908-4246-B73C-91BAB9364A55@mi crosoft.com...[color=blue]
>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![/color]

[Nick Malik [Microsoft]]

Re: VB.NET Question

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" <RyanSmith@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:D0F86434-A908-4246-B73C-91BAB9364A55@mi crosoft.com...[color=blue]
> 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[/color]
is[color=blue]
> not hard. What I can't figure out is how to encapsulate each portion of[/color]
the[color=blue]
> software in a separate .dll and then call that form from the dll and[/color]
display[color=blue]
> it to the user. This would make it ideal for future updates and[/color]
additions.[color=blue]
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated![/color]