Property Grid

[Lespaul36]

I have a control that I have made that uses a custom class for storage of
some of the information. I want it to display in the VS.Net 2003 property
grid in the IDE like the Font property does, so a use can expand it and set
the properties. How do I do this? Thanks in advance.

[zacks@construction-imaging.com]

Re: Property Grid


Lespaul36 wrote:

I have a control that I have made that uses a custom class for storage of
some of the information. I want it to display in the VS.Net 2003 property
grid in the IDE like the Font property does, so a use can expand it and set
the properties. How do I do this? Thanks in advance.

I think you can do that by dragging the control into the VS Toolbox.

[Lespaul36]

Re: Property Grid

I figured out how to do it. I had to make a type converter to do it. I
will post the code so that others who look at this can figured.

Here is the TypeConverter:


Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing. Drawing2D
Imports System.Componen tModel
Imports System.Runtime. InteropServices
Imports System.Componen tModel.Design.S erialization
Imports System.Text

Public Class GradientTypeCon verter
Inherits ExpandableObjec tConverter

Public Overloads Overrides Function CanConvertTo(By Val context As
System.Componen tModel.ITypeDes criptorContext, ByVal destinationType As
System.Type) As Boolean
If destinationType Is GetType(Gradien t) Then
Return True
End If
MyBase.CanConve rtFrom(context, destinationType )
End Function

Public Overloads Overrides Function CanConvertFrom( ByVal context As
System.Componen tModel.ITypeDes criptorContext, ByVal sourceType As
System.Type) As Boolean
If sourceType Is GetType(String) Then
Return True
End If

Return MyBase.CanConve rtFrom(context, sourceType)
End Function

Public Overloads Overrides Function ConvertFrom(ByV al context As
System.Componen tModel.ITypeDes criptorContext, ByVal culture As
System.Globaliz ation.CultureIn fo, ByVal value As Object) As Object
If TypeOf value Is String Then
Try
Dim s As String = CType(value, String)
Dim tempProp As String()
Dim _Gradient As New Gradient
If s.Length 0 Then
tempProp = Split(s, ";")
If Not IsNothing(tempP rop) AndAlso tempProp.Length 0
Then
Dim i As Short
Dim tempValues() As String
For i = 0 To CShort(tempProp .Length - 1)
tempValues = Split(tempProp( i), "=")
tempValues(0) = LCase(Trim(temp Values(0)))
If IsNothing(tempV alues(1)) Then tempValues(1) =
""
Select Case tempValues(0)
Case "bar color 1"
_Gradient.BarCo lor1 =
Color.FromArgb( CInt(tempValues (1)))
Case "bar color 2"
_Gradient.BarCo lor2 =
Color.FromArgb( CInt(tempValues (1)))
Case "gradient mode"
_Gradient.Gradi entMode =
CType(System.En um.Parse(GetTyp e(System.Drawin g.Drawing2D.Lin earGradientMode )
, (tempValues(1)) ), LinearGradientM ode)
Case "sigma focus"
_Gradient.Sigma Focus =
CInt(tempValues (1))
Case "sigma scale"
_Gradient.Sigma Scale =
CInt(tempValues (1))
Case "use sigmabell"
_Gradient.UseSi gmaBell =
CBool(tempValue s(1))
End Select
Next
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
' if we got this far, complain that we
' couldn't parse the string
'
Throw New ArgumentExcepti on("Can not convert '" &
value.ToString & "' to type Person")
End Try
End If
Return MyBase.ConvertF rom(context, culture, value)

End Function

Public Overloads Overrides Function ConvertTo(ByVal context As
System.Componen tModel.ITypeDes criptorContext, ByVal culture As
System.Globaliz ation.CultureIn fo, ByVal value As Object, ByVal
destinationType As System.Type) As Object
If (destinationTyp e Is GetType(System. String) AndAlso TypeOf value
Is Gradient) Then
Dim _Gradient As Gradient = CType(value, Gradient)
Dim _GradientBuilde r As New StringBuilder
With _GradientBuilde r
.Append("Bar Color 1=" & _Gradient.BarCo lor1.ToArgb.ToS tring
& ";")
.Append("Bar Color 2=" & _Gradient.BarCo lor2.ToArgb.ToS tring
& ";")
.Append("Gradie nt Mode=" & _Gradient.Gradi entMode & ";")
.Append("Sigma Focus=" & _Gradient.Sigma Focus & ";")
.Append("Sigma Scale=" & _Gradient.Sigma Scale & ";")
.Append("Use SigmaBell=" & _Gradient.UseSi gmaBell & ";")
End With
Return _GradientBuilde r.ToString
End If

Return MyBase.ConvertT o(context, culture, value, destinationType )

End Function
End Class



Here is the class that I am converting:

Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing. Drawing2D
Imports System.Componen tModel
Imports System.Runtime. InteropServices
Imports System.Componen tModel.Design.S erialization

''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Stores information for making a gradient style ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Stores information for making a gradient style ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>
''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
<Serializable() , ComVisible(True ),
TypeConverter(G etType(Gradient TypeConverter)) _
Public Class Gradient
Implements IDisposable

Private mCol1 As Color = Color.FromKnown Color(KnownColo r.ActiveCaption )
Private mCol2 As Color = Color.Red
Private mGradientStyle As LinearGradientM ode =
LinearGradientM ode.Horizontal
Private mblnIsSigmaBell As Boolean = False
Private msngSigmaScale As Single = 0.75
Private msngSigmaFocus As Single = 0.5
Private mintSigmaLocati on As Integer = 50
Private mintSigmaScale As Integer = 75





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Creates a new Gradient Class.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Creates a new Gradient Class.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Public Sub New()
'do nothing
End Sub





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Creates a new Gradient Class.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="BarColor1 ">
''' Sets the color of the first bar of the ProgressBar.
''' </param>
''' <param name="BarColor2 ">
''' Sets the color of the second bar of the ProgressBar.
''' </param>
''' <param name="GradientS tyle">
''' Sets the gradient style of the ProgressBar.
''' </param>
''' <remarks>
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Public Sub New(ByVal BarColor1 As Color, ByVal BarColor2 As Color, ByVal
GradientStyle As LinearGradientM ode)
mCol1 = BarColor1
mCol2 = BarColor2
mGradientStyle = GradientStyle
End Sub





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' The mode of the gradient draw.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' The style of the drawing brush as LinearGradientM ode
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' The mode of the gradient draw.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Visible),
Browsable(True) , Description("Th e mode of the gradient draw."),
Category("Appea nce"), DefaultValue("" )_
Public Property GradientMode() As LinearGradientM ode
Get
Return mGradientStyle
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As LinearGradientM ode)
mGradientStyle = Value
End Set
End Property





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' The color of the first bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' A color that represents the first color in the ProgresBar.
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' The color of the first bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Visible),
Category("Appea nce"), Browsable(True) , Description("Th e color of the first
bar in the ProgressBar.")_
Public Property BarColor1() As Color
Get
Return mCol1
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Color)
mCol1 = Value
End Set
End Property





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' The color of the second bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' A color that represents the second color in the ProgresBar.
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' The color of the second bar in the ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Visible),
Category("Appea nce"), Browsable(True) , Description("Th e color of the second
bar in the ProgressBar.")_
Public Property BarColor2() As Color
Get
Return mCol2
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Color)
mCol2 = Value
End Set
End Property





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Decides if the ProgressBar will use SigmaBella. Default is False.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Decides if the ProgressBar will use SigmaBella. Default is False.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/12/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Visible),
Category("Appea nce"), Browsable(True) , Description("De cides if the
ProgressBar will use SigmaBella. Default is False.")_
Public Property UseSigmaBell() As Boolean
Get
Return Me.mblnIsSigmaB ell
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Boolean)
Me.mblnIsSigmaB ell = Value
End Set
End Property





''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' An integer between 0 and 100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell.
Default is 75.
''' </summary>
''' <value>
''' Creates a gradient falloff based on a bell-shaped curve.
''' </value>
''' <remarks>
''' An integer between 0 and 100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell.
Default is 75.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/12/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Visible),
Category("Appea nce"), Browsable(True) , Description("An integer between 0 and
100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell. Default is 75.")_
Public Property SigmaFocus() As Integer
Get
Return Me.mintSigmaLoc ation
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
If Value < 0 Or Value 100 Then
Throw New ArgumentExcepti on("Value " & Value & " is ouside
of the value of 0-100")
Else
mintSigmaLocati on = Value
msngSigmaFocus = CSng(Value / 100.0F)
End If
End Set
End Property


<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Visible),
Category("Appea nce"), Browsable(True) , Description("An integer between 0 and
100 that sets the size of the SigmaBell. Default is 75.")_
Public Property SigmaScale() As Integer
Get
Return Me.mintSigmaSca le
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
If Value < 0 Or Value 100 Then
Throw New ArgumentExcepti on("Value " & Value & " is ouside
of the value of 0-100")
Else
mintSigmaScale = Value
msngSigmaScale = CSng(Value / 100.0F)
End If
End Set
End Property


Friend Function GetSigmaFocus() As Single
Return msngSigmaFocus
End Function

Friend Function GetSigmaScale() As Single
Return Me.msngSigmaSca le
End Function

#Region " Dispose"
Public Sub Dispose() Implements System.IDisposa ble.Dispose
Me.mCol1 = Nothing
Me.mCol2 = Nothing
End Sub

#End Region

End Class

Here is the property in the control that I am working on:

''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
''' <summary>
''' Sets the properties for a Gradient ProgressBar.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks>
''' Sets the properties for a Gradient ProgressBar. Only works for solid
ProgressBar.
''' </remarks>
''' <history>
''' [David] 10/10/2006 Created
''' </history>




''' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

<DesignerSerial izationVisibili ty(DesignerSeri alizationVisibi lity.Content),
Category("Appea rance"), Description("Se ts the properties for a Gradient
ProgressBar."), Browsable(True) _
Public ReadOnly Property GradientInfo() As Gradient
Get
Return Me.mGradient
End Get
End Property

<zacks@construc tion-imaging.comwrot e in message
news:1160683237 .904383.84720@h 48g2000cwc.goog legroups.com...

>
Lespaul36 wrote:

I have a control that I have made that uses a custom class for storage

of

some of the information. I want it to display in the VS.Net 2003

property

grid in the IDE like the Font property does, so a use can expand it and

set

the properties. How do I do this? Thanks in advance.

>
I think you can do that by dragging the control into the VS Toolbox.
>