How to add an extended control to the toolbox, when the control is in the same project?

Question

I have extended DataGridView. I want to add the new control to the toolbox without adding a reference to a different assembly (using the right-click option "Choose Items"). The control is in the same project of the form, and I do not want to separate them. How can I achieve this?

Thanks.

Edit: This could not possibly a duplicate of a question about user controls if it's not a user control.

Edit 2: The code itself (it's a work in process. It's not finished):

class BindedDataGrid<T> : DataGridView
{
    public BindedDataGrid()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        IEnumerable<PropertyInfo> properties = typeof(T).GetProperties().Where(p => Attribute.IsDefined(p, typeof(BindingValueAttribute)));

        foreach (PropertyInfo property in properties)
        {
            var column = new DataGridViewColumn()
            {
                HeaderText = ((property.GetCustomAttributes(true)[0]) as BindingValueAttribute).Value
            };

            Columns.Add(column);
        }
    }
}

hmm. it supposed to be defined as a one of the project components. show up in the ProjectName_Components tab.. your extension inherited from UserControl ? — Z.R.T., Oct 03 '17 at 16:57
@o_O - this question is about extended controls, not user controls. — Michael Haddad, Oct 03 '17 at 17:00
My bad, [this might help u](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1116311/how-to-put-an-extended-winforms-control-on-toolbox) — boop_the_snoot, Oct 03 '17 at 17:09
@o_O - It's fine... The answer you referenced to suggests adding a reference to another assembly using the "Choose Items" option... I do not want that. I want them in the same project. Thanks! — Michael Haddad, Oct 03 '17 at 17:14
This is entirely automatic, the toolbox updates after you compiled your code. It is an option: Tools > Options > Windows Forms Designer > General > "Automatically Populate Toolbox" = True. Added controls appear at the top of the toolbox. I did notice that VS2017 got flakey, having to rebuild twice. — Hans Passant, Oct 04 '17 at 13:42
@HansPassant - maybe the problem is that my control is Generic? — Michael Haddad, Oct 04 '17 at 13:44
Yes, that is a problem. The designer is not able to pick a T. — Hans Passant, Oct 04 '17 at 13:45

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 04 '17 at 14:37

public class BindedDataGrid : DataGridView
    {
        public BindedDataGrid()
        {
        }

        public BindedDataGrid(Type bindType)
        {
            IEnumerable<PropertyInfo> properties = bindType.GetProperties().Where(p => Attribute.IsDefined(p, typeof(BindingValueAttribute)));

            foreach (PropertyInfo property in properties)
            {
                var prop = property.GetCustomAttributes(true)[0];
                if (prop is BindingValueAttribute)
                {
                    var column = new DataGridViewColumn()
                    {
                        HeaderText = property.Name
                    };
                    column.CellTemplate = new DataGridViewTextBoxCell();
                    Columns.Add(column);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    public class BindingValueAttribute  : Attribute
    {
        public string Value { get; set; }
    }

    public class BindOne
    {
        [BindingValueAttribute()]
        public string Name { get; set; }

        [BindingValueAttribute()]
        public int Age { get; set; }
    }

first of all make BindedDataGrid none generic

create a non parameterized constructor

    private void InitializeComponent()
{
    this.bindedDataGrid1 = new PlayingWithThread.BindedDataGrid(typeof(BindOne));
    ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.bindedDataGrid1)).BeginInit();

How to add an extended control to the toolbox, when the control is in the same project?

1 Answers1