Delphi/VB/VS.NET-style ObjectInspector Control

• Download source files - 29 Kb
• Download demo project - 65 Kb

Introduction

This control is an implementation of a Delphi/VB/VS.NET - Style Object-Inspector. I use this control in many of my applications' property pages to let the user quickly change application settings. I've tried to keep things as simple as possible, although usage of this control may look a bit strange at first sight - the interfaces of the control doesn't resemble the interfaces of other MFC controls, since it's intended to be special purpose control for changing properties only.

The documentation is sparse, because I do not have much time to write documentation. However, the included demo is hopefully a help in understanding how to use the features of the control.

Features

The control supports many build-in property types (although adding your own propery-types should be no problem) :

• bool
• short
• int
• float
• double
• CString
• CStringList
• COLORREF
• COleDateTime

Usage

To use this control in your own application, add CObjectInspector.cpp, CColorButton.cpp and CColourPopup.cpp to your project file. Open the resource editor and place a custom control on your dialog. In the control's properties enter "ObjectInspectorCtrl" as window-classname. Add a CObjectInspector variable to your dialog class :

CObjectInspector m_OI;

Add a DDX_Control handler to your DoDataExchange function :

void CMyDlg::DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX)
{
	CDialog::DoDataExchange(pDX);
	//{{AFX_DATA_MAP(CMyDlg)
	DDX_Control(pDX, IDC_OI, m_OI);
	//}}AFX_DATA_MAP
}

Override OnInitDialog to customize the Object-Inspector and to add groups and properties :

BOOL CMyDialog::OnInitDialog()
{
	CDialog::OnInitDialog();

	CObjectInspector::CProperty *pGroup;
	
	// Create new property group
	m_OI.AddProperty (pProp = new CObjectInspector::CProperty("Group"));

	// Add properties to the group
	pProp->AddProperty (new CObjectInspector::CProperty("Integer-Value", &m_nIntValue));
	pProp->AddProperty (new CObjectInspector::CProperty("Bool Value", &m_bBoolVal));
}

Override OnNotify to receive notification messages from the control :

BOOL CMyDialog::OnNotify(WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam, LRESULT* pResult) 
{
    if (wParam == IDC_OI)
    {

       CObjectInspector::NM_OIVIEW *nmHdr = (CObjectInspector::NM_OIVIEW*) lParam;

       // OIVN_ITEMCHANGED is sent after the user has changed a property
       if (nmHdr->hdr.code == OIVN_ITEMCHANGED)
       {
           // Do some stuff (use nmHdr->pProperty to access the altered property)
       }

       // OIVN_ITEMCHANGING is sent when the user is currently editing a property
       if (nmHdr->hdr.code == OIVN_ITEMCHANGING)
       {
           // Do some stuff (use nmHdr->pProperty to access the currently edited property)
       }
    }
	
    return CDialog::OnNotify(wParam, lParam, pResult);
}

Known issues

Navigation with the cursor keys is quite unsatisfactorily.

Acknowledgments

• Chris Maunder for his color picker
• Keith Rule for his Memory DC class