Disable editing child controls of custom DevComponents.DotNetBar control

Question

4.00/5 (1 vote)

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I have created a new Custom Control inheriting from Bar control of DevComponents.DotNetBar controls. Next, I have created a new dock tab in it and have added my other controls to it.
After I compile my Custom Control and add my created Custom Control in a new Windows Form, Dock Tab Controls are editable at design time.
I don't want that anybody can edit these controls (Dock Tab Controls) in design time. How can I disable editing the controls at design time from the form (not the same as editing the control itself)?

C#

public partial class barFloorsGrouping : Bar
{
    public barFloorsGrouping()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }
    
    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new System.Windows.Forms.AccessibleRole AccessibleRole
    {
        get { return base.AccessibleRole; }
        private set { base.AccessibleRole = System.Windows.Forms.AccessibleRole.ToolBar; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AlwaysDisplayDockTab
    {
        get { return base.AlwaysDisplayDockTab; }
        private set { base.AlwaysDisplayDockTab = true; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AlwaysDisplayKeyAccelerators
    {
        get { return base.AlwaysDisplayKeyAccelerators; }
        private set { base.AlwaysDisplayKeyAccelerators = true; }
    }

    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AntiAlias
    {
        get { return base.AntiAlias; }
        private set { base.AntiAlias = true; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AutoCreateCaptionMenu
    {
        get { return base.AutoCreateCaptionMenu; }
    }

    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AutoHide
    {
        get { return base.AutoHide; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AutoHideTabTextAlwaysVisible
    {
        get { return base.AutoHideTabTextAlwaysVisible; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool AutoSyncBarCaption
    {
        get { return base.AutoSyncBarCaption; }
        private set { base.AutoSyncBarCaption = true; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new eBarType BarType
    {
        get { return base.BarType; }
        private set { base.BarType = eBarType.DockWindow; }
    }

    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool CanAutoHide
    {
        get { return base.CanAutoHide; }
    }

    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool CanDockTab
    {
        get { return base.CanDockTab; }
        private set { base.CanDockTab = false; }
    }

    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool CanUndock
    {
        get { return base.CanUndock; }
        private set { base.CanUndock = false; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool CloseSingleTab
    {
        get { return base.CloseSingleTab; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool DisplayMoreItemsOnMenu
    {
        get { return base.DisplayMoreItemsOnMenu; }
        private set { base.DisplayMoreItemsOnMenu = true; }
    }

    [ReadOnly(true)]
    public new DockStyle Dock
    {
        get { return base.Dock; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool DockTabCloseButtonVisible
    {
        get { return base.DockTabCloseButtonVisible; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool FadeEffect
    {
        get { return base.FadeEffect; }
        private set { base.FadeEffect = true; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new eGrabHandleStyle GrabHandleStyle
    {
        get { return base.GrabHandleStyle; }
        private set { base.GrabHandleStyle = eGrabHandleStyle.Caption; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new eLayoutType LayoutType
    {
        get { return base.LayoutType; }
        private set { base.LayoutType = eLayoutType.DockContainer; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool MenuBar
    {
        get { return base.MenuBar; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool TabNavigation
    {
        get { return base.TabNavigation; }
        private set { base.TabNavigation = true; }
    }

    [Browsable(false), ReadOnly(true)]
    public new bool WrapItemsDock
    {
        get { return base.WrapItemsDock; }
        private set { base.WrapItemsDock = true; }
    }

    protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs pe)
    {
        base.OnPaint(pe);
    }
}

Posted 26-Aug-12 2:28am

MRS1989

Updated 28-Aug-12 4:35am

v10

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3 solutions

Solution 3

Just define a bool property and add a condition at beginning of the method that creates controls automatically.

C#

bool AllowCreate;

C#

public void Do()
{
    if (AllowCreate)
    {
        // your code to create controls
    }
}

Posted 26-Aug-12 4:03am

WebMaster

Comments

MRS1989 26-Aug-12 11:48am

My problem is in design architect. Espen Harlinn is understood right my problem; however, I'm new to this subject of programming in C#.

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Espen Harlinn · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-26T02:38:00

Solution 1

Assuming you are not in Silverlight or WPF, you can check for the Component.DesignMode Property[^] - you need to do this recursively using the Parent property for the control.

Best regards
Espen Harlinn

Posted 26-Aug-12 2:38am

Espen Harlinn

Comments

MRS1989 26-Aug-12 11:39am

Can you explain that? I'm not very familiar with manipulating controls.

Wendelius 26-Aug-12 17:22pm

To Espen: Good advice, 5'ed. I actually wrote a small tip about this and how the DesignMode can be resolved from outside the control (since it's protected). If you want to have a look, its Resolve DesignMode for a user control[^]. If you want to make changes etc. to it. I'd be more than happy to add you as a co-author.

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 0:27am

Thanks for your comment. It was useful for me but was irrelevant to my problem.
My problem is disabling child controls of a custom control that are enabled by default. I don't want that user can select it, see their properties and change them.
You explain that how can understand a control (include UserControl or CustomControl) is in design mode or not. I know about it. However, I want that prevent from select automatically created child controls by other users.
Thank you in advance for any help.

Wendelius 27-Aug-12 0:33am

Thanks for the comment. Yes I noticed that this is a different situation, but it was just giving the idea for a small tip :)

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 3:13am

So, U can help me???

Wendelius 27-Aug-12 3:30am

If I understood you correctly, could you simply use the same mechanism and travel through the parents and their properties and see if any of the parent controls is disabled etc? Since this is Espen's answer, I'd prefer him modifying it suitable to your needs.

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 3:39am

I want to disable child controls as never work and remain inactive/disable in Design mode and only enable in running mode. Because nobody can access to their properties and change them.

Espen Harlinn 27-Aug-12 4:09am

If DesignMode is true for your user control, or any of its Parent controls, then you are running under the designer.

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 4:16am

Ok. Can explain more?
Can I send my example code to you?
After you see that, you know that I exactly want what.

Espen Harlinn 27-Aug-12 4:28am

Use someting like this to determine whether you are running under the designer or not:
bool InDesigner()
{
Control ctrl = this;
while(ctrl != null)
{
if( ctrl.DesignMode )
{
return true;
}
ctrl = ctrl.Parent;
}
return false;
}

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 4:35am

So, I know it. However, I want that automatically created child controls can be seen by other users in design mode, but they can't select it and can't access to their properties for change them. I want that they are inactive/disable in design mode and enable/active in running mode.

Espen Harlinn 27-Aug-12 4:40am

override the OnParentChanged http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.control.onparentchanged.aspx
for your user control and and enable or disable controls as you like.

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 4:49am

I hope that it's worked for me.
Thank you in advance for any help.

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 5:09am

It's not done what I need.
Can send my codes to you???

MRS1989 27-Aug-12 5:19am

Changing Enabled Attribute can't prevent access other users to properties of the control. It only changes Visual State that works in Running time not in Design time. I want a solution that can prevent access other users to its properties and prevent from select it in design time.

Espen Harlinn 27-Aug-12 4:28am

Thank you, Mika :-D

fjdiewornncalwe 28-Aug-12 9:26am

+5. I didn't quite get the question until I read your answer for this one.

Espen Harlinn 28-Aug-12 9:27am

Thank you, Marcus :-D

MRS1989 · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-28T04:49:00

You must extend the design mode behavior by using ParentControlDesigner Class. ParentControlDesigner Class provides a base class for designers of controls that can contain child controls.
So, for achieve to your Goal, you must implement design-time services for a component by DesignerAttribute as the following (Just add below code before the written class):

C#

[Designer("System.Windows.Forms.Design.ParentControlDesigner, System.Design", typeof(IDesigner))]
public partial class barFloorsGrouping : Bar
{
...
}