DesignerOptionService Class

Definition

public ref class DesignerOptionService abstract : System::ComponentModel::Design::IDesignerOptionService

public abstract class DesignerOptionService : System.ComponentModel.Design.IDesignerOptionService

type DesignerOptionService = class
    interface IDesignerOptionService

Public MustInherit Class DesignerOptionService
Implements IDesignerOptionService

Inheritance

Object

DesignerOptionService

Derived

System.Windows.Forms.Design.WindowsFormsDesignerOptionService

Implements

IDesignerOptionService

Examples

The following code example demonstrates accessing the DesignerOptionService to display the current values of the standard options.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ComponentModel.Design;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Data;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Windows.Forms.Design;

namespace DesignerOptionServiceExample
{
    // This control demonstrates retrieving the standard 
    // designer option service values in design mode.
    public class DesignerOptionServiceControl : System.Windows.Forms.UserControl
    {		
        private DesignerOptionService designerOptionSvc;

        public DesignerOptionServiceControl()
        {
            this.BackColor = Color.Beige;
                    this.Size = new Size(404, 135);
        }
        
        public override System.ComponentModel.ISite Site
        {
            get
            {
                return base.Site;
            }
            set
            {
                base.Site = value;

                // If siting component, attempt to obtain an DesignerOptionService.
                if( base.Site != null )                            
                    designerOptionSvc = (DesignerOptionService)this.GetService(typeof(DesignerOptionService));                                   
            }
        }

        // Displays control information and current DesignerOptionService 
        // values, if available.
        protected override void OnPaint(System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            e.Graphics.DrawString("DesignerOptionServiceControl", 
                new Font("Arial", 9), 
                new SolidBrush(Color.Blue), 4, 4);

            if( this.DesignMode )
                e.Graphics.DrawString("Currently in design mode", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, 18);
            else
                e.Graphics.DrawString("Not in design mode. Cannot access DesignerOptionService.", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Red), 4, 18);
            
            if( base.Site != null && designerOptionSvc != null )
            {
                e.Graphics.DrawString("DesignerOptionService provides access to the table of option values listed when", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, 38);

                e.Graphics.DrawString("the Windows Forms Designer\\General tab of the Tools\\Options menu is selected.", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, 50);                
                
                e.Graphics.DrawString("Table of standard value names and current values", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Red), 4, 76);
                
                // Displays a table of the standard value names and current values.
                int ypos = 90;

                // Obtains and shows the size of the standard design-mode grid square.
                PropertyDescriptor pd;
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["GridSize"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("GridSize", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(), 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                ypos += 12;

                // Uncomment the following code to demonstrate that this
                // alternate syntax works the same as the previous syntax.

                //pd = designerOptionSvc.Options["WindowsFormsDesigner"].Properties["GridSize"];
                //e.Graphics.DrawString("GridSize",
                //    new Font("Arial", 8),
                //    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                //e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
                //    new Font("Arial", 8),
                //    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                //ypos += 12;

                //pd = designerOptionSvc.Options["WindowsFormsDesigner"]["General"].Properties["GridSize"];
                //e.Graphics.DrawString("GridSize",
                //    new Font("Arial", 8),
                //    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                //e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
                //    new Font("Arial", 8),
                //    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                //ypos += 12;
                
                // Obtains and shows whether the design mode surface grid is enabled.
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["ShowGrid"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("ShowGrid", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(), 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                ypos+=12;
                
                // Obtains and shows whether components should be aligned with the surface grid.
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["SnapToGrid"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("SnapToGrid", 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(), 
                    new Font("Arial", 8), 
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                ypos += 12;

                // Obtains and shows which layout mode is selected.
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["LayoutMode"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("LayoutMode",
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                ypos += 12;

                // Obtains and shows whether the Toolbox is automatoically
                // populated with custom controls and components.
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["AutoToolboxPopulate"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("AutoToolboxPopulate",
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                ypos += 12;

                // Obtains and shows whether the component cache is used.
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["UseOptimizedCodeGeneration"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("Optimized Code Generation",
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
                ypos += 12;

                // Obtains and shows whether designer actions are automatically opened.
                pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties["ObjectBoundSmartTagAutoShow"];
                e.Graphics.DrawString("Automatically Open Designer Actions",
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
                e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
                    new Font("Arial", 8),
                    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports System.Collections
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.ComponentModel.Design
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Windows.Forms.Design


' This control demonstrates retrieving the standard 
' designer option service values in design mode.

Public Class DesignerOptionServiceControl
   Inherits System.Windows.Forms.UserControl
   Private designerOptionSvc As DesignerOptionService
   
   
   Public Sub New()
      Me.BackColor = Color.Beige
      Me.Size = New Size(404, 135)
    End Sub
   
   
   Public Overrides Property Site() As System.ComponentModel.ISite
      Get
         Return MyBase.Site
      End Get
      Set
         MyBase.Site = value
         
         ' If siting component, attempt to obtain an DesignerOptionService.
         If (MyBase.Site IsNot Nothing) Then
            designerOptionSvc = CType(Me.GetService(GetType(DesignerOptionService)), DesignerOptionService)
         End If
      End Set
   End Property
    
   ' Displays control information and current DesignerOptionService 
   ' values, if available.
   Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint(e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs)
        e.Graphics.DrawString("DesignerOptionServiceControl", _
        New Font("Arial", 9), _
        New SolidBrush(Color.Blue), 4, 4)
      
      If Me.DesignMode Then
            e.Graphics.DrawString("Currently in design mode", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, 18)
      Else
            e.Graphics.DrawString("Not in design mode. Cannot access DesignerOptionService.", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Red), 4, 18)
      End If
      
      If (MyBase.Site IsNot Nothing) AndAlso (designerOptionSvc IsNot Nothing) Then
            e.Graphics.DrawString("DesignerOptionService provides access to the table of option values listed when", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, 38)

            e.Graphics.DrawString("the Windows Forms Designer\General tab of the Tools\Options menu is selected.", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, 50)

            e.Graphics.DrawString("Table of standard value names and current values", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Red), 4, 76)

            ' Displays a table of the standard value names and current values.
            Dim ypos As Integer = 90

            ' Obtains and shows the size of the standard design-mode grid square.
            Dim pd As PropertyDescriptor
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("GridSize")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("GridSize", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)

            ypos += 12

            ' Uncomment the following code to demonstrate that this
            ' alternate syntax works the same as the previous syntax.
            'pd = designerOptionSvc.Options["WindowsFormsDesigner"].Properties["GridSize"];
            'e.Graphics.DrawString("GridSize",
            '    new Font("Arial", 8),
            '    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
            'e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
            '    new Font("Arial", 8),
            '    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
            'ypos += 12;
            'pd = designerOptionSvc.Options["WindowsFormsDesigner"]["General"].Properties["GridSize"];
            'e.Graphics.DrawString("GridSize",
            '    new Font("Arial", 8),
            '    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos);
            'e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(null).ToString(),
            '    new Font("Arial", 8),
            '    new SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos);
            'ypos += 12;

            ' Obtains and shows whether the design mode surface grid is enabled.
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("ShowGrid")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("ShowGrid", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)

            ypos += 12

            ' Obtains and shows whether components should be aligned with the surface grid.
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("SnapToGrid")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("SnapToGrid", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)

            ypos += 12

            ' Obtains and shows which layout mode is selected.
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("LayoutMode")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("LayoutMode", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)

            ypos += 12

            ' Obtains and shows whether the Toolbox is automatoically
            ' populated with custom controls and components.
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("AutoToolboxPopulate")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("AutoToolboxPopulate", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)

            ypos += 12

            ' Obtains and shows whether the component cache is used.
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("UseOptimizedCodeGeneration")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("Optimized Code Generation", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)

            ypos += 12

            ' Obtains and shows whether designer actions are automatically opened.
            pd = designerOptionSvc.Options.Properties("ObjectBoundSmartTagAutoShow")

            e.Graphics.DrawString("Automatically Open Designer Actions", _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 4, ypos)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(pd.GetValue(Nothing).ToString(), _
            New Font("Arial", 8), _
            New SolidBrush(Color.Black), 200, ypos)
      End If
    End Sub
End Class

Remarks

The DesignerOptionService class provides a collection of options. Each of these option collections has an indexer that enables it to be further filtered. Each option collection contains its own set of options, as well as a rollup of all of its child options. In the event of a naming conflict between properties, the outermost options object takes precedence. The following Tools | Options user interface (UI) structure shows how the outermost options object takes on greater importance:

WindowsFormsDesigner | General

• SnapToGrid

• ShowGrid

• GridSize

Given a IDesignerOptionService named service, to get to the value of the GridSize property, you would make the following call:

// Obtains and shows the size of the standard design-mode grid square.
System::Drawing::Size size =  *dynamic_cast<System::Drawing::Size^>(designerOptionService->GetOptionValue( "WindowsFormsDesigner\\General", "GridSize" ));

// Obtains and shows the size of the standard design-mode grid square.
Size size = (Size)designerOptionService.GetOptionValue("WindowsFormsDesigner\\General", "GridSize");

' Obtains and shows the size of the standard design-mode grid square.
Dim size As Size = CType(designerOptionService.GetOptionValue("WindowsFormsDesigner\General", "GridSize"), Size)

This works, until you want to move GridSize to another page. Also, IDesignerOptionService provides no discovery mechanism. If you do not know what string to pass in, the service cannot find the property value.

The DesignerOptionService class addresses these issues. You can query collections, and there is a type converter defined on the DesignerOptionService.DesignerOptionCollection object that marks the collection as expandable. With this type converter, you can pass the entire designer option service to a property window and visually inspect the service.

Constructors

Properties

Methods

Explicit Interface Implementations

Applies to

See also

• IDesignerOptionService
• DesignerOptionService.DesignerOptionCollection