IContainerControl Interface

Definition

Provides the functionality for a control to act as a parent for other controls.

public interface IContainerControl
Derived

Examples

The following example inherits from the ScrollableControl class and implements the IContainerControl interface. Implementation is added to the ActiveControl property and the ActivateControl method.

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;

    public class MyContainer : ScrollableControl, IContainerControl
    {
        private Control activeControl;
        public MyContainer() 
        {
            // Make the container control Blue so it can be distinguished on the form.
            this.BackColor = Color.Blue;
            
            // Make the container scrollable.
            this.AutoScroll = true;
        }

        // Add implementation to the IContainerControl.ActiveControl property.
        public Control ActiveControl
        {
            get
            {
                return activeControl;
            }

            set
            {
                // Make sure the control is a member of the ControlCollection.
                if(this.Controls.Contains(value))
                {
                    activeControl = value;
                }
            }
        }

        // Add implementations to the IContainerControl.ActivateControl(Control) method.
        public bool ActivateControl(Control active)
        {
            if(this.Controls.Contains(active))
            {
                // Select the control and scroll the control into view if needed.
                active.Select();
                this.ScrollControlIntoView(active);
                this.activeControl = active;
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        }
    }

Notes to Implementers

Implement this interface in classes that you want to parent a collection of controls. The members of this interface allow you to activate a child control, or determine which control is currently active. When implemented in a class, ActivateControl(Control) takes a Control as a parameter and activates the specified control. The ActiveControl property activates or retrieves the control that is active.

In most common scenarios, you do not need to directly implement this interface. For example, if you create a Windows Control Library project, Visual Studio generates an initial class for you. That class inherits from the UserControl class, and UserControl implements IContainerControl for you.

Properties

ActiveControl

Gets or sets the control that is active on the container control.

Methods

ActivateControl(Control)

Activates a specified control.

Applies to

Product Versions
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
Windows Desktop 3.0, 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

See also