Developing Custom Windows Forms Controls with the .NET Framework

Windows Forms controls are reusable components that encapsulate user interface functionality and are used in client-side Windows-based applications. Not only does Windows Forms provide many ready-to-use controls, it also provides the infrastructure for developing your own controls. You can combine existing controls, extend existing controls, or author your own custom controls. This section provides background information and samples to help you develop Windows Forms controls.

In This Section

• Overview of Using Controls in Windows Forms
  Highlights the essential elements of using controls in Windows Forms applications.

• Varieties of Custom Controls
  Describes the different kinds of custom controls you can author with the System.Windows.Forms namespace.

• Windows Forms Control Development Basics
  Discusses the first steps in developing a Windows Forms control.

• Properties in Windows Forms Controls
  Shows how to add to properties to Windows Forms controls.

• Events in Windows Forms Controls
  Shows how to handle and define events in Windows Forms controls.

• Attributes in Windows Forms Controls
  Describes the attributes you can apply to properties or other members of your custom controls and components.

• Custom Control Painting and Rendering
  Shows how to customize the appearance of your controls.

• Layout in Windows Forms Controls
  Shows how to create sophisticated layouts for your controls and forms.

• Multithreading in Windows Forms Controls
  Shows how to implement multithreaded controls.

Reference

• System.Windows.Forms.Control
  Describes this class and has links to all of its members.

• System.Windows.Forms.UserControl
  Describes this class and has links to all of its members.

Related Sections

• Design-Time Attributes for Components
  Lists metadata attributes to apply to components and controls so that they are displayed correctly at design time in visual designers.

• Extending Design-Time Support
  Describes how to implement classes such as editors and designers that provide design-time support.

• How to: License Components and Controls
  Describes how to implement licensing in your control or component.

• Enable Coded UI Testing of Your Custom Controls
  Describes how to support coded UI testing.

Topic	Location
Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time	Windows Forms Controls
Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time	Windows Forms Controls
Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time	Windows Forms Controls
Developing Windows Forms Controls at Design Time	Windows Forms Controls