IDesignerHost Interface 
Definition
Important
Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
Provides an interface for managing designer transactions and components.
public interface class IDesignerHost : IServiceProvider, System::ComponentModel::Design::IServiceContainerpublic interface class IDesignerHost : System::ComponentModel::Design::IServiceContainerpublic interface IDesignerHost : IServiceProvider, System.ComponentModel.Design.IServiceContainer[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)]
public interface IDesignerHost : IServiceProvider, System.ComponentModel.Design.IServiceContainerpublic interface IDesignerHost : System.ComponentModel.Design.IServiceContainertype IDesignerHost = interface
    interface IServiceContainer
    interface IServiceProvider[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)>]
type IDesignerHost = interface
    interface IServiceContainer
    interface IServiceProviderPublic Interface IDesignerHost
Implements IServiceContainer, IServiceProviderPublic Interface IDesignerHost
Implements IServiceContainer- Derived
- Attributes
- Implements
Examples
The following example code demonstrates how to obtain the IDesignerHost service interface from a designer or sited component.
// Requests an IDesignerHost service from the design time environment using Component.Site.GetService()
IDesignerHost^ dh = static_cast<IDesignerHost^>(this->Component->Site->GetService( IDesignerHost::typeid ));
// Requests an IDesignerHost service from the design time environment using Component.Site.GetService()
IDesignerHost dh = (IDesignerHost) this.Component.Site.GetService(typeof(IDesignerHost));
' Requests an IDesignerHost service from the design time environment using Component.Site.GetService()
Dim host As IDesignerHost = CType(Me.Component.Site.GetService(GetType(IDesignerHost)), IDesignerHost)
The following example code demonstrates using the IDesignerHost interface to list project components.
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>
#using <System.dll>
using namespace System;
using namespace System::ComponentModel;
using namespace System::ComponentModel::Design;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
using namespace System::Security::Permissions;
// Provides a form containing a listbox that can display 
// a list of project components.
public ref class DesignerHostListForm: public System::Windows::Forms::Form
{
public:
   System::Windows::Forms::ListBox^ listBox1;
private:
   System::Windows::Forms::Button^ ok_button;
public:
   DesignerHostListForm()
   {
      this->Name = "DesignerHostListForm";
      this->Text = "List of design-time project components";
      this->SuspendLayout();
      this->listBox1 = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::ListBox;
      this->listBox1->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 8, 8 );
      this->listBox1->Name = "listBox1";
      this->listBox1->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 385, 238 );
      this->listBox1->TabIndex = 0;
      this->listBox1->Anchor = static_cast<AnchorStyles>(((System::Windows::Forms::AnchorStyles::Top | System::Windows::Forms::AnchorStyles::Bottom) | System::Windows::Forms::AnchorStyles::Left) | System::Windows::Forms::AnchorStyles::Right);
      this->ok_button = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::Button;
      this->ok_button->DialogResult = System::Windows::Forms::DialogResult::OK;
      this->ok_button->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 232, 256 );
      this->ok_button->Name = "ok_button";
      this->ok_button->TabIndex = 1;
      this->ok_button->Text = "OK";
      this->ok_button->Anchor = static_cast<AnchorStyles>(System::Windows::Forms::AnchorStyles::Bottom | System::Windows::Forms::AnchorStyles::Right);
      this->ClientSize = System::Drawing::Size( 400, 285 );
      array<System::Windows::Forms::Control^>^temp2 = {this->ok_button,this->listBox1};
      this->Controls->AddRange( temp2 );
      this->ResumeLayout( false );
   }
public:
   ~DesignerHostListForm()
   {
   }
};
// You can double-click the component of an IDesignerHostExampleDesigner 
// to show a form containing a listbox that lists the name and type 
// of each component or control in the current design-time project.
public ref class IDesignerHostExampleDesigner: public IDesigner
{
private:
   System::ComponentModel::IComponent^ component;
public:
   IDesignerHostExampleDesigner(){}
   virtual void DoDefaultAction()
   {
      ListComponents();
   }
   virtual void Initialize( System::ComponentModel::IComponent^ component )
   {
      this->component = component;
      MessageBox::Show( "Double-click the IDesignerHostExample component to view a list of project components." );
   }
private:
   // Displays a list of components in the current design 
   // document when the default action of the designer is invoked.
   void ListComponents()
   {
      DesignerHostListForm^ listform = gcnew DesignerHostListForm;
      // Obtain an IDesignerHost service from the design environment.
      IDesignerHost^ host = dynamic_cast<IDesignerHost^>(this->component->Site->GetService( IDesignerHost::typeid ));
      // Get the project components container (control containment depends on Controls collections)
      IContainer^ container = host->Container;
      // Add each component's type name and name to the list box.
      System::Collections::IEnumerator^ myEnum = container->Components->GetEnumerator();
      while ( myEnum->MoveNext() )
      {
         IComponent^ component = safe_cast<IComponent^>(myEnum->Current);
         listform->listBox1->Items->Add( String::Concat( component->GetType()->Name, " : ", component->Site->Name ) );
      }
      listform->ShowDialog();
   }
public:
   property System::ComponentModel::IComponent^ Component 
   {
      virtual System::ComponentModel::IComponent^ get()
      {
         return this->component;
      }
   }
   property System::ComponentModel::Design::DesignerVerbCollection^ Verbs 
   {
      [PermissionSetAttribute(SecurityAction::Demand, Name="FullTrust")]
      virtual System::ComponentModel::Design::DesignerVerbCollection^ get()
      {
         DesignerVerbCollection^ dvc = gcnew DesignerVerbCollection;
         dvc->Add( gcnew DesignerVerb( "List Components",gcnew EventHandler( this, &IDesignerHostExampleDesigner::ListHandler ) ) );
         return dvc;
      }
   }
private:
   void ListHandler( Object^ /*sender*/, EventArgs^ /*e*/ )
   {
      ListComponents();
   }
public:
   ~IDesignerHostExampleDesigner(){}
};
// IDesignerHostExampleComponent is a component associated 
// with the IDesignerHostExampleDesigner that demonstrates 
// acquisition and use of the IDesignerHost service 
// to list project components.
[DesignerAttribute(IDesignerHostExampleDesigner::typeid)]
public ref class IDesignerHostExampleComponent: public System::ComponentModel::Component
{
public:
   IDesignerHostExampleComponent(){}
public:
   ~IDesignerHostExampleComponent(){}
};
using System;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ComponentModel.Design;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace IDesignerHostExample
{	
    // IDesignerHostExampleComponent is a component associated 
    // with the IDesignerHostExampleDesigner that demonstrates 
    // acquisition and use of the IDesignerHost service 
    // to list project components.
    [DesignerAttribute(typeof(IDesignerHostExampleDesigner))]
    public class IDesignerHostExampleComponent : System.ComponentModel.Component
    {
        public IDesignerHostExampleComponent()
        {}
        protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )
        {
            base.Dispose( disposing );
        }
    }
    // You can double-click the component of an IDesignerHostExampleDesigner 
    // to show a form containing a listbox that lists the name and type 
    // of each component or control in the current design-time project.
    public class IDesignerHostExampleDesigner : IDesigner
    {
        private System.ComponentModel.IComponent component;
        public IDesignerHostExampleDesigner()
        {}
        public void DoDefaultAction()
        {
            ListComponents();
        }
        public void Initialize(System.ComponentModel.IComponent component)
        {
            this.component = component;
            MessageBox.Show("Double-click the IDesignerHostExample component to view a list of project components.");
        }
        // Displays a list of components in the current design 
        // document when the default action of the designer is invoked.
        private void ListComponents()
        {
            using (DesignerHostListForm listform = new DesignerHostListForm())
            {
                // Obtain an IDesignerHost service from the design environment.
                IDesignerHost host = (IDesignerHost)this.component.Site.GetService(typeof(IDesignerHost));
                // Get the project components container (control containment depends on Controls collections)
                IContainer container = host.Container;
                // Add each component's type name and name to the list box.
                foreach (IComponent component in container.Components)
                {
                    listform.listBox1.Items.Add(component.GetType().Name + " : " + component.Site.Name);
                }
                // Display the form.
                listform.ShowDialog();
            }
        }
        public System.ComponentModel.IComponent Component
        {
            get
            {
                return this.component;
            }
        }
        public System.ComponentModel.Design.DesignerVerbCollection Verbs
        {
            get
            {
                DesignerVerbCollection dvc = new DesignerVerbCollection();
                dvc.Add( new DesignerVerb("List Components", new EventHandler(ListHandler)) );
                return dvc;
            }
        }
        private void ListHandler(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            ListComponents();
        }
        public void Dispose() {	}
    }
    // Provides a form containing a listbox that can display 
    // a list of project components.
    public class DesignerHostListForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
    {
        public System.Windows.Forms.ListBox listBox1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button ok_button;
        
        public DesignerHostListForm()
        {
            this.Name = "DesignerHostListForm";
            this.Text = "List of design-time project components";
            this.SuspendLayout();
            this.listBox1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ListBox();						
            this.listBox1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(8, 8);
            this.listBox1.Name = "listBox1";
            this.listBox1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(385, 238);
            this.listBox1.TabIndex = 0;	
            this.listBox1.Anchor = (((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom) 
                | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) 
                | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right);		
            this.ok_button = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.ok_button.DialogResult = System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK;
            this.ok_button.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(232, 256);
            this.ok_button.Name = "ok_button";
            this.ok_button.TabIndex = 1;
            this.ok_button.Text = "OK";
            this.ok_button.Anchor = (System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right);
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(400, 285);
            this.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] { this.ok_button, this.listBox1 });
            this.ResumeLayout(false);	
        }
        protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )
        {			
            base.Dispose( disposing );
        }	
    }
}
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.ComponentModel.Design
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Namespace IDesignerHostExample
   
   ' IDesignerHostExampleComponent is a component associated 
   ' with the IDesignerHostExampleDesigner that demonstrates 
   ' acquisition and use of the IDesignerHost service 
   ' to list project components.
    <DesignerAttribute(GetType(IDesignerHostExampleDesigner))> _
    Public Class IDesignerHostExampleComponent
        Inherits System.ComponentModel.Component
        Public Sub New()
        End Sub
        Protected Overloads Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
            MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
        End Sub 
    End Class 
    ' You can double-click the component of a IDesignerHostExampleDesigner
    ' to show a form containing a listbox that lists the name and type 
    ' of each component or control in the current design-time project.
    <System.Security.Permissions.PermissionSetAttribute(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand, Name:="FullTrust")> _
    Public Class IDesignerHostExampleDesigner
        Implements IDesigner
        Private component_ As System.ComponentModel.IComponent
        Public Sub New()
        End Sub
        Public Sub DoDefaultAction() Implements IDesigner.DoDefaultAction
            ListComponents()
        End Sub
        Public Sub Initialize(ByVal component As System.ComponentModel.IComponent) Implements IDesigner.Initialize
            Me.component_ = component
            MessageBox.Show("Double-click the IDesignerHostExample component to view a list of project components.")
        End Sub
        ' Displays a list of components in the current design 
        ' document when the default action of the designer is invoked.
        Private Sub ListComponents()
            Using listform As New DesignerHostListForm()
                ' Obtain an IDesignerHost service from the design environment.
                Dim host As IDesignerHost = CType(Me.Component.Site.GetService(GetType(IDesignerHost)), IDesignerHost)
                ' Get the project components container (control containment depends on Controls collections)
                Dim container As IContainer = host.Container
                ' Add each component's type name and name to the list box.
                Dim comp As Component
                For Each comp In container.Components
                    listform.listBox1.Items.Add((comp.GetType().Name + " : " + Component.Site.Name))
                Next comp
                ' Display the form.
                listform.ShowDialog()
            End Using
        End Sub
        Public ReadOnly Property Component() As System.ComponentModel.IComponent Implements IDesigner.Component
            Get
                Return component_
            End Get
        End Property
        Public ReadOnly Property Verbs() As System.ComponentModel.Design.DesignerVerbCollection Implements IDesigner.Verbs
            Get
                Dim dvc As New DesignerVerbCollection()
                dvc.Add(New DesignerVerb("List Components", New EventHandler(AddressOf ListHandler)))
                Return dvc
            End Get
        End Property
        Private Sub ListHandler(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
            ListComponents()
        End Sub
        Public Sub Dispose() Implements IDisposable.Dispose
        End Sub
    End Class
    _ 
    ' Provides a form containing a list box that can display 
    ' a list of project components.
    Public Class DesignerHostListForm
        Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
        Public listBox1 As System.Windows.Forms.ListBox
        Private ok_button As System.Windows.Forms.Button
        Public Sub New()
            Me.Name = "DesignerHostListForm"
            Me.Text = "List of design-time project components"
            Me.SuspendLayout()
            Me.listBox1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ListBox()
            Me.listBox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 8)
            Me.listBox1.Name = "listBox1"
            Me.listBox1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(385, 238)
            Me.listBox1.TabIndex = 0
            Me.listBox1.Anchor = (((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom) _
            Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)
            Me.ok_button = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
            Me.ok_button.DialogResult = System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK
            Me.ok_button.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(232, 256)
            Me.ok_button.Name = "ok_button"
            Me.ok_button.TabIndex = 1
            Me.ok_button.Text = "OK"
            Me.ok_button.Anchor = (System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)
            Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(400, 285)
            Me.Controls.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.Control() {Me.ok_button, Me.listBox1})
            Me.ResumeLayout(False)
        End Sub 
        Protected Overloads Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
            MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
        End Sub 
    End Class 
End Namespace
Remarks
IDesignerHost is an interface that works with the .NET Framework forms designer architecture to provide support for designer transaction and component management.
The .NET Framework does not provide an implementation of this interface. The interface is implemented by development tools that support designers.
Notes to Callers
To obtain an implementation of IDesignerHost from a development environment, call GetService(Type) while your component is active in design mode, passing the type of IDesignerHost to request an IDesignerHost service interface.
IDesignerHost provides the following members related to designer state:
- The Loading property indicates whether a designer or document is being loaded. 
- The Activated event occurs when a designer is activated before display. 
- The Deactivated event occurs when a designer is deactivated. 
- The LoadComplete event occurs after a document is loaded. 
- The Activate() method activates the designer. 
IDesignerHost provides the following members related to managing components:
- The Container property indicates the container for the designer host. 
- The RootComponent property indicates the base class for the root component. 
- The RootComponentClassName property indicates the name of the class of the root component. 
- The CreateComponent(Type) method creates the specified type of component. 
- The DestroyComponent(IComponent) method destroys the specified component. 
- The GetDesigner(IComponent) method gets the designer associated with a specified component. 
- The GetType(String) method gets an instance of the type with the specified name. 
IDesignerHost provides the following members related to managing transactions:
- The InTransaction property indicates whether the designer is in a transaction. 
- The TransactionDescription property indicates the current transaction description. 
- The TransactionClosed event occurs when a transaction has been completed. 
- The TransactionClosing event occurs when a transaction is about to be completed. 
- The TransactionOpened event occurs when a transaction has begun. 
- The TransactionOpening event occurs when a transaction is about to begin. 
- The CreateTransaction() method creates and returns a new transaction. 
Properties
| Container | Gets the container for this designer host. | 
| InTransaction | Gets a value indicating whether the designer host is currently in a transaction. | 
| Loading | Gets a value indicating whether the designer host is currently loading the document. | 
| RootComponent | Gets the instance of the base class used as the root component for the current design. | 
| RootComponentClassName | Gets the fully qualified name of the class being designed. | 
| TransactionDescription | Gets the description of the current transaction. | 
Methods
| Activate() | Activates the designer that this host is hosting. | 
| AddService(Type, Object, Boolean) | Adds the specified service to the service container, and optionally promotes the service to any parent service containers.(Inherited from IServiceContainer) | 
| AddService(Type, Object) | Adds the specified service to the service container.(Inherited from IServiceContainer) | 
| AddService(Type, ServiceCreatorCallback, Boolean) | Adds the specified service to the service container, and optionally promotes the service to parent service containers.(Inherited from IServiceContainer) | 
| AddService(Type, ServiceCreatorCallback) | Adds the specified service to the service container.(Inherited from IServiceContainer) | 
| CreateComponent(Type, String) | Creates a component of the specified type and name, and adds it to the design document. | 
| CreateComponent(Type) | Creates a component of the specified type and adds it to the design document. | 
| CreateTransaction() | Creates a DesignerTransaction that can encapsulate event sequences to improve performance and enable undo and redo support functionality. | 
| CreateTransaction(String) | Creates a DesignerTransaction that can encapsulate event sequences to improve performance and enable undo and redo support functionality, using the specified transaction description. | 
| DestroyComponent(IComponent) | Destroys the specified component and removes it from the designer container. | 
| GetDesigner(IComponent) | Gets the designer instance that contains the specified component. | 
| GetService(Type) | Gets the service object of the specified type.(Inherited from IServiceProvider) | 
| GetType(String) | Gets an instance of the specified, fully qualified type name. | 
| RemoveService(Type, Boolean) | Removes the specified service type from the service container, and optionally promotes the service to parent service containers.(Inherited from IServiceContainer) | 
| RemoveService(Type) | Removes the specified service type from the service container.(Inherited from IServiceContainer) | 
Events
| Activated | Occurs when this designer is activated. | 
| Deactivated | Occurs when this designer is deactivated. | 
| LoadComplete | Occurs when this designer completes loading its document. | 
| TransactionClosed | Adds an event handler for the TransactionClosed event. | 
| TransactionClosing | Adds an event handler for the TransactionClosing event. | 
| TransactionOpened | Adds an event handler for the TransactionOpened event. | 
| TransactionOpening | Adds an event handler for the TransactionOpening event. |