Designer won't let me load images (VS.NET 2003 / CF SP2)

[Javier Campos]

For some reason, I can't load images in the windows.forms designer, making a
PocketPC 2003 application.

If i try to add them to a ImageList, it'll raise an exception for a 'null'
reference, and if I drop a PictureBox in the form, the 'Image' property
appears grayed out (disabled).

I've loaded forms with images (in pictureboxes) from other projects and they
show up correctly, although the Image property is still disabled (so I can't
change the image).

Anyone knows what's up?

Visual Studio 2003 + .NET Compact Framework SP2, Windows XP SP1

Thanks!

- Javier Campos

 

[Javier Campos]

Uhm, I just tried in a different computer, with exactly the same config, and
it works there...

Also, if I open up the collection designer on an already-created imagelist,
it'll show the objects there, but not the bitmap associated (the typical
designer will show a thumbnail of the image next to the object name, and
this works in the other computer, with the same project, config, etc.)

I'm kinda desesperate :/

- Javier Campos

 

[Guest]

Did you try to setup a new project and see if you get the same result.

check the references aswell.

 

[Javier Campos]

Yup... same thing with a completely new project...

I even tried to copy the System.Drawing.dll for the Compact Framework SDK
(it works fine for standard .NET application) from the machine that worked,
to no avail.

I'll capture a snapshot from the very same form, from the very same project,
on both Visual Studio IDE's and let you see what's up. Machine 'A' is the
one on which it works (with Luna Blue theme), Machine 'B' is the one where
it doesn't work (with 'Slate' theme). Both machines have the same hardware
config aswell. Ah, it's a slow server, bear with it (don't want to add
attachments here)

Machine 'A', the imagelist shows correctly the thumbnails, and lets me add
or remove images:
http://www.vmslabs.com/usr/vserror/working_imagelist.gif

Machine 'B', the imagelist doesn't shows the thumbnails, and will throw a
null reference exception when pressing 'Add' (Agregar) button:
http://www.vmslabs.com/usr/vserror/notworking_imagelist.gif

Machine 'A', the picturebox correctly allows me to click on the ellipsis
button on image, and opens up a file dialog to insert a picture. Works
flawlessly:
http://www.vmslabs.com/usr/vserror/working_picturebox.gif

Machine 'B', the picturebox works, and if I load a form with an already
inserted image, it works fine and shows the result... there are also no
problems at runtime, BUT, the image property appears disabled so I can't
insert an image to it:
http://www.vmslabs.com/usr/vserror/notworking_picturebox.gif

The 'disabled' property extends to all components which include a
System.Drawing.Image as a property (it's disabled on them all, no matter
which the property or the control is).

So far, for all my bitmap needs, I just use VNC on machine 'A', and insert
them in the other machine, then reload the file (along with the .resx) on
machine 'B' (which is my main work machine, so this gets on my nerves).

The rest works perfectly fine, the emulator works fine, device transport
works fine, I can debug with no problem, no other errors whatsoever, and in
runtime, the program works as it should.

Anyone had any similar problem and know how to fix it? I'm really
desesperate!!

Thank you,

- Javier Campos

PS: The references are ok, on these snapshots, it's exactly the same project
(loaded from the very same folder), and the references point exactly to the
same DLL's.... I also checked all the DLL's that it uses in both the GAC
(which shouldn't matter for this, as it's not using the GAC for Smart Device
Applications), and in /Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
2003/Compact Framework SDK/ (which is where the 'GAC' for smart devices is),
they are all the same versions, and I even tried overwriting one with
another, with no different results whatsoever.