The thing you need is an object that implements IExtenderProvider.
An extender-provider can "extend" other object by appearing to add
properties to them at design time. Note that at runtime the process is
handled differently.
The object being extended has no knowlege of the new properties either.
After my signature you'll find a simple extender-provider that adds "status"
properties to menu items. These properties can be displayed in a status bar
chosen at design time.
--
Bob Powell [MVP]
Visual C#, System.Drawing
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Imports System
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
<ToolboxItem(True), _
ToolboxBitmap(GetType(MenuStatusExtender), "MenuStatusExtender.bmp"), _
ProvideProperty("StatusText", "System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem") _
Public Class MenuStatusExtender
Inherits Component
Implements IExtenderProvider
Private _extendees As New Hashtable
Public Sub New()
End Sub
Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
Dim mi As MenuItem
If Not Me.DesignMode Then
For Each mi In _extendees.Keys
RemoveHandler mi.Select, AddressOf Me.MenuStatusExtender_Select
Next
End If
_extendees.Clear()
MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
End Sub
Public Overridable Function CanExtend(ByVal extendee As [Object]) As Boolean
Implements IExtenderProvider.CanExtend
Return TypeOf extendee Is MenuItem
End Function
Public Function GetStatusText(ByVal item As MenuItem) As String
If _extendees.ContainsKey(item) Then
Return CType(_extendees(item), String)
Else
Return ""
End If
End Function
Public Sub SetStatusText(ByVal item As MenuItem, ByVal s As String)
If _extendees.ContainsKey(item) Then
_extendees(item) = s
Else
If Not Me.DesignMode Then
AddHandler item.Select, AddressOf Me.MenuStatusExtender_Select
End If
_extendees.Add(item, s)
End If
End Sub
Private Sub MenuStatusExtender_Select(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As
EventArgs)
OnItemSelected(New ItemSelectEventArgs(_extendees(sender)))
End Sub
Private Sub OnItemSelected(ByVal e As ItemSelectEventArgs)
RaiseEvent ItemSelected(Me, e)
End Sub
Public Event ItemSelected As ItemSelectEventHandler
End Class
Public Class ItemSelectEventArgs
Inherits EventArgs
Private _statusMessage As String
Protected Sub New()
End Sub
Public Sub New(ByVal message As String)
_statusMessage = message
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property StatusMessage() As String
Get
Return _statusMessage
End Get
End Property
End Class
Public Delegate Sub ItemSelectEventHandler(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e
As ItemSelectEventArgs)
