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Container control with sub containers

I have a project where I want to create a control that allows part of the control to be a container control is this posible?

Imagine this... A single control with 2 frames in it. One frame (left) contains text data and the other frame (right) the user can add their own controls to.

But I don't want the user to be able to add their controls outside of the right frame. Is this posible? If so how?

If someone can help me make this work I will increase the points on this question.

TimCottee

If you are using a frame control then you can use the add method of the controls collection to add controls directly into this frame.

Dim t As Textbox
Set t = Me.Controls.Add("VB.Textbox","txtNew","Frame1")
With t
.Visible = True
.Top = 100
.Left = 100
.Text = "Here I Am"
End With

SirNick

Hi Tim

I know that this isn't my question, but I just tried your code and it gave me an error message in the second line saying 'object doesn't support this method or property'.

Do I have to make some kind of reference before it will work?

TimCottee

Dim t As Textbox
Set t = Me.Controls.Add("VB.Textbox","txtNew",Frame1)
With t
.Visible = True
.Top = 100
.Left = 100
.Text = "Here I Am"
End With

The Frame1 parameter doesn't need to be in quotes.

You shouldn't be getting that error message, based on the above I would not have been surprised at a type mismatch error.

You shouldn't need any sort of reference, however if you are using VB5 then this doesn't work I am afraid.

SirNick

Yes, it worked without the quotes around Frame1. Thanks for clearing that up...

SirNick

P.S I got that error in VB5 but tried the second time with VB6, and as you pointed out I got a type mismatch error.

schworak

ASKER

Maybe I am not grasping the function of the answer. How does that help?

That dynamically adds the textbox (or what ever) the the frame which is great, but I am trying to control the process at design time when a user uses my control (the one with 2 frames) and trys to drop a new object into my container control.

If I can catch (or detect) where they are dropping their control I can record the information somehow. I can then make sure the control lands and then stays within the second frame area.

Much like if you create a picture box then put two frames in it. I only want stuff to be dropped on the frame on the right not on the left.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

TigerZhao

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schworak

ASKER

Took me a minute to realize this but that only works at run time. Which is great but switching the parent at that time isn't much value.

I am trying to do it at design time.

Control11 is all compiled and ready.

Form1 is in design mode.

I am having some success with a timer checking for a change in child controls. I disable the timer when the control is in usermode.

I tried the SetParent and it blew up in design mode. Works fine in run mode though.

I am also experimenting with adding Frame2 to the VBE when the control first initializes to see if that will help. Then I can simply reject any controls that are dropped outside the frame2. This is proving to be harder than expected though.

schworak

ASKER

Apperently from all the documents I have read so far, it is not posible to do what I am looking for. There is no code method to add or remove or change the parent/child relations of contained controls within a control. A little frustrating, but I will live.

I have a couple other ways to make this project work. I will just make the two sections completely different controls and use them together

schworak

ASKER

Not the answer I was looking for but since it proved useful for something else I am crediting it.