2005
Dec05

The versatility of the Checkbox'ed property

When the user wants to select some values from a definite small number of choices, attaching a checkbox look/feel to the property is a good way to achieve exactly that, instead of using the usual combobox. Instinctively you may think that only an enumeration type can use such a feature. Actually, three types can. Enumeration: this is the usual case. You may apply a custom attribute to display the enum values differently. [Flags] public enum SupportedOSs { none = 0, win95 = 1, win98 = 2, winxp = [...]

2005
Nov28

Properties with hyperlink

You already know the HotLinkProperty. It lets you put a static text in a row and it looks blue and underlined, inviting you to a click to activate the link. I have added in the latest build, on request, an editable link. Basically this is a normal property that you create as usual but you just add something like this: propEnum.Property.HyperLinkFormat = "mailto:{0}"; When Ctrl+clicked (for HotLinkProperty or such normal properties), you will receive the event HotLinkClickedEvent and get the [...]

2005
Nov19

A new logo for VisualHint

I’m happy to unveil the new VisualHint identity. It is based on the old logo but now features a brand new look that I find far more attractive, dynamic and professional. It precedes the conception of a new web site that will bring together the existing library for MFC and the new one for .Net. [...]

2005
Nov08

Visual Studio 2005 released

I downloaded a copy of the express edition yesterday and I am happy that the Smart PropertyGrid library compiles well. First tests show no crashes also. I encourage you to continue your beta testing under the official release. [...]

2005
Nov06

DateTimePicker, PropertyGrid and BackColor wedding

The Microsoft PropertyGrid doesn’t use the DateTimePicker control to edit a date. It uses a simple dropped down month calendar and therefore it is not even possible to edit a time only. This was the indication of a challenge for me. If you do a search with the keywords "DateTime BackColor" on the web and on the newsgroups you will find a lot of posts asking how to change the BackColor of a DateTimePicker control as well as answers saying that it is not so obvious and that you could try this way [...]

2005
Oct22

How to manage the appearance of a default value

The Microsoft PropertyGrid has a built-in mechanism to handle default values: it displays them by using a non-bold font while the other properties are painted with the bold style. The Visual Studio designer also proposes a menu to reset a property to its default value. I could have done the same in SPG but this would not be very flexible. Some people, like I did in a C++ application recently, will want for example to display a very subtle different background for non default values. Or maybe [...]

2005
Sep30

Download a sample application

I have published today a sample application. In fact this is my test program that showcases almost every feature of the PropertyGrid. At the same time, I have updated the SmartPropertyGrid assembly to build 2 since a dozen of bugs have been fixed. Download it now [...]

2005
Jul15

Multiple values in a row

Here is the third post of the set I promised previously: To store multiple variables in a single property is a new concept brought by SPG. I wanted to do it when a customer who bought the MFC version asked me if it was possible to have in one row a double value and its associated unit. Although it was feasible with some work it was not instantaneous, and even if this customer achieved to do it I decided to implement a built-in mechanism in the .NET version. And finally this is done. Here is a [...]

2005
Jul14

Silence

I’m still here and very active. Because several people asked me the status of the library by mail, here are the very uninteresting reasons of my silence: first some family came here then I took some vacations and very recently I had a major computer crash with data loss. I only got it back from repair some days ago. When everything is restored, I will finalize the evaluation of an obfuscator. [...]

2005
May16

Properties auto-discovery

Here is the second post of the set I promised previously: The strength of SPG is that you can really work with it at run-time. You will be able to add, remove, move and delete properties with very few lines of code. The appearance and the way to edit these properties can also be changed easily. But to be complete, the existing way of showing properties in the grid has still to be available. Right now, this is done with the SelectedObject Property. It means, among other things, that all the [...]