Usage of Custom Controls

Once the custom component definition is complete, the project with the component library file has to be added as a project reference in a Forms project. The icons for the custom components are displayed in the Form Designer palette.

Note: When adding a project reference to a library project, forms that are open in the referring project will not immediately reflect the new palette drawers available from that project. You will need to close and re-open those forms in order to see the new palette drawers.

The Form Designer supports the following functionality when working with custom controls:

  • You can create a new control instance from the palette by clicking the custom control type, moving the mouse to the desired position on the form canvas, and clicking again.
  • Controls of other types can be refactored to custom control types by changing the control type field on the General Properties tab for the control.
  • The Form Designer Properties tab presents a table for editing the extended properties defined for the custom control.
  • The preview makes use of the custom controls.
  • Custom control libraries are made available by adding a reference to the library project.
  • All built-in control functionality is available, unless specifically prevented by the custom control type definition. For example: validation, labels, hints, visibility, and data binding.
  • Deployment of custom controls is handled the same as for other BPM projects.