Visual Studio: Make view code default using attribute

Question

I know how to configure VS 2008 to open windows forms controls in code instead of the designer. But I think I have seen a way I could do this with an attribute I could decorate the desired controls with. Does anyone know its name? This is especailly usefull if you want some controls to be opened in the designer and some in the c# code view.

Answer 1

I think I have found where you already seen that: the Brian Ensink's blog. You can use the DesignerCategory attribute to mark class in order to choose how they are opened:

• If you inherit a class from System.Windows.Form, it will be open by the designer view.
• If you add the [System.ComponentModel.DesignerCategory("")] attribute, it will be open by the code view.

Answer 2

The magic line you seek is:

[System.ComponentModel.DesignerCategory("Code")]

Just put that before your control-derived type and kiss that useless designer goodbye.