Adding a user control using Windows Form designer

Question

This is probably an incredibly obvious question, but I just can't figure it out.

I have a Windows Form managed by the form designer. I'd like to include a custom user control, also managed by the form designer. But I'm unable to get the custom control to show up in the Toolbox, even if I try manually adding it under the "Choose Items..." dialog.

Both form and control are in the same assembly. I've tried separating the control into a separate assembly in order to follow the instructions here to the letter, to no avail. I'm also using C++/CLI, if that changes anything.

Is there an attribute or such I should be setting to my control in order for it to appear in the Designer Toolbox?

Answer 1

In the "choose items" dialog, go to ".NET Framework" tab, your control should be there

If you are from a different project, you need to add a Reference to your project first. (or dll)

In the solution explorer, right click on your project name, click add references

then you should be able to add a .NET reference to your project containing the user control

Answer 2

Yes, there is one. The only one I'm aware of that prevents a control from showing up in the toolbox if the class is in the same project. Tools + Options, Windows Forms Designer, General, AutoToolboxPopulate should be set to True. The default value.