.NET Windows® Forms Custom Controls

Detailed Design

Before diving into the code for the OutlookBarTab, its design must be fully specified. The design details include the following:

• Base class

• Interfaces

• Properties

• Events

• Public methods

• User interface

• Control/Component designer

After the design criteria have been established, it's merely a matter of realizing the design in code. The first question, of course, is where to start.

Base Class

Deciding on the base class for the OutlookBarTab requires determining what role the component plays, the needs of the component, and its interaction with its eventual container. Because the OutlookBarTab represents a graphical entity on the screen, it might seem necessary for it to derive from the Control base class. The Control base class would allow ...