.NET Windows® Forms Custom Controls

Introduction

Why write a book on custom controls? Well, there's an adage that says “sex sells.” The premise of that adage is the same for developing custom controls and application development. Consumers tend to buy the pretty box, or the application with the slickest, most modern user interface. Prettiness also sells. Often, consumers make purchase decisions regardless of functionality. Custom control development serves two purposes: The first is to mimic user interface elements found in leading commercial products, and the second is to provide controls not found in the standard set of Windows common controls.

Examples of useful custom controls include spreadsheet-style controls, such as Spread from FarPoint Technologies, and the Outlook-style ...