Programming Microsoft® Composite UI Application Block and Smart Client Software Factory

E. Modifying the Display of Views using the SmartPartInfo Structure

1. The connection that we've seen between the view and the workspace that displays it is quite loose, very much an arm's length sort of thing. The workspace doesn't know anything about how the SmartPart would like to be displayed—for example, what its preferred size or caption might be. The view doesn't know anything about what its display options are, such as whether or not it can specify the caption or the display size. This very loose style of connection is often acceptable, since the details change seldom enough that they can be handled through out-of-band communication between design teams. However, situations arise in which we want the view and the workspace that displays it ...