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.NET Framework 4
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.NET Framework Class Library
IContainerControl Interface

Provides the functionality for a control to act as a parent for other controls.

Namespace:  System.Windows.Forms
Assembly:  System.Windows.Forms (in System.Windows.Forms.dll)
Visual Basic
Public Interface IContainerControl
C#
public interface IContainerControl
Visual C++
public interface class IContainerControl
F#
type IContainerControl =  interface end

The IContainerControl type exposes the following members.

  NameDescription
Public propertyActiveControlGets or sets the control that is active on the container control.
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  NameDescription
Public methodActivateControlActivates a specified control.
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Notes to Implementers

Implement this interface in classes that you want to parent a collection of controls. The members of this interface allow you to activate a child control, or determine which control is currently active. When implemented in a class, ActivateControl takes a Control as a parameter and activates the specified control. The ActiveControl property activates or retrieves the control that is active.

In most common scenarios, you do not need to directly implement this interface. For example, if you create a Windows Control Library project, Visual Studio generates an initial class for you. That class inherits from the UserControl class, and UserControl implements IContainerControl for you.

The following example inherits from the ScrollableControl class and implements the IContainerControl interface. Implementation is added to the ActiveControl property and the ActivateControl method.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing

   Public Class MyContainerControl
      Inherits ScrollableControl
      Implements IContainerControl 

      Private myActiveControl As Control

      Public Sub New()
         ' Make the container control Blue so it can be distinguished on the form.
         Me.BackColor = Color.Blue

         ' Make the container scrollable.
         Me.AutoScroll = True
      End Sub 

      ' Add implementation to the IContainerControl.ActiveControl property.
      Public Property ActiveControl() As Control Implements IContainerControl.ActiveControl
         Get
            Return Me.myActiveControl
         End Get

         Set
            ' Make sure the control is a member of the ControlCollection.
            If Me.Controls.Contains(value) Then
               Me.myActiveControl = value
            End If
         End Set
      End Property

      ' Add implementation to the IContainerControl.ActivateControl(Control) method.
      public Function ActivateControl(active As Control) As Boolean Implements IContainerControl.ActivateControl
         If Me.Controls.Contains(active) Then
            ' Select the control and scroll the control into view if needed.
            active.Select()
            Me.ScrollControlIntoView(active)
            Me.myActiveControl = active
            Return True
         End If
         Return False
      End Function 

   End Class  
C#
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;

    public class MyContainer : ScrollableControl, IContainerControl
    {
        private Control activeControl;
        public MyContainer() 
        {
            // Make the container control Blue so it can be distinguished on the form.
            this.BackColor = Color.Blue;
            
            // Make the container scrollable.
            this.AutoScroll = true;
        }

        // Add implementation to the IContainerControl.ActiveControl property.
        public Control ActiveControl
        {
            get
            {
                return activeControl;
            }

            set
            {
                // Make sure the control is a member of the ControlCollection.
                if(this.Controls.Contains(value))
                {
                    activeControl = value;
                }
            }
        }

        // Add implementations to the IContainerControl.ActivateControl(Control) method.
        public bool ActivateControl(Control active)
        {
            if(this.Controls.Contains(active))
            {
                // Select the control and scroll the control into view if needed.
                active.Select();
                this.ScrollControlIntoView(active);
                this.activeControl = active;
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        }
    }
Visual C++
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
using namespace System::Drawing;

public ref class MyContainer: public ScrollableControl, public IContainerControl
{
private:
   Control^ activeControl;

public:
   MyContainer()
   {
      // Make the container control Blue so it can be distinguished on the form.
      this->BackColor = Color::Blue;

      // Make the container scrollable.
      this->AutoScroll = true;
   }

   property Control^ ActiveControl 
   {
      // Add implementation to the IContainerControl.ActiveControl property.
      virtual Control^ get()
      {
         return activeControl;
      }

      virtual void set( Control^ value )
      {

         // Make sure the control is a member of the ControlCollection.
         if ( this->Controls->Contains( value ) )
         {
            activeControl = value;
         }
      }
   }

   // Add implementations to the IContainerControl.ActivateControl(Control) method.
   virtual bool ActivateControl( Control^ active )
   {
      if ( this->Controls->Contains( active ) )
      {
         // Select the control and scroll the control into view if needed.
         active->Select(  );
         this->ScrollControlIntoView( active );
         this->activeControl = active;
         return true;
      }

      return false;
   }
};

.NET Framework

Supported in: 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1

Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
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