---
title: Host 3D WPF Composite Control in Windows Forms
titleSuffix: ""
ms.date: 08/18/2018
dev_langs:
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "hosting WPF content in Windows Forms [WPF]"
  - "composite controls [WPF], hosting WPF in"
ms.assetid: 486369a9-606a-4a3b-b086-a06f2119c7b0
---
# Walkthrough: Host a 3D WPF Composite Control in Windows Forms

This walkthrough demonstrates how you can create a [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] composite control and host it in Windows Forms controls and forms by using the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Integration.ElementHost> control.

In this walkthrough, you will implement a [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] <xref:System.Windows.Controls.UserControl> that contains two child controls. The <xref:System.Windows.Controls.UserControl> displays a three-dimensional (3D) cone. Rendering 3D objects is much easier with the [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] than with Windows Forms. Therefore, it makes sense to host a [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] <xref:System.Windows.Controls.UserControl> class to create 3D graphics in Windows Forms.

Tasks illustrated in this walkthrough include:

- Creating the [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] <xref:System.Windows.Controls.UserControl>.

- Creating the Windows Forms host project.

- Hosting the [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] <xref:System.Windows.Controls.UserControl>.

## Prerequisites

You need the following components to complete this walkthrough:

- Visual Studio 2017

<a name="To_Create_the_UserControl"></a>
## Create the UserControl

1. Create a **WPF User Control Library** project named `HostingWpfUserControlInWf`.

2. Open UserControl1.xaml in the WPF Designer.

3. Replace the generated code with the following code:

     [!code-xaml[HostingWpfUserControlInWf#1](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/HostingWpfUserControlInWf/CSharp/HostingWpfUserControlInWf/ConeControl.xaml#1)]

     This code defines a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.UserControl?displayProperty=nameWithType> that contains two child controls. The first child control is a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Label?displayProperty=nameWithType> control; the second is a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Viewport3D> control that displays a 3D cone.

<a name="To_Create_the_Windows_Forms_Host_Project"></a>
## Create the host project

1. Add a **Windows Forms App (.NET Framework)** project named `WpfUserControlHost` to the solution.

2. In **Solution Explorer**, add a reference to the WindowsFormsIntegration assembly, which is named WindowsFormsIntegration.dll.

3. Add references to the following [!INCLUDE[TLA2#tla_winclient](../../../includes/tla2sharptla-winclient-md.md)] assemblies:

    - PresentationCore

    - PresentationFramework

    - WindowsBase

4. Add a reference to the `HostingWpfUserControlInWf` project.

5. In Solution Explorer, set the `WpfUserControlHost` project to be the startup project.

<a name="To_Host_the_Windows_Presentation_Foundation"></a>
## Host the UserControl

1. In the Windows Forms Designer, open Form1.

2. In the Properties window, click **Events**, and then double-click the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Form.Load> event to create an event handler.

     The Code Editor opens to the newly generated `Form1_Load` event handler.

3. Replace the code in Form1.cs with the following code.

     The `Form1_Load` event handler creates an instance of `UserControl1` and adds itto the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Integration.ElementHost> control's collection of child controls. The <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Integration.ElementHost> control is added to the form's collection of child controls.

     [!code-csharp[HostingWpfUserControlInWf#10](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/HostingWpfUserControlInWf/CSharp/WpfUserControlHost/Form1.cs#10)]
     [!code-vb[HostingWpfUserControlInWf#10](~/samples/snippets/visualbasic/VS_Snippets_Wpf/HostingWpfUserControlInWf/VisualBasic/WpfUserControlHost/Form1.vb#10)]

4. Press **F5** to build and run the application.

## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Integration.ElementHost>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Integration.WindowsFormsHost>
- [Design XAML in Visual Studio](/visualstudio/xaml-tools/designing-xaml-in-visual-studio)
- [Walkthrough: Hosting a WPF Composite Control in Windows Forms](walkthrough-hosting-a-wpf-composite-control-in-windows-forms.md)
- [Walkthrough: Hosting a Windows Forms Composite Control in WPF](walkthrough-hosting-a-windows-forms-composite-control-in-wpf.md)
- [Hosting a WPF Composite Control in Windows Forms Sample](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=160001)