docs-desktop/dotnet-desktop-guide/framework/winforms/controls/how-to-wrap-a-windows-forms-control-with-toolstripcontrolhost.md

title, ms.date, dev_langs, helpviewer_keywords, ms.assetid

title	ms.date	dev_langs	helpviewer_keywords	ms.assetid
Wrap Control with ToolStripControlHost	03/30/2017	csharp vb cpp	ToolStrip control [Windows Forms], wrapping controls toolbars [Windows Forms], wrapping controls ToolStrip control [Windows Forms], hosting controls	e2ce4990-661d-4882-a116-8a9eb575dc84

How to: Wrap a Windows Forms Control with ToolStripControlHost

xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost is designed to enable hosting of arbitrary Windows Forms controls by using the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost constructor or by extending xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost itself. It is easier to wrap the control by extending xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost and implementing properties and methods that expose frequently used properties and methods of the control. You can also expose events for the control at the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost level.

To host a control in a ToolStripControlHost by derivation

1. Extend xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost. Implement a parameterless constructor that calls the base class constructor passing in the desired control.

   [!code-cppSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#10] [!code-csharpSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#10] [!code-vbSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#10]

2. Declare a property of the same type as the wrapped control and return Control as the correct type of control in the property's accessor.

   [!code-cppSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#11] [!code-csharpSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#11] [!code-vbSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#11]

3. Expose other frequently used properties and methods of the wrapped control with properties and methods in the extended class.

   [!code-cppSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#12] [!code-csharpSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#12] [!code-vbSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#12]

4. Optionally, override the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost.OnSubscribeControlEvents%2A, and xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost.OnUnsubscribeControlEvents%2A methods and add the control events you want to expose.

   [!code-cppSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#16] [!code-csharpSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#16] [!code-vbSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#16]

5. Provide the necessary wrapping for the events you want to expose.

   [!code-cppSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#17] [!code-csharpSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#17] [!code-vbSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#17]

Example

[!code-cppSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#13] [!code-csharpSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#13] [!code-vbSystem.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost#13]

Compiling the Code

This example requires:

• References to the System and System.Windows.Forms assemblies.

See also

• xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripControlHost
• ToolStrip Control Overview
• ToolStrip Control Architecture
• ToolStrip Technology Summary