Developing .NET Custom Controls and Designers Using C#

*** Tools and services for enhancing design-time support for components and controls

*** Irregularly-shaped, borderless Windows Forms.

*** Advanced techniques on building simple and complex UITypeEditors.

*** Details of how type converters work with guidelines on implementing new ones.

*** Component licensing model and architecture with sample demonstrations.

*** Complete and reusable Windows Forms Wizard custom control.

*** Complete and reusable Web Forms tab control.

One instance of difficulty is that the example given in chapetr 3 doesn't work. When I looked at the author's downloadable sample code and compared it to the code in the book, I found that he implemented 2 other functions not implemented in the book. However, it made no difference at runtime, the code still did not work as intended. Then the author got into UITypeEditors. He introduces terms without fully explaining what they mean (of course, they can easily be looked up on MSDN, but what's the problem with quickly explaining them in a paragraph or two??). He quickly jumps from one topic to another within this section of the chapter and just dumps code on you. So much so, I feel like I just got picked up by a tornado and dropped 15 miles away!

While I look forward to reading the rest of the book to try and get what I can out of it, I agree with other reviewers that you are still going to need to read as much as you can from the MSDN (what little there is there) as well as other sources that may be available on the web, and of course, you're going to have to tinker around to really learn anything substantial. However, having said that, this is only one of two books devoted to custom control development (the other being .Net Windows Forms Custom Controls by Richard L. Weeks, which is better in my opinion, but still not the greatest.).

The long and short of it is, anything at all is a help, but you're going to have to read other sources and just plain old play with code on your own. Apparently, there does not exist one comprehensive book that will get you on your way. Yes boys and girls, there will be homework tonight, and a lot of it, so happy reading. And your final project is due YESTERDAY!

***

I finished reading this book. It only took two days! The author stopped trying to write after the second chapter!! This book is horrible. If you want a paperback version of the MSDN, then this book is for you, otherwise, don't waste your time or money on it.


Great book but definitely not for the beginner.   October 10, 2003
Lego Maniac
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I've been developing custom controls in C# for 3 months now after developing custom Java controls for years. I must say initially that this book was not much help. If you need a real beginner book that holds your hand step by step buy Petzold. However, after delving into the intricacies of Windows Forms you'll definitely find this book useful. The OutlookTab example in this book invaluable. It's a real world example and the author tackles some of the more advanced development topics. I agree with other reviewers that this book is not as clear as you would hope. Also you will definitely still need to read the MSDN docs and probably look at the some disassembly to get a good grasp of developing your own custom controls.


Control design   September 12, 2003
keith (Seattle, WA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Content and topics covered in the book are good, especially
a lot pages talking on designer. But it lacks small and complete examples like presented in other books that help to understand. Finally it presented an big example that has too many codes to read.