Detect when a new control is added to an ActiveX container

You can easily create ActiveX controls that work as containers for other controls, by setting their ControlContainer property to True. However, VB doesn't offer any event for detecting when the programmer adds or remove controls to the ActiveX control, after placing it on a form's surface.

It's pretty easy to detect such actions with the aid of a Timer control, though. Just place a Timer control on the UserControl's surface, set its Interval property to a suitable value (for example, 500 milliseconds) and then add the following code:


Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Static ctrlCount As Integer
    
    If ctrlCount <> ContainedControls.Count Then
        ctrlCount = ContainedControls.Count
        ' a new control has been added or removed
        ' from inside your UserControl
        '
        ' ...add your code here........
        '
    End If
End Sub

If you're working under VB6 you can add the Timer control dynamically, so it's just a matter of copying-and-pasting the following code:


Dim WithEvents tmrNotifier As Timer

Private Sub UserControl_Initialize()
    ' create a new Timer control dynamically
    Set tmrNotifier = Controls.Add("VB.Timer", "tmrNotifier")
    tmrNotifier.Interval = 500
End Sub

Private Sub tmrNotifier_Timer()
    Static ctrlCount As Integer
    
    If ctrlCount <> ContainedControls.Count Then
        ctrlCount = ContainedControls.Count
        ' a new control has been added or removed
        ' from inside your UserControl
        '
        ' ...add your code here........
        '
    End If
End Sub

Francesco Balena

Submit a Tip

Browse "Visual Basic" Tips

Browse All Tips

0 Comments (click to add your comment)

Comment and Contribute