ControlDesigner.GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml Method

protected:
 virtual System::String ^ GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml();

protected virtual string GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml ();

abstract member GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml : unit -> string
override this.GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml : unit -> string

Protected Overridable Function GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml () As String

Returns

String

The HTML markup used to represent a control at design time that would otherwise have no visual representation. The default is a rectangle that contains the type and ID of the component.

Examples

The following code example demonstrates how to override the GetDesignTimeHtml method in a custom control designer. If the Text property for the associated control is empty, the GetDesignTimeHtml method calls GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml method. Otherwise, the GetDesignTimeHtml method creates and renders a Hyperlink control.

public override string GetDesignTimeHtml()
{
    if (simpleControl.Text.Length > 0)
    {
        string spec = "<a href='{0}.aspx'>{0}</a>";
        return String.Format(spec, simpleControl.Text);
    }
    else
    {
        return GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml();
    }
}

Public Overrides Function GetDesignTimeHtml() As String
   ' Component is the instance of the component or control that
   ' this designer object is associated with. This property is 
   ' inherited from System.ComponentModel.ComponentDesigner.
   simpleControl = CType(Component, Simple)
   
   If simpleControl.Text.Length > 0 Then
      Dim sw As New StringWriter()
      Dim tw As New HtmlTextWriter(sw)
      
      Dim placeholderLink As New HyperLink()
      
      ' Put simpleControl.Text into the link's Text.
      placeholderLink.Text = simpleControl.Text
      placeholderLink.NavigateUrl = simpleControl.Text
      placeholderLink.RenderControl(tw)
      
      Return sw.ToString()
   Else
      Return GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml()
   End If
End Function

Remarks

The default behavior of the GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml method is to return a string that contains the name of the component. The GetEmptyDesignTimeHtml method should be called in the implementation of the GetDesignTimeHtml method when there is no design-time HTML markup.

Applies to

See also

• GetErrorDesignTimeHtml(Exception)
• GetDesignTimeHtml
• ASP.NET Control Designers Overview