Michael Sync

Souce Code
/// <summary>
/// Adding Custom ToolTab into ToolBox of Visual Studio 2003 or 2005
/// </summary>
/// <param name=”sAssemblyPath”>Path of Assembly</param>
/// <param name=”sTabName”>Tab Name</param>
/// <param name=”sControlName”>Control Name</param>
/// <param name=”isWhidbey”>Check whether VS2k3 or VS2k5</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static bool RegisterControl(string sAssemblyPath,string sTabName,
string sControlName,bool isWhidbey) {
try {
EnvDTE.DTE dte;

if(isWhidbey)
dte = (EnvDTE.DTE)System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject(”VisualStudio.DTE.8.0″);
else
dte = (EnvDTE.DTE)System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject(”VisualStudio.DTE.7.1″);

ToolBox objToolBox;
ToolBoxTabs colTbxTabs;
ToolBoxTab objTab;
ToolBoxItem objTbxItem ;
// Create an object reference to the IDE’s ToolBox object.
objToolBox = (EnvDTE.ToolBox)dte.Windows.Item(Constants.vsWindowKindToolbox).Object;//.Object;
colTbxTabs = objToolBox.ToolBoxTabs;

/*
* In some cases if the propeties window is hidded or closed, this line will activate the properties window.And the second line you have cited will add the controls to the active tab.In some case if the tab is not made active, the controls will be added either to the active tab or to the general tab section.It might work in your case, but does not in certain cases, better to do it sequentially giving no room for errors.
*/
//ToolBoxWnd.Visible = true;
//objToolBox.DTE.ExecuteCommand(”View.PropertiesWindow”,”");

for(int i=1; i < colTbxTabs.Count ; i++) {
if(colTbxTabs.Item(i).Name.ToString().Trim() == sTabName) {
Console.WriteLine(colTbxTabs.Item(i).Name.ToString());
objTab = colTbxTabs.Item(i);
foreach(ToolBoxItem tbxi in objTab.ToolBoxItems) {
Console.WriteLine(tbxi.ToString()); //Print ToolboxItem.
}
objTab.Delete(); //Delete if it is already exist.
break;
}
}
// Add a new tab to the ToolBox.
objTab = colTbxTabs.Add(sTabName);
objTab.Activate();

///Adding the .Net control to the Toolbox
if(isWhidbey){
objTbxItem=objTab.ToolBoxItems.Add(sControlName,
sAssemblyPath , vsToolBoxItemFormat.vsToolBoxItemFormatDotNETComponent);
}
else{
//Must be null if the control is many child controls. (VS2003)
objTbxItem=objTab.ToolBoxItems.Add(null,
sAssemblyPath , vsToolBoxItemFormat.vsToolBoxItemFormatDotNETComponent);
}

Console.WriteLine(objTab.ToolBoxItems.Item(objTab.ToolBoxItems.Count).Collection.Count);
return true;
}
catch(Exception ex) {
Console.WriteLine(”RegisterControl(string) : ” + ex.Message) ;
return false;
}

}

Note:

1. The Custom ToolBar will be created in the first instance of VS IDE. (It’s better if you open only one VS IDE.)
2. Form Designer should be shown. (If TextEditor is shown then, this code wont’ execute properly because VS IDE automatically prevent the usage of Toolbox if Text Editor is shown.)

Download SouceCode : http://www.geocities.com/mchlsync/VSTbxMgr.zip

Let me know if you have any problem with this soucecode. Thanks.