Search code examples
c#winformsvisual-studio-2012controlscomponents

Find components on a windows form c# (not controls)


I know how to find and collect a list of all the controls used in a Windows Form. Something like this:

static public void FillControls(Control control, List<Control> AllControls)
{
    String controlName = "";
    controlName = control.Name;

    foreach (Control c in control.Controls)
    {
        controlName = c.Name;
        if ((control.Controls.Count > 0))
        {
            AllControls.Add(c);
            FillControls(c, AllControls);
        }
    }
}

However this function does not retrieve the non-visual components on the bottom of the form like the HelpProvider, ImageList, TableAdapters, DataSets, etc.

Is there a way to get the list of these components as well?

Edit:

Thanks @HighCore for pointing me to use System.ComponentModel.Component instead in a similar function does get me a list with components such the ImageList, the Help Provider and the BindingSource. However, I still miss from this list the TableAdapters and the DataSets. I suppose because those inherit directly from Object.

Please. Don't refer me to older posts which shows a similar function to mine and that only gets the list of the controls.

Edit: Why the negative votes? This question has never been answered before!


Solution

  • Surprisingly, it seems the only way to do this is via reflection.

    private IEnumerable<Component> EnumerateComponents()
    {
        return from field in GetType().GetFields(BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.NonPublic)
               where typeof (Component).IsAssignableFrom(field.FieldType)
               let component = (Component) field.GetValue(this)
               where component != null
               select component;
    }