When we need to create a container control in "regular" framework, we simply add
using System.ComponentModel;
and an attribute to the control class:
[Designer("System.Windows.Forms.Design.ParentControlDesigner, System.Design",
typeof(IDesigner))]
public partial class MyContainerControl : UserControl
....
However, in compact framework this seems to be impossible since the DesignerAttributes class does not exist.
I already have the user control, but I need it to act as a container in design time.
I've tried googling anything I could think of, but came up with nothing.
Is there any way to create a container user control except inheriting an existing container control?
The UserControl class inherits directly from ContainerControl which the same inheritance as Form. Oddly, Panel inherits from ScrollableControl (ContainerControls parent) so despite being a panel it isn't a Container.
Anyway, it's not the inheritance that's the issue. The design time control is actually defined in a separate assembly compiled with the full framework to give you the attributes back (hopefully sharing the source between the two). It's really a completely separate control.