User Control properties not saving in designer

Question

I've been working on a VB.NET application for about two years now that functions much as a Windows Explorer shell and file browser replacement. I just started to develop a user control that will act like a button but consists of one picturebox and one label. The code for what happens when the item is clicked is already finished but I'm having a problem with the control's properties;

I added two properties to the control, one for the "ButtonText" that will change the text of the label, and one for the "Image" in the picturebox. I read through Microsoft's documentation on control properties Creating a Windows Form User Control) and they helped me add properties to the control.

Private bttnTxt As String
Private bttnImg As Image

<Category("Appearance"), Description("The text displayed at the bottom of the button control")>
Public Property ButtonText() As String
    Get
        Return bttnTxt
    End Get
    Set(ByVal Value As String)
        Label3.Text = Value
    End Set
End Property

<Category("Appearance"), Description("The image used in the button control")>
Public Property Image() As Image
    Get
        Return bttnImg
    End Get
    Set(ByVal Value As Image)
        PictureBox3.BackgroundImage = Value
    End Set
End Property

I built by solution, added the newly added control to my designer of my application's main form and set the values of the "Image" and "ButtonText" properties. However when I add a value to my custom properties, they immediately revert back to nothing.

I need help determining why the values I set in the designer wont stay in the properties.

Answer 1

You aren't saving anything to your variable:

Public Property ButtonText() As String
  Get
    Return bttnTxt
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
      bttnTxt = Value
      Label3.Text = Value
  End Set
End Property