Adding a custom control to a toolstrip

[Moorzee]

After getting past the first hurdle of toolstrip items(combobox hell!!!!) I have decided to create a user control, consisting of two date pickers and a button to allow me to gather date between parameters to bung into stored proc. I have got the control and referenced it in my application, but am wondering how to show this in my menu structure. Cannot use the earlier solution of casting a toolstripcombobox to my custom so how would I embed further down menu structure. Again I can add at top level but not what I am after..

Ta for any assistance peeps.

 

[JohnH]

Using the ToolStripControlHost class allows you to add any control as a menu item. See http://www.vbdotnetforums.com/showthread.php?t=8096

 

[Moorzee]

Thanks for the reply John. I'm ok with adding a control to a toolstrip by creating a control, casting and adding with the ts.items.add statement but my problem is how to add my custom control at a specific point in my menu structure, i.e dropdownbutton then a couple of menuitems. Across from one of these menuitems I wish to add my control. Not sure how to insert at this point.???

Cheers.

 

[JohnH]

Use the Add or Insert method of the main ToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems collection:

Dim uc As New yourUserControl
Dim host As New ToolStripControlHost(uc)
ViewToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.Add(host)
'or
ViewToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.Insert(index, host)

 

[Moorzee]

Cheers for your help John. Do you know how I can add my custom control to the right of an existin dropdown menuitem though?

I have my menu structure set up at design time in the ide then at runtime need to add my control to the right of a menuitem, structure is summot like:

Clients:
---->Client Searches:
------->"By Area"------>Combo*Combos I have ok*
------->"By Worker"---->Combo
------->"Reviewed between two dates" ---> <My custom object here>
------->"Some other searches"

Really struggling with obtaining an index for this position to perform insert?????

 

[JohnH]

Each menu item that has got child menu items is the main menu for its branch. So your 'Client searches' has got a name you can replace where I used 'ViewToolStripMenuItem'. If the three other menu items you have listed in that branch already exists you use the Insert method with index 2 (zero-based)

 

[Moorzee]

You've already given me the answer John and I owe you big time..... The dropdownitems.add is the baby.

I didn't need the index as I already had the name of the menuitem. You are a genious. Thanks a shedload mon ami.