Hi,

On page 72 in the example C# code, there is a method:

Private BookDisplay_Init(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    ...
}

with reference to that this method is called at design-time so the Custom Control can be displayed in the ASPX's design-view, however I couldnt seem to get this to work. Intellisense didn't seem to see it, should there be a capital 'P' in Private? Is there a return type? (I put in 'void' so the compiler recognised it). Also, the downloadeable code doesn't seem to have it.

Can you please help me on this?

Cheers,
Jack.

Hang in there, Chapter 3 is next on my list...

I sat down and got through most of it this evening. Watch for it tomorrow evening.

The two OnInit() methods (his says BookDisplay_Init() but...) Pete is refering to on page 72 are the overridden from the base class. Here is an example that I whipped up real quick. If you want to see the design time OnInit() methods called during design time see the instructions below this code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Text;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;

namespace MyWebControls
{
    [ToolboxData("<{0}:BookDetail runat=server></{0}:BookDetail>")]
    public class BookDetail : Label
    {
       protected override void OnInit(System.EventArgs e)
        {
            this.EnsureChildControls();
        }
        protected override void CreateChildControls()
        {
            TextBox txt = new TextBox();
            txt.ID = "fred";
            txt.Text = "Hello, World";
            this.Controls.Add(txt);
            base.CreateChildControls();
            this.ChildControlsCreated = true;
        }
    }

}

1. Create a project that contains only your Custom Server Controls.

2. Go to Project - > MyWebControls Properties - > Debug

3. Under "Start Action" choose "Start external program" and designate your IDE as the one to start during debug. Mine was here: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe"

4. Set some break points in the OnInit() and CreateChildControls() overrides.

5. Start debug. An new instance of the IDE will start. Now load the web project that you're going to use your control into the newly opened instance of the IDE.

6. Go through the process of adding your custom control to the tool box.

7. Drag your control onto a web form.

8. Your original IDE (the one that has your server controls and that you launched debug from) should now "bust upon" a break point. Yeeeee Haaaawl!!! :)

Let me know if you have any troubles with it.. or, better yet, let me know if you have a better way of debugging design time behavior of server controls.