>>I am creating an application that will have multiple "panes". When an option is selected, the panel for that option will be placed on the form.
>>
>>What's the best way for me to design a hierarchy of user controls all based off a single base control? I would really prefer to do it visually. If I do it in code, I can base each one off of a base class, but doing everything in code is tedious and painstaking.
>>
>>If I design the panes visually, I don't have the inheritance I want. If Implement an interface, I'm assured of getting all the members needed, but then I lose other members I need on the panel:
>>
>>

>>private void AddPane()
>>{
>>    IPanel oControl;
>>
>>    switch (sItemKey)
>>    { 
>>        case "ship_items":
>>            oControl = new crlShipItems();
>>            break;
>>
>>        case "sview_inv":
>>            break;
>>
>>        case "sreports":
>>            break;
>>
>>    }
>>
>>    this.Controls.Add(oControl);
>>    oControl.Top = iTop;
>>    oControl.Left = iLeft;
>>    oControl.Setup();
>>}
>>

>>
>>This doesn't compile because there is no Top or Left in the interface.
>>
>>What's the right way to do this?
>
>So in the code above crlShipItems (and other IPanel items) are derived directly from Panel?
>If so then, for convenience, just add the Panel properties and methods that you want to access to the IPanel interface.
>Otherwise just use ((Panel)oControl).Left etc.
>Regards,
>Viv

I don't think I understand. Is there no easy way to subclass a usercontrol in the designer?