John,

>I want to create a collection of sub-classed controls that I can then make show up on my forms control toolbar in C++ just like I can so easily do in VFP. I don't want to ever use the base controls in C++, but it looks like I am forced to. Nah, that can't be . . . .

VC5 has a component gallery that you drop classes of your own into. You
can then re-use those classes in other projects. It's not as easy as VFP
but it does provide that capability.

Actually, if you're into Visual Subclassing etc. I recommend Borland C++
builder which is by far the most elegant tool for building UI heavy C++
applications. It has a component manager that's based on the Delphi
VCL engine (you can mix and match C++ and Delphi components) and
it's a snap to create controls that can be reused and dropped onto
forms.

It just amazes me that it took this long to get a tool like this. The next
rev of all the C++ compiler will have something like this, I'm sure. It's
ridiculous to build UI any other way...

+++ Rick ---