How can I create Sub Properties in my class? like so control.Property.subproperty

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I have a class that inherits from button and in it I have a method that makes the button grow in size when focused, and a property to establish whether this should be allowed or not. If it is allowed, I'd like to be able to determine the size of the button's enlargement with a sub property.

This is my code:

Imports System.Windows.Forms
Public Class ClearButton
    Inherits Windows.Forms.Button
    Public Grow As Boolean
    Public n As Integer
    Public Growth As Integer = n * 2
    Public Sub New()
        Me.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Flat
        Me.BackgroundImage = My.Resources.bClear
        Me.BackgroundImageLayout = ImageLayout.Stretch
        Me.BackColor = Drawing.Color.Black
        Me.FlatAppearance.MouseDownBackColor = Drawing.Color.Transparent
        Me.FlatAppearance.MouseOverBackColor = Drawing.Color.Transparent
        Me.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 0
        Me.ForeColor = Drawing.Color.White
        Me.AllowEnlargeWhenFocus = False
    End Sub

    Public Property AllowEnlargeWhenFocus() As Boolean
        Get
            Return Me.Grow
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
            Me.Grow = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Private Sub ClearButton_GotFocus(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.GotFocus
        If Grow = True Then
            Me.BringToFront()
            Me.SetBounds(Me.Left - n, Me.Top - n, Me.Size.Width + Growth, Me.Size.Height + Growth)
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

So I'd like to have a sub property to determine "n". And then it could be accessed like so:

VB

ClearButton1.AllowEnlargeWhenFocus.mSize = 3

Is there a way I can do that or should I just add the nSize property as a different property instead?

Posted 7-Nov-11 12:59pm

Vic91

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Sander Rossel · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-07T13:16:00

A "sub-Property" is simply a Property that is also a Class or Structure.
So having a Property such as the following will allow you to call ClearButton.AllowEnlargeWhenFocus.mSize = 3

VB

Public Class Enlargement
   Public Property mSize As Integer
End Class

Public Class ClearButton
   ' Stuff...
   Private _enlargement As Enlargement
   Public Property AllowEnlargeWhenFocus As Enlargement
      Get
         Return _enlargement
      End Get
      Set(Byval value As Enlargement)
         _enlargement = value
         Me.Resize(value.mSize)
      End Set
   End Property
   ' More stuff...
End Class

However I do not quite see why this would be necessary. AllowEnlargeWhenFocus sounds as though it is a Boolean. It seems all your ClearButton would need is another Property, let's call it Enlargement, that is an Integer and will be used for resizing when AllowEnlargeWhenFocus is True.
Having a Class (or Structure)with just one Property like that makes no sense at all, neither does starting a Property name with "Allow" and not making it a Boolean. Or having a Public Property be called mSize (CamelCase[^] for Public Properties and Methods is widely accepted as the standard).
Hope that helps you solve your problem :)