get error in IDE when try to view ASPX designer page *RESOLVED*

[Wokawidget]

Error: "The file could not be loaded into the web forms designer"

I have a class called ApplesBase:

Public Class ApplesBase
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
 
    Public Sub New()
       Call LinkToApples
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub LinkToApples()
        'code here to do stuff
    End Sub
End Class

My web pages now inherit from this:

Public Class EnteringSite
    Inherits ApplesBase
 
    'code for web page
End Class

Now the problem occurs when I try to view the designer in the IDE for any web page that inherits ApplesBase.
The error I am getting is in the screenshot.
If I remark out the Call LinkToApples line from the ApplesBase class then it works. but I need this code here.

The problem is that adding break points doesn't help as it seems to not link the code to the IDE, or something.

Anyways, I have been told that I can do an If blah Then type statement in my New sub so that I can only execute the code when not running in the IDE.

Make sense???

Woof