Inherited Class and .Clone method..[RESOLVED]

[BenFinkel]

I created my own class:

Public Class M3ListViewItem
     Inherits System.Windows.Forms.ListViewItem

     Private mintType As Integer

     Public Property Type() as Integer...

End Class

In order to add a Type variable to the ListViewItem class that already existed.

The problem is when I call the Clone method, I get a regular ListViewItem back and the Type property is reset to Zero. How can I get around this?

I tried overloading the Clone method, but I can't return a different type on an overloaded method...

Thanks,

Ben

[Edneeis]

You have to Shadow it to return a different value. BUT that means if it is cast down to a regular ListViewItem then the original Clone method will be called instead of yours. That probably wont be an issue but just so you know.

[BenFinkel]

Shadow..interesting...

Like So?:

Public Shadows Function Clone() As M3ListViewItem

And out of curiosity, what would my clone method look like?

How is this:

Public Shadows Function Clone() As M3ListViewItem

     dim lviNew as New M3ListViewItem()

     lviNew = me.Clone
     lviNew.Type = me.Type
     Clone = lviNew

End Function

[Edneeis]

However you want to do it. You can either go thru each property or if I were you I'd use serialization. If you serialize it for cloning then if you add or change properties later then you wont have to change the clone method.

[BenFinkel]

Heh, feel like giving me a quick lesson in serialization?

[Edneeis]

Search for 'BinaryFormatter' I remember seeing some examples posted previously on this board. Its very easy though. If you are still stuck after those then I'll post an example.