[RESOLVED] [02/03] Too many controls for IDE to handle?

[18experience]

I have a form that has many (~8) panels that cover the entire form. Think of it like eight tab pages, but without a tab control. On each panel there are many controls. I don't know the exact number of controls. The problem is, I need to add something to my main menu, but I can see it. I also can't see/edit any of my context menus.

Is it possible that I have exceeded the number of controls on one form that the VB 2003 IDE can handle, and it is crapping out on the menus?

The only work around I have found it to select every control, delete it (now my main menu appears again), then undo the changes, which puts everything back where it was only now I can see my main menu. I guess it just crams everything through again and, this time, everything is happening correctly. However, I am having serious problems with the undo part now (major performance hit, in that, it freezes) and I think it may be because the number of controls has (probably) increased again. I have somewhere around 2G of ram. I suppose I could go into the designer code and do it manually, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that. Anyone ever had a problem like this? Anyone know a solution?

[jmcilhinney]

Are you sure your Panels aren't just covering your menu? As to performance, you're going to have to give us a better idea of exactly how many controls you're talking about. If the number is really large then you'd probably be better designing each "page" as a separate UserControl and then only create a "page" on your form as and when it's needed.

[{IP}Gil-Galad]

To make it visible goto to properties window and there's a drop down list. select the main menu and reselect that the dock is at the top, or you'll see the selection rectangle on the form so right click and bring it to the front.

[18experience]

Are you sure your Panels aren't just covering your menu? As to performance, you're going to have to give us a better idea of exactly how many controls you're talking about. If the number is really large then you'd probably be better designing each "page" as a separate UserControl and then only create a "page" on your form as and when it's needed.

I created a new project, added a panel, and a menu, and I tried to make the panel cover the menu, and I don't think that is possible. I do agree with your design opinion. I think this part has outgrown it's original design, and now we are keeping our fingers crossed that it won't get any larger. I've never developed in an environment like this (work environment, not the IDE) and it looks like I have a lot to learn.

To make it visible goto to properties window and there's a drop down list. select the main menu and reselect that the dock is at the top, or you'll see the selection rectangle on the form so right click and bring it to the front.

I'm using 2003, and I don't have a docking option with my menu.


Someone found an easier work around. We changed the MainMenu of the main form to none, and then back to my menu. That seemed to wake up the IDE and show the menu again and allow me to edit it.