How to modify PropertyGrid at runtime (add/remove property and dynamic types/enums)

Question

How do you modify a propertygrid at runtime in every way? I want to be able to add and remove properties and add "dynamic types", what I mean with that is a type that result in a runtime generated dropdown in the propertygrid using a TypeConverter.

I have actually been able to do both those things (add/remove properties and add dynamic type) but only separately not at the same time.

To implement the support to add and remove properties at runtime I used this codeproject article and modified the code a bit to support different types (not just strings).

private System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGrid propertyGrid1; private CustomClass myProperties = new CustomClass();  public Form1() {     InitializeComponent();      myProperties.Add(new CustomProperty("Name", "Sven", typeof(string), false, true));     myProperties.Add(new CustomProperty("MyBool", "True", typeof(bool), false, true));     myProperties.Add(new CustomProperty("CaptionPosition", "Top", typeof(CaptionPosition), false, true));     myProperties.Add(new CustomProperty("Custom", "", typeof(StatesList), false, true)); //<-- doesn't work }  /// <summary> /// CustomClass (Which is binding to property grid) /// </summary> public class CustomClass: CollectionBase,ICustomTypeDescriptor {     /// <summary>     /// Add CustomProperty to Collectionbase List     /// </summary>     /// <param name="Value"></param>     public void Add(CustomProperty Value)     {         base.List.Add(Value);     }      /// <summary>     /// Remove item from List     /// </summary>     /// <param name="Name"></param>     public void Remove(string Name)     {         foreach(CustomProperty prop in base.List)         {             if(prop.Name == Name)             {                 base.List.Remove(prop);                 return;             }         }     } 

etc...

public enum CaptionPosition {     Top,     Left } 

My complete solution can be downloaded here.

It works fine when I add strings, bools or enums, but when I try to add a "dynamic type" like StatesList it doesn't work. Does anyone know why and can help me to solve it?

public class StatesList : System.ComponentModel.StringConverter {     private string[] _States = { "Alabama", "Alaska", "Arizona", "Arkansas" };      public override System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter.StandardValuesCollection     GetStandardValues(ITypeDescriptorContext context)     {         return new StandardValuesCollection(_States);     }      public override bool GetStandardValuesSupported(ITypeDescriptorContext context)     {         return true;     }      public override bool GetStandardValuesExclusive(ITypeDescriptorContext context)     {         return true;     } } 

The method of using a TypeConverter works fine when you don't try to add the property at runtime, for example this code works without any problem, but I want to be able to do both.

Please take a look at my project. Thanks!

Answer 1

What you do, is adding StatesList (a TypeConverter) as a property.
What you should do, is adding a property with StatesList as its TypeConverter.

Answer 2

Ah, of course!

myProperties.Add(new CustomProperty("Custom", "", typeof(States), false, true));  [TypeConverter(typeof(StatesList))] public class States { } 

Works like a charm, thank you!

I have updated my project, hope it can be helpful to others, it can be found here.