Windows Forms FAQ resources

2. Windows Forms Controls

2.29 How do I dynamically load a control from a DLL?

You use System Reflection to dynamically load a control. If the DLL is named "SpecControls.DLL" and the class you want is "SpecControls.ColorControl", then use this code.

[C#]

// load the assembly

System.Reflection.Assembly assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom("SpecControls.DLL");

// get the type

Type t = assembly.GetType("MyControls.MyControl");

// create an instance and add it.

Control c = (Control)Activator.CreateInstance(t);

parent.Controls.Add(c);

[VB.NET]

' load the assembly

Dim assembly1 As System.Reflection.Assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom("SpecControls.DLL")

' get the type

Dim t As Type = assembly1.GetType("MyControls.MyControl")

' create an instance and add it.

Dim c As Control = CType(Activator.CreateInstance(t), Control)

parent.Controls.Add(c)