Force create handle for Control

Question

I'm currently creating a silent print module. The current control I'm using is, it's making sure that the control handle is already created (IsHandleCreated). I did everything to cheat this with no luck at all.

Do you have ideas in mind on how can I create a handle for the control without displaying any in the screen?

Answer 1

Try to overload CreateParams property getter. In it clear the WS_VISIBLE flag.

Answer 2

You have to access the Handle property (put the result in a dummy variable or something). Look in Reflector; it forces handle creation.

Answer 3

I had the same problem with some other controls and used the Control.CreateControl() method:

private void CheckForExistingHandle(Control control)
{
    if (!control.IsHandleCreated)
        control.CreateControl();
}

But i don't know how it works with a print module.

Answer 4

I solved this annoying handle creation problem by settings the WS_VISIBLE of CreationParams. You may either override the CreationParams property of Control or call the CreateHandle method with appropriate CreateParams instance. See the link

Answer 5

Calling private method CreateHandle will do the work.

MethodInfo ch = frm.GetType().GetMethod("CreateHandle", BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance);
ch.Invoke(frm, new object[0]);