Freshness pass winforms (#2054)

* table test

* Acro and various fixes; update dates

* Convert a table to normal style

* First pass on upgrading target projects

* Finished up automatic updates

* Fixes

* Apply suggestions from code review

Co-authored-by: Genevieve Warren <[email protected]>

* Update dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/input-keyboard/overview.md

Co-authored-by: Genevieve Warren <[email protected]>

* Update dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/input-keyboard/overview.md

Co-authored-by: Genevieve Warren <[email protected]>

---------

Co-authored-by: Genevieve Warren <[email protected]>

Author: adegeo

dotnet-desktop-guide/index.yml

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ metadata:
   ms.product: dotnet
   author: adegeo
   ms.author: adegeo 
-  ms.date: 11/11/2024
+  ms.date: 04/02/2025
 
 # linkListType: architecture | concept | deploy | download | get-started | how-to-guide | learn | overview | quickstart | reference | sample | tutorial | video | whats-new
 

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/designer-differences-framework.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Designers changes from .NET Framework
 description: Learn about the Windows Forms designer changes from .NET Framework to .NET.
-ms.date: 11/14/2024
+ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.topic: overview
 no-loc: ["UserControl", "UserControl1", "UserControlProject", "Label", "Button", "Form", "TextBox"]
 dev_langs:

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/designer-errors.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Design-time error troubleshooting
 description: Learn about some of the common errors that occur when the Windows Forms Designer fails to load. This article might help you troubleshoot those errors.
-ms.date: 07/19/2023
+ms.date: 04/01/2025
 ms.topic: troubleshooting
 f1_keywords: 
   - "DTELErrorList"

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/designer-overview.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Visual Studio Design-time overview
 description: Learn about what capabilities are available in Visual Studio for Windows Forms designer support with your custom controls.
-ms.date: 06/01/2023
+ms.date: 04/01/2025
 ms.topic: overview
 no-loc: ["UserControl", "UserControl1", "UserControlProject", "Label", "Button", "Form", "TextBox"]
 dev_langs:
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Many basic design elements of custom controls have remained the same from .NET F
 
 Visual Studio is a .NET Framework-based application, and as such, the Visual Designer you see for Windows Forms is also based on .NET Framework. With a .NET Framework project, both the Visual Studio environment and the Windows Forms app being designed run within the same process, **devenv.exe**. This poses a problem when you're working with a Windows Forms .NET (not .NET Framework) app. Both .NET and .NET Framework can't work within the same process. As a result, Windows Forms .NET uses a different designer, the "out-of-process" designer.
 
-The out-of-process designer is a process called **DesignToolsServer.exe**, and is run along-side Visual Studio's **devenv.exe** process. The **DesignToolsServer.exe** process runs in the same version and platform, such as .NET 9 and x64, of .NET that your app is targeting. When your custom control needs to display UI in the **devenv.exe** your custom control must implement a client-server architecture to facilitate the communication to and from **devenv.exe**. For more information, see [The designer changes since .NET Framework (Windows Forms .NET)](designer-differences-framework.md).
+The out-of-process designer is a process called **DesignToolsServer.exe**, and is run alongside Visual Studio's **devenv.exe** process. The **DesignToolsServer.exe** process runs in the same version and platform, such as .NET 9 and x64, of .NET that your app is targeting. When your custom control needs to display UI in Visual Studio, your custom control must implement a client-server architecture to facilitate the communication to and from **devenv.exe**. For more information, see [The designer changes since .NET Framework](designer-differences-framework.md).
 
 ## Property window
 

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/designer-properties-overview.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Design-time properties overview
 description: Learn about how the Windows Forms Designer interacts with control and form properties during design-time.
-ms.date: 07/14/2023
+ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.topic: overview
 no-loc: ["UserControl"]
 dev_langs:
@@ -123,4 +123,4 @@ This should be converted into examples
 The **Properties** window automatically uses a type editor for a property when the type of the property is a built-in or known type. For example, a boolean value is edited as a combo box with **True** and **False** values and the <xref:System.DateTime> type uses a calendar dropdown.
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
-> Custom type editors have changed since .NET Framework. For more information, see [The designer changes since .NET Framework (Windows Forms .NET)](designer-differences-framework.md).
+> Custom type editors have changed since .NET Framework. For more information, see [The designer changes since .NET Framework](designer-differences-framework.md).

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/how-to-create-usercontrol.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: How to create a user control
 description: This article teaches you how to create a user control, known as a composite control, that you can add to other forms.
-ms.date: 06/19/2023
+ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.topic: how-to
 no-loc: ["UserControl", "UserControl1", "UserControlProject", "Label", "Button", "Form", "TextBox"]
 dev_langs:
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ The user control is made up of _constituent controls_, which are the controls yo
 01. With the designer open, the user control design surface should be the selected object. If it's not, click on the design surface to select it. Set the following properties in the **Properties** window:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property    | Value      |
     > |-------------|------------|
     > | MinimumSize | `84, 53`   |
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ The user control is made up of _constituent controls_, which are the controls yo
 01. Add a **Label** control. Set the following properties:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property  | Value     |
     > |----------|------------|
     > | Name     | `lblTitle` |
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ The user control is made up of _constituent controls_, which are the controls yo
 01. Add a **TextBox** control. Set the following properties:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property  | Value     |
     > |----------|------------|
     > | Name     | `txtValue` |
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@ The user control is made up of _constituent controls_, which are the controls yo
 01. Add a **Button** control. Set the following properties:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property  | Value     |
     > |----------|------------|
     > | Name     | `btnClear` |
@@ -132,6 +136,7 @@ If you created a new project in the last section, you have a blank Form named **
 01. Select one control and set the following properties:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property  | Value         |
     > |----------|----------------|
     > | Name     | `ctlFirstName` |
@@ -142,6 +147,7 @@ If you created a new project in the last section, you have a blank Form named **
 01. Select the other control and set the following properties:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property  | Value        |
     > |----------|---------------|
     > | Name     | `ctlLastName` |
@@ -152,6 +158,7 @@ If you created a new project in the last section, you have a blank Form named **
 01. Back in the **Toolbox** window, add a label control to the form, and set the following properties:
 
     > [!div class="mx-tableNormal"]
+    >
     > | Property  | Value        |
     > |----------|---------------|
     > | Name     | `lblFullName` |

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/how-to-designer-properties-shouldserialize-reset.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: How to use the Reset and ShouldSerialize methods
 description: Learn how to implement the Reset and ShouldSerialize methods to control a property during design-time in Windows Forms.
-ms.date: 07/20/2023
+ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.topic: how-to
 dev_langs:
   - "csharp"

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/how-to-set-toolbox-icon.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: How to set the toolbox icon
 description: Learn how to assign your control's icon. The icon appears in the Visual Studio Toolbox.
-ms.date: 07/20/2023
+ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.topic: how-to
 dev_langs:
   - "csharp"

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/overview.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Create custom controls overview
 description: Learn about the different types of custom controls you can create in Windows Forms for .NET.
-ms.date: 06/01/2023
+ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.topic: overview
 f1_keywords: 
   - "UserControl"
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ If you need to implement a custom design-time experience, you can author your ow
 
 Use the <xref:System.ComponentModel.DesignerAttribute> to associate your control with your designer.
 
-The following information is out of date but may help you.
+The following information is out of date but it might help you.
 
 - [(Visual Studio 2013) Extending Design-Time Support](/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2013/37899azc(v=vs.120)).
 - [(Visual Studio 2013) How to: Create a Windows Forms Control That Takes Advantage of Design-Time Features](/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2013/307hck25(v=vs.120)).

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/designer-properties-overview/csharp/CompassRose.cs

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ public partial class CompassRose : UserControl
 
     // <browsable>
     [Browsable(false)]
+    [DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Hidden)]
     public bool IsSelected { get; set; }
     // </browsable>
 

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/designer-properties-overview/csharp/UserControlProject.csproj

@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
   </PropertyGroup>
-
 </Project>

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/designer-properties-overview/vb/CompassRose.vb

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Public Class CompassRose
 
     '<browsable>
     <Browsable(False)>
+    <DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Hidden)>
     Public Property IsSelected As Boolean
     '</browsable>
 

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/designer-properties-overview/vb/UserControlProjectVB.vbproj

@@ -1,33 +1,28 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <StartupObject>Sub Main</StartupObject>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <MyType>WindowsForms</MyType>
     <RootNamespace>UserControlProject</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <Import Include="System.Data" />
     <Import Include="System.Drawing" />
     <Import Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
   </ItemGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <Compile Update="My Project\Application.Designer.vb">
       <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
       <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
       <DependentUpon>Application.myapp</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
   </ItemGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <None Update="My Project\Application.myapp">
       <Generator>MyApplicationCodeGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Application.Designer.vb</LastGenOutput>
     </None>
   </ItemGroup>
-
 </Project>

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/extend-existing/csharp/CustomControlProject.csproj

@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
   </PropertyGroup>
-
 </Project>

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/extend-existing/vb/CustomControlProjectVB.vbproj

@@ -1,33 +1,28 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <StartupObject>Sub Main</StartupObject>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <MyType>WindowsForms</MyType>
     <RootNamespace>CustomControlProject</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <Import Include="System.Data" />
     <Import Include="System.Drawing" />
     <Import Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
   </ItemGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <Compile Update="My Project\Application.Designer.vb">
       <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
       <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
       <DependentUpon>Application.myapp</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
   </ItemGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <None Update="My Project\Application.myapp">
       <Generator>MyApplicationCodeGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Application.Designer.vb</LastGenOutput>
     </None>
   </ItemGroup>
-
 </Project>

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/how-to-create-simple-custom-control/vb/DefaultTemplate/FirstControl.vb

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-Namespace DefaultTemplate
+Imports System.ComponentModel
+
+Namespace DefaultTemplate
 
     ' <template>
     Public Class FirstControl
@@ -15,6 +17,8 @@
     Public Class SomethingElse : Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Control
         Private _textAlignment As HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Left
 
+
+#Disable Warning WFO1000 ' Missing code serialization configuration for property content
         ' <property>
         Public Property TextAlignment As HorizontalAlignment
             Get
@@ -27,6 +31,7 @@
             End Set
         End Property
         ' </property>
+#Enable Warning WFO1000 ' Missing code serialization configuration for property content
     End Class
 
 End Namespace

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/how-to-create-simple-custom-control/vb/UserControlProjectVB.vbproj

@@ -1,33 +1,28 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <StartupObject>Sub Main</StartupObject>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <MyType>WindowsForms</MyType>
     <RootNamespace>UserControlProject</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <Import Include="System.Data" />
     <Import Include="System.Drawing" />
     <Import Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
   </ItemGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <Compile Update="My Project\Application.Designer.vb">
       <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
       <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
       <DependentUpon>Application.myapp</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
   </ItemGroup>
-
   <ItemGroup>
     <None Update="My Project\Application.myapp">
       <Generator>MyApplicationCodeGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Application.Designer.vb</LastGenOutput>
     </None>
   </ItemGroup>
-
 </Project>

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/how-to-create-usercontrol/csharp/ClearableTextBox.cs

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ public partial class ClearableTextBox : UserControl
 
         //<text>
         [Browsable(true)]
+        [DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible)]
         public new string Text
         {
             get => txtValue.Text;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ public partial class ClearableTextBox : UserControl
 
         //<title>
         [Browsable(true)]
+        [DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible)]
         public string Title
         {
             get => lblTitle.Text;

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/how-to-create-usercontrol/csharp/UserControlProject.csproj

@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
   </PropertyGroup>
-
 </Project>

dotnet-desktop-guide/net/winforms/controls-design/snippets/how-to-create-usercontrol/vb/ClearableTextBox.vb

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Public Class ClearableTextBox
 
     '<text>
     <Browsable(True)>
+    <DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible)>
     Public Shadows Property Text() As String
         Get
             Return txtValue.Text
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ Public Class ClearableTextBox
 
     '<title>
     <Browsable(True)>
+    <DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible)>
     Public Property Title() As String
         Get
             Return lblTitle.Text