Here is one approach to extending the My namespace. Using this approach an object is served up as a property in Intellisense when My. is typed.
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a Visual Studio 2005 project.
Add the code below to a new project file named: My Extensions Example.vb
Add a Button1 to Form1.
Add a Button1 click handler to the code behind Form1.
Type My. into the click handler code area to experiment with the new My.MyExtensions property.
' To the My namespace add a Module named MyExtensionExample.
' In the MyExtensionExample module use a Property to expose
' a MyExtensions object.
Namespace My
' Apply the HideModuleName attribute to the MyExtensionExample module.
' This will prevent 'MyExtensionExample' from appearing in intellisense.
' Instead client code will see only the
_
Module MyExtensionExample
' Declare a field named _MyExtensions of type MyExtensions.
' Instantiate a new MyExtensions object and assign it
' to the _MyExtensions variable.
Private _MyExtensions As New MyExtensions
' Declare a property names MyExtensions of type MyExtensions.
Friend Property MyExtensions() As MyExtensions
Get
Return _MyExtensions
End Get
Set(ByVal value As MyExtensions)
_MyExtensions = value
End Set
End Property
End Module
End Namespace
' MyExensions Class
' Exposed through MyExtensions property
' in the MyExtensionExample module.
Public Class MyExtensions
' Example member for MyExtensions class.
Public ReadOnly Property GetPathToTextFile() As String
Get
' Declare a variable named textOpenFiledDialog of type OpenFileDialog.
' Instantiate a new OpenFileDialog object and assign
' it to the textOpenFileDialog variable.
Dim textOpenFileDialog As New OpenFileDialog
' Set the CheckFileExists property of the OpenFileDialog to True
' to ensure a valid file path is returned.
textOpenFileDialog.CheckFileExists = True
' Set the Title property of the OpenFileDialog.
textOpenFileDialog.Title = "Open a Text File"
' Set the Filter property of the OpenFileDialog so that
' .txt files will be shown in the dialog.
textOpenFileDialog.Filter = "txt files (*.txt)|*.txt|All files (*.*)|*.*"
' Show the OpenFileDialog.
' If the user clicks the OK button on the OpenFileDialog...
If textOpenFileDialog.ShowDialog = DialogResult.OK Then
' Return the FileName property of the OpenFileDialog; this
' will be a path to a file as a string.
Return textOpenFileDialog.FileName
Else
' User did not pick a file so return Nothing.
Return Nothing
End If
End Get
End Property
End Class