I have a user control which normally displays a large amount of data from an application.

This is similar to an excel chart.

When I drop this control onto a form, I want to put some dummy data in, so that properties can be previewed. I can't see how (within the control code) to determine that the control is in design mode.

How can this be determined?

Trev

Use the DesignMode property on the control (it's actually defined on Component, which Control inherits from). Sometimes that isn't always accurate, so it's sometimes a good idea to use it together with a check against System.ComponentModel.LicenseManager.UsageMode == System.ComponentModel.LicenseUsageMode.Designtime.

Use the DesignMode property on the control (it's actually defined on Component, which Control inherits from). Sometimes that isn't always accurate, so it's sometimes a good idea to use it together with a check against System.ComponentModel.LicenseManager.UsageMode == System.ComponentModel.LicenseUsageMode.Designtime.