Equivalent to VCL's DataModule

In Borland's VCL ( Visual Component Library ), one can use a DataModule into which one can drop non-visual components from the RAD designer. The DataModule is a design-time visual container for non-GUI components, which is never seen visually at run-time as a GUI control. An application or Dll can have any number of datamodules in it, each with its own name. One can also manually add any non-GUI data to any particular DataModule. For an application at run-time, datamodule instances for each visual datamodule are automatically created just like forms, while for a Dll at run-time it is the programmer's responsibility to create datamodule instances for each visual datamodule created at design time.

I have found the ability to use datamodules as visual containers to non-GUI components in an application or Dll to be very useful. Admittedly a datamodule is nothing more than a class which contains instances of non-GUI components and possibly other non-GUI fields, but I like the ability to manipulate it at design time, and as a means of separating the data portion of an application or Dll from the GUI portion.

Does .NET have any equivalent to this idea, so that non-visual components can be created at design time without having to drop such a component on a Windows or Web form. ?
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Equivalent to VCLs DataModule
    ... DataModule is a design-time visual container for non-GUI components, ... while for a Dll at run-time it is the programmer's responsibility ... like the ability to manipulate it at design time, ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.framework)
  • Re: Equivalent to VCLs DataModule
    ... The DataModule is a design-time visual container for non-GUI components, which is never seen visually at run-time as a GUI control. ... For an application at run-time, datamodule instances for each visual datamodule are automatically created just like forms, while for a Dll at run-time it is the programmer's responsibility to create datamodule instances for each visual datamodule created at design time. ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.framework)
  • Re: Equivalent to VCLs DataModule
    ... An application or Dll ... also manually add any non-GUI data to any particular DataModule. ... visual datamodule created at design time. ... non-GUI components in an application or Dll to be very useful. ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.framework)
  • Re: OODesign approach in reality
    ... NG), we also used datamodule, a business object-like class, windows form to ... In my experience 90% of Delphi applications are built in a way similar ... components and drag and drop design this is the natural way most ...
    (borland.public.delphi.non-technical)
  • Re: TComponent with TLabel "designtime" on TDataModule
    ... I already implemented CustomDesigner for form (datamodule descendant). ... (like TLabel design-time is bound to TLabel runtime) ... TLabel as design time representation ("FormDesigner" have the same ...
    (borland.public.delphi.non-technical)
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