Unexpected use of resources by the forms designer

Over a long period, some users have reported problems with code generated in the function InitializeComponent(), looking something like this:

this.labelX9.BackgroundStyle.Class = global::YourProject.MultiLang._668;

The reference to MultiLang obviously implicates the Multi-Language Add-In, but the code in InitializeComponent() is neither generated nor modified by the Add-In. This effect has always baffled me.

Now I think I know what is happening, and I can illustrate it with a sample program. This sample contains several parts, which I will try to describe in detail

Sample Program

This sample defines

• a Class
• a UserControl which exposes a property of that class
• a Form which uses the UserControl
• a resource file

I have made the sample in VB, but it could just as easily be in C#. I am sure that there is no difference.

The class

Imports System.ComponentModel

<TypeConverterAttribute(GetType(ExpandableObjectConverter))> _
Public Class MyObject

  Private mEmpty      As String = ""
  Private mOne        As String = "One"
  Private mTwo        As String = "Two"

  <Localizable(True)> _
  <Browsable(True)> _
  Public Property Empty as String
    Get
      Return mEmpty
    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As String)
      mEmpty = value
    End Set
  End Property

  <Localizable(True)> _
  Public Property One as String
    Get
      Return mOne
    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As String)
      mOne = value
    End Set
  End Property

  Public Property Two as String
    Get
      Return mTwo
    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As String)
      mTwo = value
    End Set
  End Property

End Class