FIX: Error message after you edit the property of a Visual C++ control in Visual Studio 2005: "A circular control reference has been made. A control cannot be owned by or parented to itself"

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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

You create a Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 project in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.
You create a Visual C++ user control that contains a control in the Visual C++ project.

For example, you create a user control that contains a Button control.
You try to edit the property of the Button control in Visual C++ Designer.

For example, you edit the name of the button in the user control.
You close the Visual C++ project and then open the Visual C++ project again.

In this scenario, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

A circular control reference has been made. A control cannot be owned by or parented to itself. 
Hide <> 
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CheckParentingCycle(Control bottom, Control toFind) 
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlCollection.Add(Control value) 
at System.Windows.Forms.Design.ControlDesigner.DesignerControlCollection.Add(Control c)

The code in the head file of the user control should contain a member variable declaration for the controls that are included in the user control. However, in this scenario, the member variable declaration for the Button control may disappear from the head file.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because Visual C++ Designer deletes the member variable declaration for the Button control from the head file of the user control.

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RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Visual Studio 2005 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;%5Bln%5D;cntactms)

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

You must have Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

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