---
title: SAIFTabsDesigner
summary: API reference for SAIFTabsDesigner.
status: draft
owner: SAIF Documentation Team
last_reviewed: 2026-08-17
library: SAIF.Presentation.Web.Controls.V2
reference_type: package
---

# SAIFTabsDesigner

`SAIFTabsDesigner` is a `ControlDesigner` that renders a static three-tab placeholder in the Visual Studio designer for `SAIFTabs`, since `SAIFTabs` normally has no tabs until they are added imperatively at runtime and would otherwise appear empty on the design surface.

## Purpose
- Give `SAIFTabs` a representative design-time appearance (three sample tabs) so developers can preview its active/inactive styling and image decorations without running the page.

## Context
- Namespace: `SAIF.Presentation.Web.Controls.V2`
- Assembly/package: Compiled into `SAIF.BOF.Presentation.Web.Infragistics103`*

## Public members
| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `GetDesignTimeHtml()` | `Public Overrides Function GetDesignTimeHtml() As String` | Builds and returns an HTML `<table>` with three sample tab cells ("Tab 1" active, "Tab 2"/"Tab 3" inactive), using the associated `SAIFTabs` instance's configured styles and edge images. |

## Inherited public members

`SAIFTabsDesigner` inherits from `ControlDesigner` (`System.Web.UI.Design`), a framework base class rather than a documented SAIF dependency library.

| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `ActionLists` | `Public Overridable ReadOnly Property ActionLists As DesignerActionListCollection` | Design-time smart-tag actions exposed in the Visual Studio designer. |
| `Component` | `Public ReadOnly Property Component As IComponent` | The design-time component instance currently being decorated. |
| `Tag` | `Public ReadOnly Property Tag As DesignerTag` | Helper object used by the designer infrastructure when rendering design-time HTML. |
| `ViewControl` | `Public Overridable ReadOnly Property ViewControl As Control` | Design-time view control used to host or render the component in the designer surface. |
| `GetDesignTimeHtml()` | `Public Overridable Function GetDesignTimeHtml() As String` | Returns the HTML markup shown on the design surface for the associated control. |
| `Initialize(component)` | `Public Overridable Sub Initialize(ByVal component As IComponent)` | Connects the designer to the associated component when design-time editing begins. |

Standard `ControlDesigner` members are not re-documented here as they are unmodified framework behavior**.

## Behavioral notes
- Delegates per-tab HTML construction to a private `RenderTab` helper, applying `ActiveTabStyle`/`ActiveLinkStyle` to the first sample tab and `InactiveTabStyle`/`InactiveLinkStyle` to the remaining two.
- Design-time only; has no effect on runtime rendering or behavior of `SAIFTabs`.

## Constraints and usage notes
- Applies only within the Visual Studio designer; does not affect compiled page output or the actual tabs added via `AddTab`/`InsertTab` at runtime.


> **Note:** Statements marked with * were inferred from code structure, naming conventions, or
> contextual evidence where direct confirmation was not available in source artifacts. Statements
> marked with ** could not be confirmed; treat as unknown until verified.

## Sources
- SAIF.Presentation.Web.Controls.V2\SAIFTabsDesigner.vb