title: Visual Form Inheritance not working for Smart Device/Compact Framework in Visual Studio 2008
body: <p>When I try to create an Inherited Form for a Windows CE application in Visual Studio 2008, I get the error message:</p>
  
  <p>The designer could not be shown for this file because none of the classes within it can be designed. The designer inspected the following classes in the file: TestForm --- The base class 'InheritanceTest.BaseForm' could not be loaded. Ensure the assembly has been referenced and that all projects have been built.</p>
  
  <p>Visual Studio 2008, Version 9.0.30729.1 SP<br>
  Microsoft .NET Framework Version 3.5 SP1.</p>
  
  <p>I can get the problem without writing any code at all, and without customising the form in any way. It doesn't make a difference whether the BaseForm is in the same project or in a separate class library. The project compiles ok, the problem is with viewing the inherited form in the designer. It occurs on both of my computers. I'm using C#.</p>
  
  <p>Procedure to get the problem:<br>
  File - New Project - Windows C# - Smart Device - CeInheritanceTest (.Net Framework 3.5)<br>
  Target Platform - Windows CE - Device Application<br>
  Add – New Item - Visual C# Items – Windows Forms – Windows Form – "BaseForm"<br>
  Build Solution<br>
  Add – New Item - Visual C# Items – Windows Forms – Inherited Form – "TestForm"<br>
   - inherit from BaseForm</p>
  
  <p>If I do the same thing for a normal desktop app, form inheritance works no problem.</p>
  
  <p>From searching the web for this problem, it looks like others are getting form inheritance to work using the compact framework, so I must be missing something.</p>
  
  <p>I have not written or modified any code, so the base class is not abstract, and I am not using PInvoke.</p>
  
  <p>Any suggestions?</p>