Preventing user from selecting different tool when custom tool is selected?

Question

I am using VB.Net to write an add-in. I'd like to keep the tool that I created selected even when the user attempts to select a different tool, and only deselect when my tool is clicked on again.

• Kirk Kuykendall: How are you implementing ITool.Deactivate?
• Xoph: I haven't implemented it yet. I figured this would be the key to doing this, but I wasn't sure what to put inside the Deactivate method
• Kirk Kuykendall: When you say: "keep the tool that I created selected even when another tool is selected" do you really mean: "keep the tool that I created selected even when the user attempts to select a different tool"?
• Xoph: Yes, that is what I meant
• Xoph: Sorry, your interpretation was not exactly correct, what I mean is that I would like to keep my tool active, even when the user selects another tool. When the user clicks on the tool again, it should the deactivate my tool.

Answer 1

If IApplication.currenttool is your custom tool, return false for ITool.Deactivate, and set IApplication.CurrentTool = null in ICommand.OnClick.

• Xoph: Setting it to null tells me to convert to DBNull.Value, but this gives me the warning "Runtime errors might occur when converting 'System.DBNull' to 'ESRI.ArcGIS.Framework.ICommandItem'"
• Kirk Kuykendall: @Xoph I forgot you're in VB.NET. Did you try Nothing instead of Null?
• Xoph: Nothing works. I'm still hazy on where to set IApplication.CurrentTool = nothing? You say in ICommand.OnClick. Should this be a ReadOnly Property or how do I implement it?
• blah238: Does this just prevent other tools from being activated?