能否在SCADA的HMI构建器中集成Visual Studio WinForms编辑器？有何替代工具？

Hey there! Let's walk through your three key questions about building an HMI builder for your SCADA application, since you're targeting a tool similar to Visual Studio's WinForms editor:

Can I directly use the Visual Studio WinForms editor in my app? #

Short answer: No. The Visual Studio WinForms editor is tightly integrated into the Visual Studio IDE—it's not a standalone, embeddable component that you can pluck out and drop into your own application. It relies on the entire VS ecosystem (project system, compiler services, etc.) to function, so there's no official way to use it directly outside of VS.

Can I integrate it as a control into my HMI builder? #

Unfortunately, you can't integrate the actual VS WinForms editor as a control either. That said, you can build a similar-looking and functioning editor using WinForms' built-in design-time APIs. The System.ComponentModel.Design namespace has core classes like DesignSurface, IDesignerHost, and ComponentDesigner that let you create your own visual design surface. With these, you can replicate the drag-and-drop, property editing, and layout functionality of the VS editor, and embed this custom-built surface directly into your HMI builder application.

What alternative tools/components are available? #

Here are some solid options to consider, split by category:

Open-Source Options #

• SharpDevelop WinForms Designer: SharpDevelop is an open-source IDE, and its WinForms designer is a fully independent implementation. You can either reference its components (check the license first) or use its code as a reference to build your own custom editor.
• Avalonia Designer: If you're open to cross-platform support, Avalonia's design component is embeddable and uses XAML. It's a great choice if you want your HMI builder to run on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• Community-Built DesignSurface Wrappers: There are several open-source projects that wrap WinForms' DesignSurface into a reusable, easy-to-integrate control. These often come with basic drag-and-drop and property grid support out of the box, perfect for starting your HMI builder quickly.

Commercial Options #

• DevExpress WinForms Designers: DevExpress offers robust, embeddable design controls that work with their extensive WinForms UI library. If you need polished, feature-rich components (like advanced charts, gauges, and industrial controls) for your SCADA HMI, this is a strong pick.
• Telerik WinForms Designers: Similar to DevExpress, Telerik provides embeddable design surfaces paired with their WinForms controls. They include tools for layout management, property editing, and custom component support.

SCADA/HMI-Specific Tools #

• Ignition SDK: Inductive Automation's Ignition platform lets you build custom HMI designers using Java or Python. It's designed specifically for industrial SCADA applications, with built-in support for real-time data connections and industrial protocols.
• Siemens WinCC OA SDK: For industrial-grade SCADA, WinCC OA's SDK provides APIs to extend or build custom HMI editing tools, with deep integration into Siemens' industrial ecosystem.
• Wonderware InTouch SDK: Wonderware's InTouch offers SDKs to create custom HMI design components, tailored for industrial visualization and process control.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Ram