A computer-implemented system and method that allows Design-Time Control components to be hosted in applications whose extensibility interfaces do not natively support Design-Time Controls. The system and method host and encapsulate a Design-Time Control while simultaneously conforming to the unique extensibility interface of the software application. The user is allowed to interact directly with the Design-Time Control. The property settings of the control are saved along with some generated content into the digital document by the application's extensibility interface. The method and system allow for repeated editing of the document by recreating a control whose property values match the property values of the control that was previously created in the document.