StrataFrame Forum

Infragistic Wrapper

http://forum.strataframe.net/Topic5300.aspx

By Tim Dol - 12/13/2006

Any plans to add the GradientFormHeader, MaintenaceFormToolstrip, BrowseDialog etc... for the Infragistic controls so we can support their themes? 
By Trent L. Taylor - 12/14/2006

Infragistics has their own version of a GradientFormHeader so this one really wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.  As for the other two, no we are not.  Here is the reasoning behind this.  We initially did this for the DevExpress controls.  The GradientFormHeader on the DevEx is OK, but the MaintenanceFormToolbar and the BrowseDialog for the DevExpress have already starting growing apart from the standard controls.

In the next update, the MaintenanceFormToolstrip, BrowseDialog, and all other run-time components will have full localization support (pre-translated) for English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and French.  Since the toolbars and the BrowseDialog require a totally separate code base this becomes very cumbersome to maintain.  Additionally, the BrowseDialog is a huge undertaking in itself to dynamcially create the form with all of the different control collections.  It just isn't worth the staff and energy required to keep all of this up to date.

I recommend using our Themes if you are looking for theme support and use the Infragistics editor controls, such as the TextBox, etc.  This will allow you to take full advantage of the BrowseDialog and our Messaging interface without having the look of two different themes.

By Tim Dol - 12/14/2006

I here ya...and I have no problem using the StrataFrame theme support, but will you be adding to the list of existing theme selections...such as Office2007 etc...BigGrin
By Trent L. Taylor - 12/14/2006

The Themes will continue to grow.  In fact, we just added a new one called BlueSkies that will be in the next update.
By Tim Dol - 12/14/2006

That great...

Next question...does the StrataFrame Theme support work with all Infragistic controls or just the inherited ones?  I'm experimenting with the UltraToolbars and UltraExplorerBar, which are not inherited, and cannot get the StrataFrame themes to work. 

As you know, I'm struggling whether or not to use Infragistic controls, but it's becoming more apparent that I should be sticking with the StrataFrame controls as much as possible so I don't loose functionality in the future, unless of course I cannot accomplish something with the existing controls... Am I reading this right? 

By Trent L. Taylor - 12/14/2006

Next question...does the StrataFrame Theme support work with all Infragistic controls or just the inherited ones?

You will want to use the ThemedToolstrip (StrataFrame control) rather than the UltraToolbars.  Also, you can use the SF ThemedContainer in place of the UltraExplorerer bar in most cases.

Am I reading this right? 

Infragistics has some great editor controls, especially when dealing with masked values.  For example, entering time or a currency value.  This is where we use the Infragistics controls.  As far as using their Application Style controls, we use all of the SF controls in this case.

By Ivan George Borges - 12/14/2006

Hi Tim.

Just my 2cents.

I've noticed that if I use SF Themes and stick to WindowsColorsGlass or WindowsColorsRefractedLight, I'm still able to get the look and feel in all the Sf controls that the user chooses from Windows, and for the third party ones, like Infragistics, you can also make them follow the windows theme in some way, playing with their BackColours, ooops, BackColors ( Tongue, hope the Queen Mother don't see this ) and other appearence properties, so the whole application will follow the Theme.

I probably didn't make myself understood, but I can say it again in Portuguese for you to understand! Hehe

Cheers.

By Trent L. Taylor - 12/14/2006

Ivan has a good point here.  This is why we have the WindowsColors option on the Themed controls.  To provide a color scheme compatability with 3rd party controls.  This is a good approach.