StrataFrame Forum

Further Customization of Browse Dialogs

http://forum.strataframe.net/Topic820.aspx

By JKelly - 4/18/2006

Hello, I am working with the Browse Dialog control. While I like the ease of the behaviour it provides I am seeking to customize it further. Basically I have a text string for the "HeaderDetailText" that exceeds the length of the form. Testing with users has indicated that an explanation on how the browse dialog works would be beneficial (i.e. just hit enter for all records, multiple search terms result in logical "and").

I've tried embedding vbcrlf & Chr(10) + Chr(13) but it just prints out the strings themselves (makes sense). I've tried programmatically accessing the control with the hope of either setting the text with an embedded carriage return or setting the multi-line property to true but I can't find "it" (the GradientHeader.DetailText control) in form's object collection leading me to suspect that it is private or of a different type.

I've tried putting other controls on it (like a button for a help dialog to explain how to search) but the Browse Dialog is modal in design time so I am unable to do so. I could reinvent the wheel and create my own Browse Dialogs but since you guys have already done the (great) work I figured I'd try to use.

Any tips would be much appreciated.

Thank you - J

By Trent L. Taylor - 4/20/2006

Sorry for the delayed response Ermm.  One thing that you can do is increase the width of the browse window that appears when the form is displayed.  TO do this, select the BrowseDialog control on the form.  Navigate to the FormLayout property in the property sheet.  Click the "..." to the right of the property within the sheet.  This will bring up a designer that allows you to size the dialog to your desired dimensions.  Whatever dimensions you size this dialog here are the exact dimensions that will be used when the form is shown at run-time.

Let me know if this helps resolve your current problem. Smile

By JKelly - 4/20/2006

Thanks Trent,

While I definitely could widen the window to accommodate the additional text, doing so is a bit ungainly. The users that I asked to test the api were a bit confused as to how to use the browse dialog so I had intended to provide them with instructions similar to:

  • Enter a search argument and hit the "Enter" key.
  • To see a list of all users simply hit the "Enter" key.  
  • With multiple search arguments both are applied (logical "AND"). Be sure to clear all of the items you entered (you can use the "Clear" button) if you want a new search.

Having a window wide enough for the above would just be a tad bit silly.

What it comes down to is that it sure would be nice to be able to have a multi-line value for the detail text in the gradient form header for both forms and dialogs.

On forms I get away with this by setting the detail text to an empty string and then (either in the designer or dynamically, depending upon what I am doing) drawing transparent labels with the text I wish to display. Unfortunately I am unable to do this with the dialog.

I guess another option is to create a proprietary control to replace the tool strip and then recreate all of the functionality with custom controls (browse, add, edit ... Wink with friend or public methods and properties. A bit over the top for just wanting to provide some instructional text.

Perhaps one might consider adding an additional, customizable control (like a "Help" button) to the browse dialog - that would likely solve the problem.

Just a thought - thanks for your time.

- J

By JKelly - 4/20/2006

BTW - My apologies for the multiple case font - too many editors open.  : )
By Trent L. Taylor - 4/20/2006

I guess I am confused as to what your problem actually is then.  Initially I thought you needed more area for text in the GradientFormHeader, but from the last response, it sounds like you are just trying to display custom details to the browse.  If this is the case, that is what the InformationPanel is for.  You can create an InformationPanel class.  Once created, drop any controls that you wish to interact with on the panel.  Build the solution, then go to your BrowseDialog InformationPanel property and select the InformationPanel that you created.  This will allow you to add any custom functionality to the Browse Window, which is what I think are attempting to do.

One last thing, for the information panel to show up when the browse is displayed, be sure go to the FormLayout property of the BrowseDialog and check the "Show Side Panel" checkbox.  This will show an additional area of the browse where you can add your new InformationPanel.

Let me know if this gets you going in the right direction.

By JKelly - 4/20/2006

Thank you, Trent, that was what I was looking for - a sandbox for browse dialog customization, I must have missed it in the help files.

One last note, if I use a StrataFrame control (i.e. a label or textbox) on the form (of type "Strataframe Browse Info Panel") I receive the below error. When dropping a standard Windows control (i.e. a label or textbox) on it all works well - I assume this is by design?

Thanks - J

 
By Trent L. Taylor - 4/20/2006

This is an issue that has been fixed and will be in the official 1.4 release.  The problem you are running into is because you dropped a StrataFrame control on the panel.  The InformationPanel was inheriting a standard UserControl instead of a MicroFour.StrataFrame.UI.Windows.Forms.UserControl.  You can, however, drop on a standard Windows control and it will work fine.

I have posted a BrowseDialog sample on the forum, under the Developer Blogs that shows you how to use the InformationPanel.  This is a common question, so I thought I would add this post.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Wink