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Best Practice: Custom Control or Load Controls

I need to create a method to display multiple controls for a collections of items. It needs to be in a scroll-able container with column headers. Very similar to the List View except the columns will we controls instead of text.

I would like to know what would be the best way to develop this type of object. Should I create a custom control? Is it possible to use a data repeater? Load the controls in groups on the fly? What other options should I consider?

The controls for each item would have a check box, a couple labels and numeric up/down.

Mark

Nasir Razzaq

Yes you can use a repeater

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vsdata/archive/2009/08/12/datarepeater-control-for-windows-forms.aspx

etsellinc

ASKER

It appears that the DataRepeater requires that it be bound to a dataset. I need something that will be a little simpler. I don't want to create a dataset just to add items if I don't have to.

This could be a possible solution but I await a simpler solution.

Thanks,
Mark

Ark

You don't need numerous editable controls - you cannot edit all items simultaneously. What you need is 1 (one) editable control and 1 (one) displaying control with overriden Paint method which fill all (or, better,visible only) cells with DrawText/DrawImage using cell's data storing in array/list/dictionary or whatever. You can move editable control to appropriate cell using mouse/keyboard events, saving data from previous cell.

etsellinc

ASKER

For: CodeCruiser

I've been working with the idea of the Data Repeater. I can't seem to find the event that indicates that a field has been updated with a new value. There are other fields that I need to update based on the change of the updated field.

I've tried both events from the data repeater and the binding source.

I have successfully created the data repeater and filled it with data. It works great!

Thanks,
Mark

Nasir Razzaq

Check this class reference and see if you can use any event

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.visualbasic.powerpacks.datarepeater.aspx

etsellinc

ASKER

After browsing through all the events of the data repeater there doesn't seem to be an event that fires when the data repeater item is updated with changes.

I don't believe that this is to solution for me.

I am going to follow up with a custom control that I can put code behind for validation and formatting.

Thanks for you help CodeCruiser!

Mark

SOLUTION

Nasir Razzaq

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etsellinc

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etsellinc

ASKER

The use of a custom control was the quickest and easiest solution. Although my experience with the data repeater is limited, I would had much preferred to use it. Future project would be easier since there is no need for custom controls.

CodeCruiser tried to help with the development of a data repeater method but we were unable to resolve a few problems.