How to accomplish a similar UI

[Adam Clauss]

We have a web-based (HTML/Javascript) application that we are considering
migrating into a Windows Forms application. To explore this, I'm looking at
the various aspects of the UI that we would need to migrate, and making sure
I have a clue how they would be re-done using various Controls. We would
prefer to minimize the number of changes as much as possible to reduce the
amount of retraining necessary for users, but obviously we are open to some
changes.

One I'm having trouble with is:
http://cabadam.homeip.net/tvt_list.png

First glance, it is a simple ListView or DataGridView with several rows of
data spread across columns. But several issues arise:
1) Cells in various places are combined across columns (colspan in HTML).
Is there a way to do this for Windows Forms? The first row is an example of
this. It is effectively a second header row, not actually part of our data.
It has content in the first column and last colunm, but the center columns
are joined.

2) The rightmost column is a "Show" / "Hide" toggle link. That field itself
is no problem - however it's action is. Assuming #1 is possible (or maybe
using another method?), when "Show" is selected by the user, an additional
row should appear below that row. The data here will differ for each row.
It is basically a set of "displays" which should be spread across (there
might be 2 as in the example, but might be 1, none, or even 4 or 5
sometimes). Possibly more of a minor issue, but the border between the
"main" row and the "sub" row is also a broken line, to link them together
more for the user.

Any thoughts on how any of this might be accomplished in a Windows Forms
environment?

Appreciate your feedback and suggestions, thanks!

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Adam,

With the controls out of the box, I would say you wouldn't be able to do
it. You might be able to do it with WPF, because of the ability to
composite controls, but I would say your best bet would be to find a third
party grid provider with the capabilities that most closely match your
needs.

 

[Adam Clauss]

Adam,

With the controls out of the box, I would say you wouldn't be able to
do it. You might be able to do it with WPF, because of the ability to
composite controls, but I would say your best bet would be to find a third
party grid provider with the capabilities that most closely match your
needs.

I'll spend some time looking around Google, but are there any products that
you have seen/worked with before that you would recommend (or NOT recommend
hehe)?

--
Adam Clauss

--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- (e-mail address removed)

We have a web-based (HTML/Javascript) application that we are considering
migrating into a Windows Forms application. To explore this, I'm looking
at the various aspects of the UI that we would need to migrate, and
making sure I have a clue how they would be re-done using various
Controls. We would prefer to minimize the number of changes as much as
possible to reduce the amount of retraining necessary for users, but
obviously we are open to some changes.

One I'm having trouble with is:
http://cabadam.homeip.net/tvt_list.png

First glance, it is a simple ListView or DataGridView with several rows
of data spread across columns. But several issues arise:
1) Cells in various places are combined across columns (colspan in
HTML). Is there a way to do this for Windows Forms? The first row is an
example of this. It is effectively a second header row, not actually
part of our data. It has content in the first column and last colunm, but
the center columns are joined.

2) The rightmost column is a "Show" / "Hide" toggle link. That field
itself is no problem - however it's action is. Assuming #1 is possible
(or maybe using another method?), when "Show" is selected by the user, an
additional row should appear below that row. The data here will differ
for each row. It is basically a set of "displays" which should be spread
across (there might be 2 as in the example, but might be 1, none, or even
4 or 5 sometimes). Possibly more of a minor issue, but the border
between the "main" row and the "sub" row is also a broken line, to link
them together more for the user.

Any thoughts on how any of this might be accomplished in a Windows Forms
environment?

Appreciate your feedback and suggestions, thanks!