Creation of a custom tool and utilization of custom RadDiagramConnection along with the ConnectorTool

[Mohammad]

Dear Telerik staff,

I am trying to insert a customized connection using the default ConnectorTool into my RadDiagram. However, this seems near impossible because the library does not expose a method to do that, as WPF does (https://www.telerik.com/forums/using-connection-tool-to-draw-custom-connection). Consequently, I decided to create a custom tool, but it is not working. I need a tool that provides the same functionality as the ConnectorTool, but that employs a customized connection that contains its own visual traits and a set of extra properties/variables.
My current code is as follows:

public class CustomTool : ToolBase, IMouseListener
    {
        public CustomTool(string name) : base(name)
        {
            this.Name = name;
        }
        IConnection currentConnection = null;
        Point lastPoint;
        public virtual bool MouseDown(PointerArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (this.ToolService.ActiveTool != null && this.ToolService.ActiveTool.Name.Equals(this.Name))
                {

                    HitTestService hitTestService = MainMenu.getDiagram().ServiceLocator.GetService<IHitTestService>() as HitTestService;

                    if (this.currentConnection == null)
                    {
                        this.currentConnection = new CustomRadDiagramConnection(System.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(150, 45, 90), "test");

                        if (hitTestService.ShapeUnderMouse != null)
                        {
                            this.currentConnection.Source = hitTestService.ShapeUnderMouse;
                        }
                        this.currentConnection.StartPoint = e.TransformedPoint;

                        this.currentConnection.EndPoint = this.lastPoint = e.TransformedPoint;
                        this.Graph.Items.Add((RadElement)this.currentConnection);
                        hitTestService = null;
                        return true;
                    }
                }
            }
            catch (NullReferenceException)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Not working");
            }
            return true;
        }

        protected override void OnActivated()
        {
            base.OnActivated();
            this.lastPoint = new Point(0, 0);
            this.currentConnection = null;
        }

        protected override void OnDeactivated()
        {
            base.OnDeactivated();
            this.ToolService.ActivateTool("Pointer Tool");
            this.Graph.AddConnection(currentConnection);
            //this.Graph.Items.Remove((RadElement)this.currentConnection);
            this.currentConnection = null;
        }

        public virtual bool MouseMove(PointerArgs e)
        {

            if (this.currentConnection != null && this.IsActive)
            {
                this.currentConnection.EndPoint = this.lastPoint = e.TransformedPoint;
                this.currentConnection.Update();
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        }
        public virtual bool MouseUp(PointerArgs e)
        {
            HitTestService hitTestService = MainMenu.getDiagram().ServiceLocator.GetService<IHitTestService>() as HitTestService;
            if (IsActive)
            {
                if (hitTestService.ShapeUnderMouse != null)
                {
                    this.currentConnection.Target = hitTestService.ShapeUnderMouse;
                }
                this.currentConnection.EndPoint = this.lastPoint;
                this.currentConnection.Update();
                this.DeactivateTool();
                hitTestService = null;
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        }
        public bool MouseDoubleClick(PointerArgs e)
        {
            return false;
        }
    }

 

Thank you

[Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Principal]

Hello, Mohammad,   

Please have in mind that RadDiagram in the Telerik WPF and WinForms suites are two different controls each with its specific internal implementation. Hence, the provided API is not expected to be the same due to the product's specifics.

RadDiagram in the Telerik UI for WinForms suite provides an easy way to replace the default RadDiagramConnection with a custom one which I believe is your main goal. This can be achieved by using the following custom implementation by RadDiagram: 

this.radDiagram1.ActiveTool = MouseTool.ConnectorTool;

        public class CustomRadDiagramConnection : RadDiagramConnection
        {   
            public CustomRadDiagramConnection()
            {
                this.Content = DateTime.Now;
            }
        }

        public class CustomDiagramElement : RadDiagramElement
        {
            protected override IConnection GetConnectionContainerForItemOverride(object item)
            {
                return new CustomRadDiagramConnection( );
            }
        }

        public class CustomDiagram :  Telerik.WinControls.UI.RadDiagram
        {
            protected override RadDiagramElement CreateDiagramElement()
            {
                return new CustomDiagramElement();
            }
        }

I hope this information helps. If you need any further assistance please don't hesitate to contact me. 

Regards,
Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Sr.
Progress Telerik