Using DataForm in ChildWindow or RadWindow in UI for Silverlight DataForm

lori guymon

23 posts

Member since:
May 2004

Posted 22 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Love the new DataForm control after reading about it. I would love to use it to edit data in a grid similar to the article "Integrate RadDataForm with RadGridView" (http://www.telerik.com/help/silverlight/raddataform-integrate-with-radgridview.html). However, we prefer to edit our data using dialog\modal forms instead of inline editing. I also read the article "How To: Display RadGridView Row Details in RadWindow" (http://www.telerik.com/help/silverlight/gridview-how-to-display-row-details-window.html) that shows how to show the content (in the first article, this would be the dataform) in the RowDetailsTemplate in a RadWindow.

I'm just trying to determine the best way to use the DataForm to do editing of data in a grid (or even not in a grid) in a popup-mode fashion. Should I put the dataform inside a ChildWindow or inside the RowDetailsTemplate and then open the content in a RadWindow? (My preference would be to not have to create a ChildWindow and use the dataform inside the RowDetailsTemplate.) In either case, how would I override the events on the Ok and Cancel buttons to close the form or radwindow after a commit or cancel?

Any insight would be much appreciated!

Ben Hayat

902 posts

Member since:
May 2008

Posted 24 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Interesting! I'm right now going through the same change of heart/design as well. I started going about doing the creating/editing in DataForm in a separate Window, but I really like the demo where the data form shows up a child table/row of a GridView. It seems so much more natural to the user. So, I'll be going this route.
It would be great for others to share their experience as well.
..Ben

David Ocasio

160 posts

Member since:
Nov 2009

Posted 24 Mar 2011 Link to this post

I like the focus of a child window better.

Inline and even in the detail pane
It's too easy to "do something else" and not complete the task you started.

my opionin
dco

Pavel Pavlov

Admin

2039 posts

Posted 24 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Hi guys,

Just blogged something in the context:
http://blogs.telerik.com/pavelpavlov/posts/11-03-24/raddataform_and_radgridview_integration_-_popup_editing-2109138197.aspx

There is a sample app source code . You may use the code there as a starting point.

Best wishes,
Pavel Pavlov
the Telerik team

Vote for the 7 Telerik products at the 2011 Great Indian Developer Awards!

Ben Hayat

902 posts

Member since:
May 2008

Posted 24 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Pavel, thank you for such a quick response;

[Sometime I hate having too many choices, I drive myself crazy], scratch that...
Ok, this is a nice solution and is certainly worth considering, but what do you think of this solution? Just want to hear your opinion too? Why either one?
http://demos.telerik.com/silverlight/#DataForm/GridViewEditWithDataForm

What's the pros & cons between your solution and above link?
Thank you for GREAT work, Pavel!
..Ben

Pavel Pavlov

Admin

2039 posts

Posted 24 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Hi Ben ,

Thanks for the nice words !
Now on your question - SIncerely, I have got no idea which one would be the better approach :) .

I guess it is a matter of UX decision . From a developer's point of view I would rather recommend the approach with RadDataForm in row details rather than as a popup .

The reasons:
1. It does not need additional button (edit) = less clicks for the end user.
2. It does not need special code to show / hide the form.
So, less code = less stuff to support = less things broken = less bugs .

Also it looks to me as a bit more MVVM - friendly.

Best wishes,
Pavel Pavlov
the Telerik team

Vote for the 7 Telerik products at the 2011 Great Indian Developer Awards!

Ben Hayat

902 posts

Member since:
May 2008

Posted 24 Mar 2011 Link to this post

I'm with you 100%. You won a beer :-)
My reasoning going with the Row editing is Exactly as you pointed out. It's cleaner!

As far as the kinds words, I really meant it!!!
..Ben

p.s. With your new build coming (let us know when it's ready), I'll be switching over to RADDataForm and I'll throw some challenges against it for SP1.
Let us know when the new internal build is ready.
Thanks a bunch!
..Ben

Pavel Pavlov

Admin

2039 posts

Posted 28 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Hi,

A quick update - the new LIB bits are ready . The download should be available in your accounts later today ( in few hours).

Greetings,
Pavel Pavlov
the Telerik team

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Ben Hayat

902 posts

Member since:
May 2008

Posted 28 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Pavel, can you tell us what the name of the zip file should be? Also what should we expect to be fix and what's still "known issues"?

Thanks!

Ben Hayat

902 posts

Member since:
May 2008

Posted 28 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Has anyone seen the latest build in their acct? If yes, what's the zip file name?

Hristo

Admin

408 posts

Posted 29 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Hello Ben Hayat,

The latest internal builds are uploaded and you can find them for download under Your Account. The version is 2011.1.0328.

Kind regards,
Hristo
the Telerik team

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Ben Hayat

902 posts

Member since:
May 2008

Posted 29 Mar 2011 Link to this post

Yes, I was able to get them last night, but I have a couple of issues that I posted and would appreciate some help.

Thanks!
..Ben