Using RibbonBar Buttons w/ RadPanes

[david mcintyre]

I need help in figuring out the best architecture for using RibbonBar buttons to make changes to controls within a RadPane.  Here's an abbreviated version of my application:

I have a Docking control that contains a RadPane, and within the pane is a gridview (similar to a master list).  When a user clicks on a row in the grid, a new RadPane opens up displaying the details view w/ alot more data about the parent.  The application also has a ribbon bar w/ context-sensitive tabs and buttons that need to be displayed and/or disabled depending on  whether the user has selected the master or details pane.  The ribbonbar buttons need to interact w/ the panes by determining, for example, which dataset is displayed and how it is displayed (in a stacked bar graph, line graph, etc).   From a detail view, the user also needs to be able to (preferably using ribbon bar buttons)  to navigate to the next row in the master grid. 

I can manage to get the above requirements working, albeit perhaps not in the most elegant fashion.  Where my app fails is in meeting the requirement that *multiple* child panes be instantiated w/ the ribbon bar buttons making changes to the visible child and only the visible child. 

My latest approach is to attempt to use a common VM between the master pane, child pane, and the relevant ribbon buttons.  When clicked the ribbon button uses  a CallMethodAction on the VM; there are no errors to report but it doesn't seem to be using the right instance of the VM b/c the control's data in the panes is not affected. 

Is this possible to accomplish, and if so, is there an optimal approach?  Thanks in advance for your assistance. 

[Miroslav Nedyalkov]

Hello David,

 What I would suggest you is to observe for changing the focus and keep track in your ViewModel which was the last active pane and make the RibbonBar work for it. I know this is not very elegant way to achieve the goal,  but the Docking control doesn't support concept for activation of panes yet, which is in our TODO list.

About the problem you are observing - could you please prepare and send us a sample project that reproduces the problem? This would help us investigate what the problem is and help you resolve it.

Greetings,
Miroslav Nedyalkov
the Telerik team

[david mcintyre]

Hi Miroslav, is there any way i can use prism to associate a RibbonView tab with a RadPane?  I've modified my docking control to use items which are viewmodels, and I would like each ribbon tab and rad pane to share a common VM.

[Miroslav Nedyalkov]

Hello David,

The ActivePane feature of the Docking control now works pretty good (in the LIB) and it could help you for your scenario.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Miroslav Nedyalkov
the Telerik team