How to: Connect to Hierarchical Data

• Apr 15, 2018
• 6 minutes to read

This example shows how to create a self referencing data structure and display it within the TreeListControl.

Note

A complete sample project is available at https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/connecting-to-hierarchical-data-e3244.

Application.xaml.vb

Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Windows

Namespace TreeList_DataBinding
    ''' <summary>
    ''' Interaction logic for App.xaml
    ''' </summary>
    Partial Public Class App
        Inherits Application

    End Class
End Namespace

Application.xaml

<Application x:Class="TreeList_DataBinding.App"
             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
             StartupUri="MainWindow.xaml">
    <Application.Resources>

    </Application.Resources>
</Application>

MainWindow.xaml

<Window 

    xmlns:dxt="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/grid"    
        x:Class="TreeList_DataBinding.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
    <Grid>
        <dxt:TreeListControl Name="treeList">
            <dxt:TreeListControl.Columns>
                <dxt:TreeListColumn FieldName="Name" Header="Employee Name" />
                <dxt:TreeListColumn FieldName="Position" />
                <dxt:TreeListColumn FieldName="Department" />
            </dxt:TreeListControl.Columns>
            <dxt:TreeListControl.View>
                <dxt:TreeListView Name="treeListView1" AutoWidth="True"
                                  KeyFieldName="ID" ParentFieldName="ParentID" />
            </dxt:TreeListControl.View>
        </dxt:TreeListControl>
    </Grid>
</Window>

MainWindow.xaml.vb

Imports System.Windows

Namespace TreeList_DataBinding
    ''' <summary>
    ''' Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
    ''' </summary>
    Partial Public Class MainWindow
        Inherits Window

        Public Sub New()
            InitializeComponent()
            treeList.ItemsSource = Stuff.GetStuff()
            treeListView1.ExpandAllNodes()
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Employees.vb

Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic

Namespace TreeList_DataBinding

    Public Class Employee
        Public Property ID() As Integer
        Public Property ParentID() As Integer
        Public Property Name() As String
        Public Property Position() As String
        Public Property Department() As String
    End Class

    Public NotInheritable Class Stuff

        Private Sub New()
        End Sub

        Public Shared Function GetStuff() As List(Of Employee)

            Dim stuff_Renamed As New List(Of Employee)()
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 1, .ParentID = 0, .Name = "Gregory S. Price", .Department = "", .Position = "President"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 2, .ParentID = 1, .Name = "Irma R. Marshall", .Department = "Marketing", .Position = "Vice President"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 3, .ParentID = 1, .Name = "John C. Powell", .Department = "Operations", .Position = "Vice President"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 4, .ParentID = 1, .Name = "Christian P. Laclair", .Department = "Production", .Position = "Vice President"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 5, .ParentID = 1, .Name = "Karen J. Kelly", .Department = "Finance", .Position = "Vice President"})

            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 6, .ParentID = 2, .Name = "Brian C. Cowling", .Department = "Marketing", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 7, .ParentID = 2, .Name = "Thomas C. Dawson", .Department = "Marketing", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 8, .ParentID = 2, .Name = "Angel M. Wilson", .Department = "Marketing", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 9, .ParentID = 2, .Name = "Bryan R. Henderson", .Department = "Marketing", .Position = "Manager"})

            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 10, .ParentID = 3, .Name = "Harold S. Brandes", .Department = "Operations", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 11, .ParentID = 3, .Name = "Michael S. Blevins", .Department = "Operations", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 12, .ParentID = 3, .Name = "Jan K. Sisk", .Department = "Operations", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 13, .ParentID = 3, .Name = "Sidney L. Holder", .Department = "Operations", .Position = "Manager"})

            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 14, .ParentID = 4, .Name = "James L. Kelsey", .Department = "Production", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 15, .ParentID = 4, .Name = "Howard M. Carpenter", .Department = "Production", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 16, .ParentID = 4, .Name = "Jennifer T. Tapia", .Department = "Production", .Position = "Manager"})

            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 17, .ParentID = 5, .Name = "Judith P. Underhill", .Department = "Finance", .Position = "Manager"})
            stuff_Renamed.Add(New Employee() With {.ID = 18, .ParentID = 5, .Name = "Russell E. Belton", .Department = "Finance", .Position = "Manager"})
            Return stuff_Renamed
        End Function
    End Class
End Namespace

Employees.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace TreeList_DataBinding {

    public class Employee {
        public int ID { get; set; }
        public int ParentID { get; set; }
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public string Position { get; set; }
        public string Department { get; set; }
    }

    public static class Stuff {
        public static List<Employee> GetStuff() {
            List<Employee> stuff = new List<Employee>();
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 1, ParentID = 0, Name = "Gregory S. Price", Department = "", Position = "President" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 2, ParentID = 1, Name = "Irma R. Marshall", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Vice President" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 3, ParentID = 1, Name = "John C. Powell", Department = "Operations", Position = "Vice President" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 4, ParentID = 1, Name = "Christian P. Laclair", Department = "Production", Position = "Vice President" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 5, ParentID = 1, Name = "Karen J. Kelly", Department = "Finance", Position = "Vice President" });

            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 6, ParentID = 2, Name = "Brian C. Cowling", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 7, ParentID = 2, Name = "Thomas C. Dawson", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 8, ParentID = 2, Name = "Angel M. Wilson", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 9, ParentID = 2, Name = "Bryan R. Henderson", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });

            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 10, ParentID = 3, Name = "Harold S. Brandes", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 11, ParentID = 3, Name = "Michael S. Blevins", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 12, ParentID = 3, Name = "Jan K. Sisk", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 13, ParentID = 3, Name = "Sidney L. Holder", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });

            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 14, ParentID = 4, Name = "James L. Kelsey", Department = "Production", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 15, ParentID = 4, Name = "Howard M. Carpenter", Department = "Production", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 16, ParentID = 4, Name = "Jennifer T. Tapia", Department = "Production", Position = "Manager" });

            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 17, ParentID = 5, Name = "Judith P. Underhill", Department = "Finance", Position = "Manager" });
            stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 18, ParentID = 5, Name = "Russell E. Belton", Department = "Finance", Position = "Manager" });
            return stuff;
        }
    }
}

MainWindow.xaml.cs

using System.Windows;

namespace TreeList_DataBinding {
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class MainWindow : Window {
        public MainWindow() {
            InitializeComponent();
            treeList.ItemsSource = Stuff.GetStuff();
            treeListView1.ExpandAllNodes();
        }
    }
}