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How to: Create a DiagramShape Descendant and Serialize Its Properties

  • 6 minutes to read

This example demonstrates how to serialize custom data using DiagramControl‘s serialization mechanism. In the example, the DiagramShape.Content property of diagram shapes is loaded from data objects every time the diagram is shown. To associate shapes with data objects, the DatabaseObjectID property is added at the DiagramShape descendant level. To serialize this property along with standard DiagramShape properties, follow the steps below.

Note

In certain scenarios, it is easier to use the DiagramItem.Tag property to store custom data without creating DiagramShape descendants. In this case, no further steps are needed as the Tag property is serialized by default.

1) Mark your custom property with the XtraSerializableProperty attribute:

[XtraSerializableProperty]
public int DatabaseObjectID { get; set; }

2) Call the DiagramItemTypeRegistrator.Register method to register your custom shape type for serialization. Custom shape types should be registered at the application start. If the custom shape is used in the Diagram Designer or Item Template Designer, it is necessary to also register it in the shape type’s static constructor.

DiagramControl.ItemTypeRegistrator.Register(typeof(DiagramShapeEx));

To allow end-users to edit your custom property in the Properties Panel, handle the DiagramControl.CustomGetEditableItemProperties event.

private void diagramControl1_CustomGetEditableItemProperties(object sender, DiagramCustomGetEditableItemPropertiesEventArgs e) {
    if (e.Item is DiagramShapeEx) {
        e.Properties.Add(TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(DiagramShapeEx))["DatabaseObjectID"]);
    }
} 

View Example

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace XtraDiagram.CustomShapeProperties {
    static class Program {
        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main() {
            Application.EnableVisualStyles();
            Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
            Application.Run(new Form1());
        }
    }
}