Implement a Custom Parameter Editor in WinForms Applications

• Aug 18, 2023
• 2 minutes to read

You can use BaseEdit class descendants as custom parameter editors in the Parameters panel. To change a parameter’s default editor to a custom editor, handle a report’s ParametersRequestBeforeShow event. Use the event’s ParametersInformation collection to access parameters. Assign a custom editor to the ParameterInfo.Editor property.

If you want to change the size of a custom parameter editor, use the editor’s MinimumSize/MaximumSize properties.

Example

The code sample below replaces a parameter’s default editor with a radio group.

View Example: Reporting for WinForms - Implement a Custom Parameter Editor

C#

using DevExpress.XtraEditors;
using DevExpress.XtraEditors.Controls;
using DevExpress.XtraReports.Parameters;
// ...
private void XtraReport1_ParametersRequestBeforeShow(object sender, ParametersRequestEventArgs e) {
    // Create and set up a radio group editor.
    var radioGroup = CreateRadioGroup();

    // Find a required parameter by name and assign
    // a custom editor to the Editor property.
    foreach (var info in e.ParametersInformation) {
        if (info.Parameter.Name == "shape") {
            info.Editor = radioGroup;
            break;
        }
    }
}

private RadioGroup CreateRadioGroup() {
    var radioGroup = new RadioGroup();

    string[] radioGroupItemTitles = new string[] {
        "Circle", "Rectangle", "Ellipse",
        "Triangle", "Square"
    };

    foreach (var item in radioGroupItemTitles) {
        radioGroup.Properties.Items.Add(new RadioGroupItem(item, item));
    }

    radioGroup.Properties.ItemVertAlignment = RadioItemVertAlignment.Top;
    radioGroup.MinimumSize = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 100);

    return radioGroup;
}

VB.NET

Imports DevExpress.XtraEditors
Imports DevExpress.XtraEditors.Controls
Imports DevExpress.XtraReports.Parameters
' ...
Private Sub XtraReport1_ParametersRequestBeforeShow(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ParametersRequestEventArgs) Handles MyBase.ParametersRequestBeforeShow
    ' Create and set up a radio group editor.
    Dim radioGroup = CreateRadioGroup()

    ' Find a required parameter by name and assign
    ' a custom editor to the Editor property.
    For Each info In e.ParametersInformation
        If info.Parameter.Name = "shape" Then
            info.Editor = radioGroup
            Exit For
        End If
    Next info
End Sub

Private Function CreateRadioGroup() As RadioGroup
    Dim radioGroup = New RadioGroup()

    Dim radioGroupItemTitles() As String = {"Circle", "Rectangle", "Ellipse", "Triangle", "Square"}

    For Each item In radioGroupItemTitles
        radioGroup.Properties.Items.Add(New RadioGroupItem(item, item))
    Next item

    radioGroup.Properties.ItemVertAlignment = RadioItemVertAlignment.Top
    radioGroup.MinimumSize = New System.Drawing.Size(0, 100)

    Return radioGroup
End Function