This example creates a WinForms Dashboard extension module that allows users to display each series in a separate pane for Chart Dashboard Items.

• Form1.cs (VB: Form1.vb)
• MultiPaneExtension.cs (VB: MultiPaneExtension.vb)

This extension adds four new options to the Dashboard Designer's Ribbon toolbar:

• The Autogenerate Panes option generates a separate pane for each series;
• The Show Pane Titles option displays titles at the top of each pane. This option only applies to panes generated by this extension.
• The Allow Pane Collapsing option collapses and expands panes generated by this extension at run-time.
• The Pane Layout Mode option determines the layout of panes within the Chart Dashboard Item.

These custom settings are stored in the dashboard definition and can be saved and restored as a part of a dashboard file. You can use Dashboard exporting capabilities to print/export Chart Items with panes generated by this extension.

Follow the steps below to reuse the module in other Dashboard Designer/Viewer applications:

• Add the MultiPaneExtension project to your solution
• Add a reference to this project to References in your project with dashboard controls
• Call the following code to create the extension and attach it to the Viewer or Designer control:

C# code:

MultiPaneModule extension = new MultiPaneModule();
extension.Attach(*Dashboard Control instance*);

VB code:

Dim extension As New MultiPaneModule()
extension.Attach(*Dashboard Control instance*)

The MultiPaneModule class contains the main logic of the extension and includes the following logical sections:

• Assigning Logic

  The Attach and Detach methods in this section subscribe and unsubscribe events used for customization in this extension.

• Common Logic

  This section contains event handlers and methods for the Designer and Viewer controls.

• Designer Logic

  This section contains the logic for the Dashboard Designer UI. It includes methods that add new ribbon toolbar items, their click handlers, and the method that updates their states based on the selected dashboard item.

The MultiPaneSettings class describes the model of custom settings used in this extension. The extension stores this model in a Custom Property of each Chart Item and reads this data when required. The class has the FromJson and ToJson public static methods which saves and reads data in JSON format because custom properties allow you to store data only in the string format.

• Custom Properties
• Access to Underlying Controls
• ChartControl Panes