ActionSet.Navigators Namespace

OutlookNavigator Component

OutlookNavigator is implementation of navigation component known from Office 2007 Outtlok application. 

OutlookNavigator consists of group items. These groups are maintained in collection stored in OutlookNavigator.Groups property. Groups are of type NavigatorControlGroup. Each group is represented in the view by its associated Panel control which stands there as the container where developers can place their controls.

Please note that if you need to implement the tree hierarchy or similar features, you have to use external controls for that. OutlookNavigator does not provide any sort of support for hierarchies and can only show its associated inner controls when group is selected.

ScreenTips

ScreenTip is advanced tool tip functionality. Each item can have its screen tip specified. This is done on Item.ScreenTip property. Simple set ScreenTip.Active to True, provide Text and Description and Image and then when user drags mouse over this item and holds it there for some time, then the screen tip will be shown. 

Group Visible

Groups can be set to visible or invisible modes. This allows you to have one navigation system and just hide groups or items depending on application user rights for example, or on the state of the application or mode the user is currently switched to.

Group Tag

Item has property Tag of type Object. This allows you to enter any object as associated data with the item and the item then has it always there for your needs. This is typically used to store some item specific data for the window to be shown when the item is selected, for example an ID of the object from Database, or the SQL Command showing the data or even the data set associated with the item.

Expanded Group

Currently selected item can be accessed by ExpandedGroup property. It is get/set property so it is possible to change the currently selected item by code as well.

Expand / Collapse

In the title of the navigator there is a "<<" or ">>" icon. These stands as buttons to collapse or expand the control. To show this capability OutlookNavigator.NavigatorMinimalizable must be set to True (default setting). Turning it False will not render the collapse/expand button.

In the collapsed mode the control is still fully functional and allows users to manipulate the content of the group. Simply click the text of the middle area of the control and a popup will be shown with the content of the group.