#GPPT Adding a ListView (Grid) to any window

Today, I was working with a customer to create a new window in their Microsoft Dynamics GP system. We were using the new Custom Forms Module added to Visual Studio Integration Toolkit Build 18 to create a blank form, which we would modify and make functional using GP Power Tools Build 30.

Using Modifier to edit the window and add the required fields was simply a matter of creating local fields of the required datatypes to match the data we wanted to display.

But then we came across an issue that almost stopped the project from proceeding…

Background

To display multiple records in a window in Dexterity, there are two methods available:

• use a Scrolling Window, which needs to be linked to a table.
• use a ListView, which is populated in memory by code.

The Modifier is a cut down version of the Dexterity window layout tool, it does not have the scripting capability and also does not allow for some properties to be changed. These limitations are there to protect users from damaging the functionality of the original windows. Another limitation is that it cannot be used to add a Scrolling Window.

The Problem

However, today I found out that you also cannot add local fields of TreeView or ListView datatypes. They are disabled on the prototyping buttons, and they are not available in the Control Type drop down list when adding a local field.

Not having the ability to add fields of TreeView or ListView datatypes makes sense if you are using Modifier with Visual Basic For Applications (VBA – discontinued) or Visual Studio Tools as neither of those environments know how to work with the TreeView or ListView datatypes. But GP Power Tools does know as it primarily uses Dexterity sanScript for its scripting language and so can call the TreeView_ and ListView_ function libraries.

The Hack

Not being happy to give up so easily, I decided to try a hack to work around this issue.

I created a local field named ListView, but of ListBox Control type.

This field was not dragged onto the window yet. Instead, we returned to GP and used Customization Maintenance (or GPPT Project Setup) to export the form’s package file.

Opening the package file with Notepad.exe (or equivalent), we changed the definition of the “ListView” field’s datatype from a ListBox to ListView:

		Datatype  "ListView"    
		{
			Control  "ListBox"
			Sort  "true"
			StaticType  "Text"
			~StaticItems
			{
			}
		}

to

		Datatype	"ListView"		
		{
			Control	"ListView"
			StaticType	"Picture"
			~ItemImages
			{
			}
			~StateImages
			{
			}
		}

We then imported modified package back into GP and went back to the Modifier.

The Solution

The “ListView” field as ListView datatype was dragged out onto the window and the following Visual Properties set:

• AltLineColor: True
• Appearance: 2D Border
• BackColor: System – List Line2
• FontColor: System – List Line2 Text
• FullRowSelect: True
• GridLines: True (this one is optional)
• Resize-Horizontal: Grow (Depending on window design
• Resize-Vertical: Grow (Depending on window design)

Now we could continue with the customization project.

The Side Effect

Just adding a quick note about the side effect of using this hack. For the Form Explorer window of the Resource Explorer, GP Power Tools uses Visual Studio Tools code to get any modifier added fields on a window because native Dexterity cannot “see” them. As Visual Studio Tools does not support ListView or TreeView datatypes, they will not show up in the Form Explorer.

However, if you know the name of the local field you added, you can reference it in your code. Just don’t forget to include (L) before as it is a local field and fully qualify the name. For example:

‘(L) ListView’ of window ‘VSTM_Forms_Blank’ of form ‘VSTM_Forms_Blank_01’

Adding a TreeView

Here is the package code for changing a placeholder field called “TreeView” datatype to a TreeView datatype:

		Datatype	"TreeView"		
		{
			Control	"TreeView"
			StaticType	"Picture"
			~ItemImages
			{
			}
			~StateImages
			{
			}
		}

Hope you find this technique useful.

David

06-Sep-2023: Added notes about the side effect of this hack and the code for a TreeView.

This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.