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Creating a WPF Work Item Control

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I have a little custom control I need added to my Visual Studio Team System  projects. This control will allow specific groups of users as representatives of Advocacy groups with in the life cycle model to sign off a Requirement or Change Request from within Visual Studio.

But, just to make things a little more fun, I wanted to create the custom work item tracking control using WPF.

In order to do this you need a wrapper control that allows you to load any WPF control that inherits from IWorkItemControl.

Here is an example WPF Work Item Control:

[ Get SignOffControl.xaml.vb source  ] [ Get full source  ] [ Get latest full source  ]

   1: Imports Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Client
   2: Imports Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls
   3: 'Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking
   4: 
   5: Namespace SignOff
   6: 
   7:     Partial Public Class SignOffControl
   8:         Implements IWorkItemControl
   9: 
  10: #Region " IWorkItemControl "
  11: 
  12:         Public Event AfterUpdateDatasource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.AfterUpdateDatasource
  13:         Public Event BeforeUpdateDatasource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.BeforeUpdateDatasource
  14: 
  15:         Protected m_serviceProvider As IServiceProvider = Nothing
  16:         Protected m_workItem As WorkItem = Nothing
  17:         Protected m_workItemFieldName As String = Nothing
  18:         Protected m_properties As System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary
  19: 
  20: 
  21:         Public Property [ReadOnly]() As Boolean Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.ReadOnly
  22:             Get
  23:                 Return Me.IsEnabled
  24:             End Get
  25:             Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
  26:                 Me.IsEnabled = value
  27:             End Set
  28:         End Property
  29: 
  30:         Public Sub SetSite(ByVal serviceProvider As System.IServiceProvider) Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.SetSite
  31:             m_serviceProvider = serviceProvider
  32:         End Sub
  33: 
  34:         Public Property WorkItemDatasource() As Object Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.WorkItemDatasource
  35:             Get
  36:                 Return m_workItem
  37:             End Get
  38:             Set(ByVal value As Object)
  39:                 If value Is Nothing And Not m_workItem Is Nothing Then
  40:                     RemoveHandler m_workItem.FieldChanged, AddressOf OnFieldChanged
  41:                 End If
  42:                 m_workItem = value
  43:                 If Not m_workItem Is Nothing Then
  44:                     AddHandler m_workItem.FieldChanged, New WorkItemFieldChangeEventHandler(AddressOf OnFieldChanged)
  45:                 End If
  46:             End Set
  47:         End Property
  48: 
  49:         Public Property WorkItemFieldName() As String Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.WorkItemFieldName
  50:             Get
  51:                 Return m_workItemFieldName
  52:             End Get
  53:             Set(ByVal value As String)
  54:                 m_workItemFieldName = value
  55:             End Set
  56:         End Property
  57: 
  58:         Public Property Properties() As System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.Properties
  59:             Get
  60:                 Return m_properties
  61:             End Get
  62:             Set(ByVal value As System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary)
  63:                 m_properties = value
  64:             End Set
  65:         End Property
  66: 
  67:         Public Sub Clear() Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.Clear
  68: 
  69:         End Sub
  70: 
  71:         Public Sub FlushToDatasource() Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.FlushToDatasource
  72: 
  73:         End Sub
  74: 
  75:         Public Sub InvalidateDatasource() Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.InvalidateDatasource
  76: 
  77:         End Sub
  78: 
  79: #End Region
  80: 
  81: 
  82:         Protected Sub OnFieldChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As WorkItemEventArgs)
  83: 
  84:         End Sub
  85: 
  86:     End Class
  87: 
  88: End Namespace

It does not yet do anything, but the base wrapper is there. The visual elements only contain a couple of button to get me started testing the wapper and to make sure that the control is displayed:

[ Get SignOffControl.xaml source  ] [ Get full source  ] [ Get latest full source  ]

   1: <UserControl x:Class="SignOff.SignOffControl"
   2:     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
   3:     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" Width="317" Height="46">
   4:     <StackPanel>
   5:         <Button>SignOff</Button>
   6:         <Button>Clear</Button>
   7:     </StackPanel>
   8: </UserControl>

This will display 2 buttons, but does nothing.

Creating a WPF Work Item Control  

You then need to create your wrapper control. This is a forms control that has the Element Host forms control to host the button. I have gone down the generic rout to minimise the amount of code I would use to create an individual “stub” when creating multiple controls.

here is an example “stub” which is created as a simple class:

[ Get SignOffHostControl.vb source  ] [ Get full source  ] [ Get latest full source  ]

   1: Namespace SignOff
   2: 
   3:     Public Class SignOffHostControl
   4:         Inherits WitCustomControlBase(Of SignOffControl)
   5: 
   6:     End Class
   7: 
   8: End Namespace

note: although this inherits from user control you will not be able to view it in the designer because of the generic nature of its inheritance. This is OK and does not hamper development.

  Creating a WPF Work Item Control  

All the heavy lifting for this control is done in the WitCustomControlBase and the generic type passed needs to meet the requirements of New, UIElement and IWorkItemControl. This ensures that it is a WPF control that inherits from IWorkItemControl.

To create this control you need to create a new Windows Forms control and call it WitCustomControlBase. Add a WPF “Element Host” to it and make that host dock to the total area.

Then we need to make the designer generic.

[ Get WitCustomControlBase.Designer.vb source  ] [ Get full source  ] [ Get latest full source  ]

   1: Imports Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Client
   2: Imports Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls
   3: 
   4: <Global.Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.DesignerGenerated()> _
   5: Partial Class WitCustomControlBase(Of TWitWpfCustomControl As {New, UIElement, IWorkItemControl})
   6:     Inherits System.Windows.Forms.UserControl
   7: 
   8:     'UserControl overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
   9:     <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCode()> _
  10:     Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
  11:         Try
  12:             If disposing AndAlso components IsNot Nothing Then
  13:                 components.Dispose()
  14:             End If
  15:         Finally
  16:             MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
  17:         End Try
  18:     End Sub
  19: 
  20:     'Required by the Windows Form Designer
  21:     Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer
  22: 
  23:     'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
  24:     'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.
  25:     'Do not modify it using the code editor.
  26:     <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> _
  27:     Private Sub InitializeComponent()
  28:         Me.uxElementHost = New System.Windows.Forms.Integration.ElementHost
  29:         Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl = New TWitWpfCustomControl
  30:         Me.SuspendLayout()
  31:         '
  32:         'uxElementHost1
  33:         '
  34:         Me.uxElementHost.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill
  35:         Me.uxElementHost.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(0, 0)
  36:         Me.uxElementHost.Name = "uxElementHost"
  37:         Me.uxElementHost.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(222, 72)
  38:         Me.uxElementHost.TabIndex = 0
  39:         Me.uxElementHost.Text = "uxElementHost"
  40:         Me.uxElementHost.Child = Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl
  41:         '
  42:         'WitCustomHostCOntrol
  43:         '
  44:         Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New System.Drawing.SizeF(6.0!, 13.0!)
  45:         Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
  46:         Me.Controls.Add(Me.uxElementHost)
  47:         Me.Name = "WitCustomHostCOntrol"
  48:         Me.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(222, 72)
  49:         Me.ResumeLayout(False)
  50: 
  51:     End Sub
  52:     Friend WithEvents uxElementHost As System.Windows.Forms.Integration.ElementHost
  53:     Friend WithEvents uxWitWpfCustomControl As TWitWpfCustomControl
  54: 
  55: End Class

As you can see the only changes that have been made are to the class to add the generic type (line 5) and to the type used on the control instance (lines 29, 53).

note: Once you have made these and the following changes to the designer, you will no longer be able to view the designer in VS because we have made modifications for the designer.

  Creating a WPF Work Item Control  

Now we have changed the designer, we need to move on to the main control code and change it to pass all calls and implementation of the IWorkItemControl interface to the WPF control.

[ Get WitCustomControlBase.vb source  ] [ Get full source  ] [ Get latest full source  ]

   1: Imports Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Client
   2: Imports Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls
   3: 'Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking
   4: 
   5: 
   6: Public Class WitCustomControlBase(Of TWitWpfCustomControl As {New, UIElement, IWorkItemControl})
   7:     Implements IWorkItemControl
   8: 
   9: #Region " IWorkItemControl "
  10: 
  11:     Public Event AfterUpdateDatasource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.AfterUpdateDatasource
  12:     Public Event BeforeUpdateDatasource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.BeforeUpdateDatasource
  13: 
  14:     Public Property [ReadOnly]() As Boolean Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.ReadOnly
  15:         Get
  16:             Return Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.[ReadOnly]
  17:         End Get
  18:         Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
  19:             Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.[ReadOnly] = value
  20:         End Set
  21:     End Property
  22: 
  23:     Public Sub SetSite(ByVal serviceProvider As System.IServiceProvider) Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.SetSite
  24:         Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.SetSite(serviceProvider)
  25:     End Sub
  26: 
  27:     Public Property WorkItemDatasource() As Object Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.WorkItemDatasource
  28:         Get
  29:             Return Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.WorkItemDatasource
  30:         End Get
  31:         Set(ByVal value As Object)
  32:             Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.WorkItemDatasource = value
  33:         End Set
  34:     End Property
  35: 
  36:     Public Property WorkItemFieldName() As String Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.WorkItemFieldName
  37:         Get
  38:             Return Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.WorkItemFieldName
  39:         End Get
  40:         Set(ByVal value As String)
  41:             Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.WorkItemFieldName = value
  42:         End Set
  43:     End Property
  44: 
  45:     Public Property Properties() As System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.Properties
  46:         Get
  47:             Return Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.Properties
  48:         End Get
  49:         Set(ByVal value As System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary)
  50:             Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.Properties = value
  51:         End Set
  52:     End Property
  53: 
  54:     Public Sub Clear() Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.Clear
  55:         Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.Clear()
  56:     End Sub
  57: 
  58:     Public Sub FlushToDatasource() Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.FlushToDatasource
  59:         Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.FlushToDatasource()
  60:     End Sub
  61: 
  62:     Public Sub InvalidateDatasource() Implements Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Controls.IWorkItemControl.InvalidateDatasource
  63:         Me.uxWitWpfCustomControl.InvalidateDatasource()
  64:     End Sub
  65: 
  66: #End Region
  67: 
  68:     Private Sub uxWitCustomControl_AfterUpdateDatasource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles uxWitWpfCustomControl.AfterUpdateDatasource
  69:         RaiseEvent AfterUpdateDatasource(sender, e)
  70:     End Sub
  71: 
  72:     Private Sub uxWitCustomControl_BeforeUpdateDatasource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles uxWitWpfCustomControl.BeforeUpdateDatasource
  73:         RaiseEvent BeforeUpdateDatasource(sender, e)
  74:     End Sub
  75: 
  76: End Class

This control implements the IWorkItemControl and it is the control that Work Item Tracking loads. Work Item Tracking form display module does not know anything about WPF and we are just faking up the interface to allow us to use the full functionality on WPF in place of Windows Forms. We can use the same method to implement the other features like IWorkItemUserAction.

We then need a Work Item Custom Control (WICC) definition file.

[ Get SignOffControl.wicc source  ] [ Get full source  ] [ Get latest full source  ]

   1: <?xml version="1.0"?>
   2: <CustomControl xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
   3:  <Assembly>Hinshelwood.WitCustomControls.dll</Assembly>
   4:  <FullClassName>Hinshelwood.WitCustomControls.SignOff.SignOffHostControl</FullClassName>
   5: </CustomControl>

This is the file that tells Visual Studio what to do.

This file and the .dll need to copied to the …Application DataMicrosoftTeam FoundationWork Item TrackingCustom Controls9.0 folder.

We can now add this control to a work item by modifying the XML definition of a Work item. To test I have just replaced an existing control.

You can add this using the Power Tools process template editor.

Creating a WPF Work Item Control  

The result?

Creating a WPF Work Item Control  

You will notice that this control is marked as read-only, but not bad for a first pass…

Technorati Tags: ALM    WPF    CodeProject    TFS 

code-and-complexity blog code codeproject tfs tfs2008 tools wpf

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