Add multi-pane selector

Locate the related search pane in the xxx_Config.xml file. In this example we're looking at the SearchList of the ArticlePicker base query in Ted4_Config.xml. Find the <searchObjectUI name="..."> statement. Verify if it's the only <searchObjectUI in that block - sometimes, more search panes can be already defined, but not activated.

Add another section of <searchObjectUI, and rename the first section. In this example, we added the section "Options", and renamed "Search" to "Basic".

Why renaming the first section?

Often, the only section of the search pane has a technical or another user-unfriendly name. This can happen as the name of the only section is never displayed in the user interface. When you add another section, the sections names get displayed on the selector, thus it makes sense to make the user-friendly.

Very important!

Changing names of searches may cause GN4 malfunctioning and errors during configuration load. Take care about the following:

•Some searches can be called from scripting, e.g. "Search" name may be called from various scripts in add-ins; if you rename such search, some dialogs may loose fields. In such case the best might be to make a copy of the entire <searchObjectUI section, and then rename the copy. In the code for the multi-pane selector simply do not list that name, but other names. E.g. you've duplicated Search, and renamed Search in copy to Basic. Now you have three <searchObjectUI: Search, Basic and Options. In code for the multi-pane selector use only Basic and Options.

•Some sections of xxx_Config.xml may be shared between more main tabs/navigators. In this example, the ArticlePicker section is used by Ted4Main and Fred4Pages in xxx_TabItems.xml - you need to change both sections to avoid loading configuration errors.

The code for the multi-pane selector is to be added in the navigator definition section. In this example, we're adding it to the Ted4Articles section. The related part is burried under DockPanel Name="MainContainer" > Grid Name=MainGrid" > Expander Name="LeftExpander" > l:NavigatorControl...> TabItem... > Grid Name...>  Expander... > Expander.Header and it's to be added after l:SavedSearchControl.

To find quickly all multi-pane selectors, look for <ComboBox name. in all xxxx*TABITEMS.XML files.

The exact position is marked with the red rectangle. On the figure, the code is already added. See below for the code content:

Code content

<ComboBox

 Name="ArticleSearchIndex"

 Grid.Column="1"

 ToolTip="Search Type"

 HorizontalAlignment="Right"

 Margin="2,2,30,2"

 SelectedValue="{Binding Path=(l:ShellData.ShellData).SearchCriteria[ArticleSearch].SearchName, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}">

 <sys:String xmlns:sys="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib">Basic</sys:String>

 <sys:String xmlns:sys="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib">Options</sys:String>

</ComboBox>

Some comment about code

•The name of the combobox is arbitrary, but it has to be unique among identifiers of that section.

•The above code assumes the button appears in the second column of the local grid, thus Grid.Column="1" - don't forget the counter starts at 0, thus, the first column is "0" and the second column is "1".

•The search identifier is 'ArticleSearch' (shown as bold in the SelectedValue="... line.). Enter the name defined as 'Name' property of the 'SearchCriteria' class in the 'ShellData' section close to the beginning of the entire main tab / navigators definition:
     <l:ShellData.ShellData>

       <l:ShellData>

         <l:ShellData.SearchCriteria>

           <l:SearchCriteria Name="ArticleSearch"

                             BaseQueryName="ArticlePicker"

                             SearchName="Basic"

                             AutoApply="False"

           />

•Names of search panes in the <sys:String... lines have to correspond to the <searchObjectUI names used in the related section of the xxx_Config.xml.

•The name of the default search pane in the 'ShellData' section, under 'SearchName' property of the 'SearchCriteria' class has to be one of the <searchObjectUI names used in the related section of the xxx_Config.xml

Locate the ShellData section of that main tab / navigator block, locate the SearchName property, and then enter the one of the <searchObjectUI names used in the related section of the xxx_Config.xml. On the example below, we entered 'Basic'.

     <l:ShellData.ShellData>

       <l:ShellData>

         <l:ShellData.SearchCriteria>

           <l:SearchCriteria Name="ArticleSearch"

                             BaseQueryName="ArticlePicker"

                             SearchName="Basic"

                             AutoApply="False"

           />

Reload all modified .xml files and then test changes.