Introduction > Toolbox Components

NShape adds a set of components to the Visual Studio toolbox. Generally spoken, the controller components implement functionality for their respective responsibility while presenter components link views (i.e. forms or controls) to controllers.

The components are divided into non-visual, UI independent core components (Dataweb.NShape.dll) and UI dependent components (Dataweb.NShape.WinFormsUI.dll).

Core Components

Name	Description
Project	Central component of each NShape application. The only indispensable one.
CachedRepository	The default repository implementation which holds all diagrams, designs, templates and model objects in memory. A repository is also required for each project, but if you do not add one, the project creates one for you. In order to persist a project, a Store component has to be attached to the repository.
SQLStore	The database storage component. Allows to store NShape projects in MS SQL Server databases.
XMLStore	The XML storage component. Allows to store NShape projects in XML files.

Controller Components

Name	Description
DesignController	Provides methods for editing designs and styles
DiagramSetController	Provides methods for managing and editing diagrams. Each display must be connected to such a controller.
LayerController	Provides methods for managing and editing layers of diagrams.
ModelController	Provides methods for managing and editing model objects.
PropertyController	Provides methods for editing properties of shapes, model objects and diagrams.
TemplateController	Provides methods for creating and editing templates.
ToolSetController	Provides methods for managing tools for shape creation and manipulation.

Presenter Components

Name	Description
LayerPresenter	Provides methods for UI components to interact with the controller component linked to this presenter.
ModelTreeViewPresenter	Links a WinForms TreeView control to a ModelController to create a model editor.
PropertyPresenter	Links one or two PropertyGrid components to a PropertyController for editing properties of NShape objects. Implements NShape security access features.
TemplatePresenter	A WinForms user control that provides template editing capabilities.
ToolSetListViewPresenter	Links a WinForms ListView control to a ToolSetController object to display and edit the diagram manipulation tools.

Controls

Name	Description
DesignPresenter	A user control containing the full functionality for managing and editing designs and styles.
Display	Operating and editing surface for diagrams.
LayerEditor	A user control containing a LayerController and a LayerPresenter, providing the full functionality of managing and editing layers of a diagram.
LayerListView	A WinForms ListView implementing the ILayerView interface. Needs to be linked with a LayerPresenter.
ToolSetToolStripPresenter	Links a WinForms ListView control to a ToolSetController object to display and edit the diagram manipulation tools.