Generate Diagrams from Flat Data

Jul 21, 2025
4 minutes to read

Use the DiagramDataBindingController class to generate single and multi-level diagrams from flat (non-hierarchical) data.

View Example: Generate a Diagram from a Collection

Set Up the Behavior

Attach the DiagramDataBindingController to the DiagramControl.

Open the DiagramControl‘s smart tag menu and select Add DataBindingController :

C#
VB.NET

csharp

diagramDataBindingController1 = new DevExpress.XtraDiagram.DiagramDataBindingController();
diagramDataBindingController1.Diagram = diagramControl1;

diagramDataBindingController1 = New DevExpress.XtraDiagram.DiagramDataBindingController()
diagramDataBindingController1.Diagram = diagramControl1

Use the following properties to specify source collections for shapes/containers and connectors:

Property	Description
KeyMember	Specifies a data source property that uniquely identifies shapes/containers.
DataSource	Specifies a source collection of data items that describe shapes/containers.
ConnectorsSource	Specifies a source collection of data items that describe connectors.
ConnectorFromMember	Specifies a connector item property that identifies the start item by its `KeyMember`.
ConnectorToMember	Specifies a connector item property that identifies the end item by its `KeyMember`.

DiagramDataBindingController identifies items by their instances if you do not specify the KeyMember property.

You can also use the controller’s smart tag menu to configure DiagramDataBindingController at design-time:

Define and Configure Generated Diagram Items

Use the following techniques to define and configure generated items:

Usage Notes

DiagramDataBindingController obtains values only from strongly typed objects. You cannot bind it to dynamic properties.

Tip

Use the diagram item’s DataContext property to obtain the corresponding data object/item in the underlying data source.

Example

The following example demonstrates the DiagramControl bound to sample data:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

public class ViewModel {
    public List<Item> Items { get; set; }
    public List<Link> Connections { get; set; }
    public ViewModel() {
        Items = new List<Item>();
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
            Items.Add(new Item { Id = i, Name = "Item " + i });
        Connections = new List<Link>();
        for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
            Connections.Add(new Link { From = Items[i].Id, To = Items[i + 1].Id });
        Connections.Add(new Link { From = Items[4].Id, To = Items[0].Id });
    }
}
public class Item {
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
}

public class Link {
    public object From { get; set; }
    public object To { get; set; }
}

Public Class ViewModel
    Public Property Items() As List(Of Item)
    Public Property Connections() As List(Of Link)
    Public Sub New()
        Items = New List(Of Item)()
        For i As Integer = 0 To 4
            Items.Add(New Item With {
                .Id = i,
                .Name = "Item " & i
            })
        Next i
        Connections = New List(Of Link)()
        For i As Integer = 0 To 3
            Connections.Add(New Link With {
                .From = Items(i).Id,
                .To = Items(i + 1).Id
            })
        Next i
        Connections.Add(New Link With {
            .From = Items(4).Id,
            .To = Items(0).Id
        })
    End Sub
End Class
Public Class Item
    Public Property Id() As Integer
    Public Property Name() As String
End Class

Public Class Link
    Public Property From() As Object
    Public Property To As Object
End Class

C#
VB.NET

csharp

public Form1() {
    InitializeComponent();
    ViewModel viewModel = new ViewModel();
    diagramDataBindingController1.GenerateItem += DiagramDataBindingController1_GenerateItem;
    diagramDataBindingController1.DataSource = viewModel.Items;
    diagramDataBindingController1.KeyMember = "Id";
    diagramDataBindingController1.ConnectorsSource = viewModel.Connections;
    diagramDataBindingController1.ConnectorFromMember = "From";
    diagramDataBindingController1.ConnectorToMember = "To";
    diagramDataBindingController1.LayoutKind = DiagramLayoutKind.Circular;
}
private void DiagramDataBindingController1_GenerateItem(object sender, DiagramGenerateItemEventArgs e) {
    var item = new DiagramShape {
        X = 27,
        Width = 75,
        Height = 50,
        Shape = BasicShapes.Rectangle
    };
    item.Bindings.Add(new DiagramBinding("Content", "Name"));
    e.Item = item;
}

Public Sub New()
    InitializeComponent()
    Dim viewModel As New ViewModel()
    AddHandler diagramDataBindingController1.GenerateItem, AddressOf DiagramDataBindingController1_GenerateItem
    diagramDataBindingController1.DataSource = viewModel.Items
    diagramDataBindingController1.KeyMember = "Id"
    diagramDataBindingController1.ConnectorsSource = viewModel.Connections
    diagramDataBindingController1.ConnectorFromMember = "From"
    diagramDataBindingController1.ConnectorToMember = "To"
    diagramDataBindingController1.LayoutKind = DiagramLayoutKind.Circular
End Sub
Private Sub DiagramDataBindingController1_GenerateItem(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DiagramGenerateItemEventArgs)
    Dim item = New DiagramShape With {
        .X = 27,
        .Width = 75,
        .Height = 50,
        .Shape = BasicShapes.Rectangle
    }
    item.Bindings.Add(New DiagramBinding("Content", "Name"))
    e.Item = item
End Sub