Styling a Grouped row in AdvancedDataGrid

[fu-meng]

In my app I have an AdvancedDataGrid and I use a Grouping Collection to convert that data to a hierarchy. With a Grouping Collection you can extend the AdvancedDataGridGroupItemRenderer and re-position the disclosureIcon, add borders and other styles, but.....

With another AdvancedDataGrid in my app I'm using <mx:hierarchicalData> so I don't have any "groups", per se. So, how do I style the "grouped" row? The AdvancedDataGridItemRenderer extends UITextField so I can't do any styling.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any helpful tips...

[fu-meng]

Update: I was wrong, you absolutely do extend AdvancedDataGridGroupItemRenderer and use that with <mx:hierarchicalData>.

My only problem now is setting a background image in this renderer. I can draw plenty of stuff using the graphics property but there doesn't appear to be a way to add a background image. Has anyone done this before?

[Peter Cowling]

I would checkout this flex coders (http://www.mail-archive.com/flexcoders@yahoogroups.com/msg96617.html) thread.

It is addressing a need to alter background alpha and colour, but the graphics.drawRectangle parts - to draw the background - can be swapped out for a background image.

It also has some good 'finds', the underlying reasons for which Doug McClune discusses.

[fu-meng]

That is an interesting thread. I've been dealing a lot with AdvancedDataGrids lately and it certainly sheds some light on a lot of issues I've been dealing with.

Unfortunately, I can't use the example they had because it extends Label and I still need access to the disclosureIcon and label of the AdvancedDataGridGroupItemRenderer....so I'm stuck with extending that class.

I think I'm just going to try my luck at drawing a complex gradient using beginGradientFill();

Thank you for your help.
I would checkout this flex coders (http://www.mail-archive.com/flexcoders@yahoogroups.com/msg96617.html) thread.

It is addressing a need to alter background alpha and colour, but the graphics.drawRectangle parts - to draw the background - can be swapped out for a background image.

It also has some good 'finds', the underlying reasons for which Doug McClune discusses.

[Peter Cowling]

Yeah, I have to say that this sort of stuff is much better in Gumbo. The re-factoring of skins means no (or at least none if have come across) tucked-away, and wierdly coded, design code. And pay-as-you-go helps too.

Good luck.