Codegarden Session: Custom Datatypes

Version 3 ships with a new datatype that functions as a Usercontrol Wrapper. This means that you dont actually have to think about saving the values to the Umbraco DB.

So when is this usefull?

Actually this makes it possible to apply security on document properties. Because you just make a usecontrol that defines the UI, you can actually check to see which type of user is logged in, thus deciding wether the user should be allowed to see to property.

It also makes it easier to make a datatype that uses external data to decide which data to display in the property.

Other usage examples from the session was making a usercontrol to list childnodes with paging for high volume areas of the site, and building a small messaging system where you can pick a user an let them know that the page needs to be reviewed.

Niels also commented on the possibilities of placing usercontrols in the dashboard, and mentioned that version 3 supports tabbed dasboard controls. Neat!