XAF: Analytics & Dashboards Module

Setup

NuGet Packages

<!-- Core -->
<PackageReference Include="DevExpress.ExpressApp.Dashboards" Version="25.1.*" />
<!-- Blazor -->
<PackageReference Include="DevExpress.ExpressApp.Dashboards.Blazor" Version="25.1.*" />
<!-- WinForms -->
<PackageReference Include="DevExpress.ExpressApp.Dashboards.Win" Version="25.1.*" />

Blazor Program.cs

b.AddModule<DashboardsModule>();
b.AddModule<DashboardsBlazorModule>();

// Register dashboard services
builder.Services.AddDevExpressDashboards();

// In app configuration:
app.UseXaf();
app.MapControllers();
// DevExpress dashboard endpoint
app.MapDevExpressDashboardRoute("api/dashboard");

EF Core DbContext (add DashboardData table)

public class ApplicationDbContext : DbContext {
    public DbSet<DashboardData> Dashboards { get; set; }
    // ...
}

WinForms

Application.Modules.Add(new DashboardsModule());
Application.Modules.Add(new DashboardsWindowsFormsModule());

---

DashboardData — Persistent Storage

DashboardData is the built-in persistent object for storing dashboards in the database.

// Fields:
// Title (string)       - display name in navigation
// Content (string)     - dashboard layout as XML
// IsSynchronized (bool) - internal sync flag

Create a dashboard in code (predefined):

public class MyModule : ModuleBase {
    public override void PopulateAdditionalExportedTypes(
        string containerAssemblyName, List<Type> exportedTypes) {
        base.PopulateAdditionalExportedTypes(containerAssemblyName, exportedTypes);
    }
}

// Seed in Updater.cs
public override void UpdateDatabaseAfterUpdateSchema() {
    base.UpdateDatabaseAfterUpdateSchema();

    if (ObjectSpace.FindObject<DashboardData>(null) == null) {
        var dashboard = ObjectSpace.CreateObject<DashboardData>();
        dashboard.Title = "Sales Overview";
        dashboard.Content = File.ReadAllText("SalesOverview.xml"); // exported .xml
        ObjectSpace.CommitChanges();
    }
}

---

Custom Dashboard Storage

public class MyDashboardStorage : IXafDashboardStorage {
    private readonly IObjectSpaceFactory _factory;

    public MyDashboardStorage(IObjectSpaceFactory factory) {
        _factory = factory;
    }

    public IEnumerable<DashboardInfo> GetAvailableDashboardsInfo() {
        using var os = _factory.CreateObjectSpace(typeof(DashboardData));
        return os.GetObjects<DashboardData>()
            .Select(d => new DashboardInfo { ID = d.ID.ToString(), Name = d.Title })
            .ToList();
    }

    public XDocument LoadDashboard(string dashboardID) {
        using var os = _factory.CreateObjectSpace(typeof(DashboardData));
        var data = os.GetObjectByKey<DashboardData>(Guid.Parse(dashboardID));
        return XDocument.Parse(data.Content);
    }

    public void SaveDashboard(string dashboardID, XDocument dashboard) {
        using var os = _factory.CreateObjectSpace(typeof(DashboardData));
        var data = os.GetObjectByKey<DashboardData>(Guid.Parse(dashboardID));
        data.Content = dashboard.ToString();
        os.CommitChanges();
    }

    public string AddDashboard(XDocument dashboard, string dashboardName) {
        using var os = _factory.CreateObjectSpace(typeof(DashboardData));
        var data = os.CreateObject<DashboardData>();
        data.Title = dashboardName;
        data.Content = dashboard.ToString();
        os.CommitChanges();
        return data.ID.ToString();
    }
}

---

Data Sources in Dashboards

EF Core ObjectDataSource

// Register in DashboardsModule configuration
b.AddModule<DashboardsModule>(options => {
    options.DashboardDataType = typeof(DashboardData);
});

// Make business objects available as dashboard data sources:
// The module auto-discovers XAF business objects via metadata
// No extra code needed — types registered in modules appear in designer

Custom Data Source Provider

public class MyDashboardDataProvider : DashboardDataProvider {
    readonly IObjectSpaceFactory _factory;

    public MyDashboardDataProvider(IObjectSpaceFactory factory) {
        _factory = factory;
    }

    public override object GetDataSource(string dataSourceName, IDictionary<string, object> parameters) {
        using var os = _factory.CreateObjectSpace(typeof(SalesData));
        return os.GetObjects<SalesData>()
            .Select(s => new { s.Date, s.Amount, s.Region })
            .ToList();
    }
}

// Register:
services.AddSingleton<DashboardDataProvider, MyDashboardDataProvider>();

---

Dashboard Viewer in UI

XAF automatically adds dashboards to the Navigation under a "Dashboards" group. Users open dashboards from the navigation item — no extra code needed.

---

Dashboard Designer

• Blazor: Integrated designer available in-browser when user has Write permission on DashboardData
• WinForms: Native XtraDashboard Designer hosted within application

// Enable designer for all authenticated users:
role.AddTypePermission<DashboardData>(SecurityOperations.FullAccess, SecurityPermissionState.Allow);

// Viewers only (no design access):
role.AddTypePermission<DashboardData>(SecurityOperations.ReadOnlyAccess, SecurityPermissionState.Allow);

---

Security Permissions

Permission	Capability
Read DashboardData	View dashboards
Write DashboardData	Edit dashboards in designer
Create DashboardData	Create new dashboards
Delete DashboardData	Delete dashboards

---

Export / Print

Dashboard viewer provides built-in export toolbar:

• PDF export
• Excel/XLSX export
• Image export
• Print

No additional code needed — built into the viewer component.

---

v24.2 vs v25.1 Notes

Feature	v24.2	v25.1
Blazor designer	Preview quality	Production stable
.NET target	.NET 8	.NET 8 / .NET 9
AI-assisted creation	Experimental	Enhanced

---

Source Links

• Dashboards Module: https://docs.devexpress.com/eXpressAppFramework/117449/analytics
• XAF Dashboards: https://docs.devexpress.com/eXpressAppFramework/117449/analytics/dashboards
• DashboardData API: https://docs.devexpress.com/eXpressAppFramework/DevExpress.ExpressApp.Dashboards.DashboardData
• IXafDashboardStorage: https://docs.devexpress.com/eXpressAppFramework/DevExpress.ExpressApp.Dashboards.IXafDashboardStorage
• DevExpress Dashboard Docs: https://docs.devexpress.com/Dashboard/15960