Flex datagrid and nested Array dataprovider - apache-flex

Question

I have used datagrid on many projects populate the grid using the following "Usual data structure" and brought the standard o/p as shown below Image.
But now for one assignment I want to bring the same grid result using the below mentioned "Complex data structure" (nested array). I have some Idea which is process the data before pushing it to the Grid but the problem am having is I need to perform some update , edit delete operation through the grid renderers and the same should be reflected into the source collection also. Please let me know is there a way I can use the "Complex structure" and bring the expected o/p using any flex in build properties. Thanks in Advance.
Usual data structure
steps = [a,b,c];
a = {x:100,y:y1,z:z1};
b = {x:200,y:y2,z:z2};
c = {x:300,y:y3,z:z3};
Complex data structure
[] is an Array collection not Array type.
a = [100,y1,z1];
b = [200,y2,z2];
c = [300,y3,z3];
steps = [[a,some objects],[b,some objects],[c,some objects]];
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="absolute" creationComplete="init()">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.collections.ArrayCollection;
private var a:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection(['x1','y1','z1']);
private var b:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection(['x2','y2','z2']);
private var c:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection(['x3','y3','z3']);
[Bindable]
private var stepsObjs:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([{ items: a},{ items: b},{ items: c}]);
]]>
</mx:Script>
<mx:DataGrid dataProvider="{stepsObjs}" >
<mx:columns>
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="items.0" headerText="x" />
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="items.1" headerText="y" />
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="items.2" headerText="z" />
</mx:columns>
</mx:DataGrid>
</mx:Application>

Answer 1

EDIT Replacing with code to solve the new question.
This one worked for me:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<s:Application xmlns:fx="http://ns.adobe.com/mxml/2009"
xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark"
xmlns:mx="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/mx" minWidth="955" minHeight="600"
>
<fx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.collections.ArrayCollection;
private var a:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([100,'y1','z1']);
private var b:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([200,'y2','z2']);
private var c:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([300,'y3','z3']);
private var stepsObjs:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([{ items: a},{ items: b},{ items: c}]);
private var stepsColl:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([[a],[b],[c]]);
]]>
</fx:Script>
<s:layout>
<s:VerticalLayout />
</s:layout>
<mx:DataGrid dataProvider="{stepsObjs}" >
<mx:columns>
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="items.0" headerText="x" />
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="items.1" headerText="y" />
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="items.2" headerText="z" />
</mx:columns>
</mx:DataGrid>
<mx:DataGrid dataProvider="{stepsColl}" >
<mx:columns>
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="0.0" headerText="x" />
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="0.1" headerText="y" />
<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="0.2" headerText="z" />
</mx:columns>
</mx:DataGrid>
</s:Application>

Answer 2

The itemRenderers should dispatch an event that describes what should happen, and then it should be handled higher up.
Like this:
//inside item renderer
dispatchEvent(new ItemEvent(ItemEvent.DELETE_ITEM, true, item));//where true tells the event to bubble (you'll need to create this event)
//somewhere above the DataGrid
dataGrid.addEventListener(ItemEvent.DELETE_ITEM, deleteItemFromSource);
protected function deleteItemFromSource(e:ItemEvent):void {
var lcv:ListCollectionView = (dataGrid.dataProvider as ListCollectionView);
lcv.removeItemAt(lcv.getItemIndex(e.item));
}
Note as a FYI that you should be using some sort of ListCollectionView if you want the datagrid to automatically update when you change it, not an Array.
HTH;
Amy