Anyone building Mendix pages needs images. Historically, you had two options: the Dynamic Image and Static Image widgets. But there's a new player in town: the Image widget, the next-gen replacement that combines the best of both worlds.
The Old Widgets
Dynamic Image Widget
This one pulls images from your database. You can add on-click actions, display a thumbnail instead of the full image, and configure enlargement.
Static Image Widget
This one shows a fixed image you set in Studio Pro. It doesn't change, doesn't scale, and doesn't support enlargement.
Meet the New Player: The Image Widget
The new Image widget brings some serious improvements:
- Toggle between static and dynamic image types with contextual field display
- Enlarge capability: You can now enlarge static images. No more workarounds turning them into dynamic images
- URL-based images: Set an image from an external source using a URL
- Icon support: Choose from the Mendix icon library or upload your own
- Icon size control: Design option for icon sizing
What's Not So Great
Studio Pro Preview Issues
When width/height are set to "Auto," the preview appears unfinished. Manual pixel entry improves rendering accuracy.
Icon Limitations
Choosing an icon? You won't see a preview of the actual icon, only the standard image placeholder. Color customization requires custom CSS rather than a built-in color picker.
Future-Proofing
Dynamic and Static Image widgets are no longer included by default in new Mendix 10 applications, indicating they're being phased out.
TL;DR
- Start using the new Image widget for every image or icon
- Stop using the outdated static/dynamic widgets
