Actually it's simpler with a Map, as you set a key for each value, you don't need to set the Custom view's Tag property.
Just be sure to give a meaningful name to each key.
What are you exactly trying to do?
A custom view is first declared like a normal view is, and you access it's properties like any other view... BUT you may need to expose some of those in the Custom view itself (Class) in order to access it in your code.
MainForm.RootPane.LoadLayout("Layout1")
For Each o As Object In Form1.RootPane
Log(o)
'PaneWrapper$ConcretePaneWrapper$NonResizePane@3ce13c27
If o Is Pane Then
Dim c1 As Pane
c1 = o
Log("Here1")
End If
If o Is MyCustomView Then
Dim c2 As MyCustomView
c2 = o
Log("Here2")
End If
Next
End Sub
When i get the node type an textfield i have the possibility to set the text but if i use an customview and create a new method that set the format of the text of the textfield in it, the method is not accesible becouse i see the textfield and only it's methods not the customview class methods ...
I still don't understand what you are trying to do...
You must think of a custom view as a blank piece of paper, where you "Draw" whatever you need. The IDE only references the Base (the piece of paper), everything else that you need visible and accessible to the IDE, like props and methods, need to be explicitly set in the Custom View code...
Have you read Klaus chapter about Custom views?