Steps to reproduce: 1. Add a CompositeFilterDescriptor programmatically as it is demonstrated in the following help article: http://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/gridview/filtering/setting-filters-programmatically-(composite-descriptors) 2. Save the layout. 3. Load the layout. Workaround: specify the PropertyName property for the CompositeFilterDescriptor.
The described issue is duplicated with another item in our backlog. You can track its progress, subscribe for status changes and add your comment to the following link: FIX. RadGridView - exception when deserializing composite filter descriptor without a PropertyName. ( https://feedback.telerik.com/Project/154/Feedback/Details/210782-fix-radgridview-exception-when-deserializing-composite-filter-descriptor-witho )