C#•2y ago

Dynamic Binding for DataGrid WPF

following this article : https://paulstovell.com/dynamic-datagrid/ i'm stuck at the "Rendering basic columns in a DataGrid" section. I dont really see where i should put that code in a MVVM practice. should i create the entire datagrid in the VM ? should i trigger on some ItemsSource updated event in the code behind ? ... fixed with help of https://stackoverflow.com/questions/64687172/how-to-autogenerate-datagrid-columns-for-collection-of-child-type-from-collectio first i do create a Data class that contain my Records :

//the BindableBase is from prism but is same as implementation of INotifyPropertyChanged
public class Data : BindableBase
    {
        private ObservableCollection<Record> _records = new();
        public ObservableCollection<Record> Records
        {
            get { return _records; }
            set { 
                SetProperty(ref _records, value);
            }
        }
    }

//the BindableBase is from prism but is same as implementation of INotifyPropertyChanged
public class Data : BindableBase
    {
        private ObservableCollection<Record> _records = new();
        public ObservableCollection<Record> Records
        {
            get { return _records; }
            set { 
                SetProperty(ref _records, value);
            }
        }
    }

record :

public class Record
    {
        private readonly ObservableCollection<Property> properties = new ObservableCollection<Property>();

        public Record(params Property[] properties)
        {
            foreach (var property in properties)
                Properties.Add(property);
        }

        public ObservableCollection<Property> Properties
        {
            get { return properties; }
        }


    }

public class Record
    {
        private readonly ObservableCollection<Property> properties = new ObservableCollection<Property>();

        public Record(params Property[] properties)
        {
            foreach (var property in properties)
                Properties.Add(property);
        }

        public ObservableCollection<Property> Properties
        {
            get { return properties; }
        }


    }

property

public class Property 
    {
        public Property(string name, object value)
        {
            Name = name;
            Value = value;
        }

        public string Name { get; private set; }
        public object Value { get; set; }

    }

public class Property 
    {
        public Property(string name, object value)
        {
            Name = name;
            Value = value;
        }

        public string Name { get; private set; }
        public object Value { get; set; }

    }

in your VM you can instanciate your prop with

public class SomeViewModel: ViewModelBase
{
  private Data _data = new();
  public Data Data
  {
    get { return _data; }
    set { SetProperty(ref _data, value); }
  }
}

public class SomeViewModel: ViewModelBase
{
  private Data _data = new();
  public Data Data
  {
    get { return _data; }
    set { SetProperty(ref _data, value); }
  }
}

Paul Stovell's Blog

WPF Dynamically Generated DataGrid

Sometimes you might have a very dynamic source of data, with classes to represent rows and properties. Here's how you can use a WPF DataGrid with it.

Stack Overflow

How to autogenerate DataGrid columns for collection of child type f...

So I have a bunch of classes that are derived from some base class. I have classes (collectors) that have a methods that returns collections of these classes. I also have a TabControl where each ta...

22 Replies

grimpows•2y ago

but the trick on handling change from the ItemsSources is to create a CustomDataGrid that override the OnItemsSourceChanged :

//namespace is YourApp.Controls in this exemple for the xaml
public class DynamicDataGrid : DataGrid
    {
        public DynamicDataGrid() : base()
        {
        }
        protected override void OnItemsSourceChanged(System.Collections.IEnumerable oldValue, System.Collections.IEnumerable newValue)
        {
            base.OnItemsSourceChanged(oldValue, newValue);
            if (newValue != null)
            {
                var enumerator = newValue.GetEnumerator();
                if (enumerator.MoveNext())
                {
                    Columns.Clear();
                    var firstElement = enumerator.Current;
                    var actualType = firstElement.GetType();
                    foreach (var prop in actualType.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance).Where(x => x.CanRead))
                    {
                        var IsCollectionOfProperties = typeof(ObservableCollection<Property>) == prop.PropertyType;
                        if (IsCollectionOfProperties)
                        {
                            var properties = (ObservableCollection<Property>)prop.GetValue(firstElement);
                            foreach (var (property, index) in properties.Select((item, index) => (item, index)))
                            {
                                Columns.Add(new DataGridTextColumn
                                {
                                    // dynamic bind is doing there !!
                                    Header = property.Name,
                                    Binding = new Binding(prop.Name + $"[{index}].Value")
                                });
}
}
else
{ //broked formating cose discord
                            //we could add some other prop than properties Array to a Record and bind them here ...
}                       
}
}
}
}    
}

//namespace is YourApp.Controls in this exemple for the xaml
public class DynamicDataGrid : DataGrid
    {
        public DynamicDataGrid() : base()
        {
        }
        protected override void OnItemsSourceChanged(System.Collections.IEnumerable oldValue, System.Collections.IEnumerable newValue)
        {
            base.OnItemsSourceChanged(oldValue, newValue);
            if (newValue != null)
            {
                var enumerator = newValue.GetEnumerator();
                if (enumerator.MoveNext())
                {
                    Columns.Clear();
                    var firstElement = enumerator.Current;
                    var actualType = firstElement.GetType();
                    foreach (var prop in actualType.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance).Where(x => x.CanRead))
                    {
                        var IsCollectionOfProperties = typeof(ObservableCollection<Property>) == prop.PropertyType;
                        if (IsCollectionOfProperties)
                        {
                            var properties = (ObservableCollection<Property>)prop.GetValue(firstElement);
                            foreach (var (property, index) in properties.Select((item, index) => (item, index)))
                            {
                                Columns.Add(new DataGridTextColumn
                                {
                                    // dynamic bind is doing there !!
                                    Header = property.Name,
                                    Binding = new Binding(prop.Name + $"[{index}].Value")
                                });
}
}
else
{ //broked formating cose discord
                            //we could add some other prop than properties Array to a Record and bind them here ...
}                       
}
}
}
}    
}

grimpows•2y ago

and in our XAML :

<UserControl>
...
xmlns:controls="clr-namespace:YourApp.Controls"
...
</UserContol>

<controls:DynamicDataGrid 
x:Name="Datagrid"
Margin="10"
ItemsSource="{Binding Data.Records}"
CanUserAddRows="False"
IsReadOnly="True"
AutoGenerateColumns="False" />

<UserControl>
...
xmlns:controls="clr-namespace:YourApp.Controls"
...
</UserContol>

<controls:DynamicDataGrid 
x:Name="Datagrid"
Margin="10"
ItemsSource="{Binding Data.Records}"
CanUserAddRows="False"
IsReadOnly="True"
AutoGenerateColumns="False" />

grimpows•2y ago

BindableBase is from Prism and is an abstract class for INotifyPropertyChanged Record class is same as the article, also for property class and my view just contain same thing :

grimpows•2y ago

Unknown User•2y ago

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grimpows•2y ago

the rest of the xaml isnt important here there is lot of other stuff not related to this issue but i can show you the result if i put autoGenerate to true

Unknown User•2y ago

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grimpows•2y ago

i didnt make templates from the articles as i didnt even generate columns yet template come after right ?

Unknown User•2y ago

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grimpows•2y ago

as the article right it, the template is autoCalled by the : <Window.Resources> <DataTemplate x:Key="CustomTemplate"> <Border Padding="3" Background="Purple"> <TextBox Text="{Binding Path=Value}" /> </Border> </DataTemplate> </Window.Resources> and my prob is still before when we need to tell the datagrid to use X or Y template : foreach (var column in columns) { var binding = new Binding(string.Format("Properties[{0}]", column.Index)); dataGrid.Columns.Add(new CustomBoundColumn() { Header = column.Name, Binding = binding, TemplateName = "CustomTemplate" }); }

Unknown User•2y ago

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grimpows•2y ago

the exemple from rendering template columns its a false exemple, this isnt dynamic if you speak about : <DataGridTemplateColumn> <DataGridTemplateColumn.CellTemplate> <DataTemplate> <Border Padding="3" Background="Purple"> <TextBox Text="{Binding Path=FirstName}" /> </Border> </DataTemplate> </DataGridTemplateColumn.CellTemplate> </DataGridTemplateColumn> the dynamic way is made by calling dataGrid.Columns.Add(new CustomBoundColumn() ...

Unknown User•2y ago

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grimpows•2y ago

i just want reproduce the dynamic DataGrid of course i bind it to other code that can load the Ressources for specific use like read a CSV for my case so in fact i want to add the call of "dataGrid.Columns.Add(new CustomBoundColumn() ..." from somewhere the somewhere look like in code behind but i dont know how to trigger it on my ItemsSource changed or if you have better solution for using only MVVM i'm listening too :p

Unknown User•2y ago

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grimpows•2y ago

actually i'll try using OnPropertyChanged but still not resolve how i can change the DataGrid.Columns :p

Unknown User•2y ago

Message Not Public

grimpows•2y ago

i couldnt ^^ but ty anyway 🙂 and i already use the event aggregator for other thing like sending message, but i guess this may not the thing i need for this special case well about the event change i have found for prism at least but should work for any INotifyPropertyChanged object in the VM i can register a function for Data.PropertyChanged += Data_PropertyChanged; and can check if the property name changed is the "Records" in my VM contrustor :

grimpows•2y ago

then :

grimpows•2y ago

grimpows•2y ago

count is just a prop for check how many time the prop changed 🙂 wellll almost fixed my prob 🙂 for those who could be interested i'll post the solution when everything will be done well i finaly adapted the author post for MVVM .... and that wasnt easy x') edited original post to add the solution so i guess i will may change to directly pass data to the DynamicDataGrid but i'm over for tonight :p and i will have a reusable DynamicData Model that can be passed to a DynamicDataGrid !

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Dynamic Binding for DataGrid WPF