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C#•9mo ago

✅ WPF trees with some items that can't be selected

I'm building a UI with a tree view where some items exist only to group children. The tree will function as a kind of vertical tree control. When most items in the tree are selected, I'll show a control next to the tree. But the items that are only groups don't have a control to show. So I don't want to allow their selection. How do I pull that off?

47 Replies

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

I've done this before, but it was years ago, let me see if I can find th repo

JakenVeina•9mo ago

framework?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Well, I'm using .NET 7 if that's what you mean.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

Oh I sorta assumed wpf

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Well, the topic does say WPF. I thought you meant which version of .NET. That's implied when you talk about WPF.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

So this is really dirty

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Dirty????

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

<Window x:Class="WpfApp1.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApp1"
        mc:Ignorable="d"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">

    <Window.Resources>
        <HierarchicalDataTemplate x:Key="CheckedDataTemplate">
            <CheckBox VerticalContentAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" IsChecked="{Binding Path=IsChecked}">
                <CheckBox.Content>
                    <Label VerticalAlignment="Center" Content="{Binding Path=Name}"></Label>
                </CheckBox.Content>
            </CheckBox>
        </HierarchicalDataTemplate>

        <HierarchicalDataTemplate x:Key="DisplayDataTemplate">
            <Label VerticalAlignment="Center" Content="{Binding Path=Name}"></Label>
        </HierarchicalDataTemplate>

        <local:TreeViewItemTemplateSelector x:Key="ItemTemplateSelector"></local:TreeViewItemTemplateSelector>
    </Window.Resources>
    <DockPanel>
        <TreeView x:Name="TreeView" MinWidth="100" ItemTemplateSelector="{StaticResource ItemTemplateSelector}"></TreeView>

        <StackPanel DockPanel.Dock="Right">
            <Label Content="Name"></Label>
            <TextBox x:Name="Name"></TextBox>
            <CheckBox x:Name="CheckBox" Content="Is Checkable"></CheckBox>
            <Button Content="Add Node" Click="AddNode_OnClick"></Button>
        </StackPanel>
    </DockPanel>
</Window>

<Window x:Class="WpfApp1.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApp1"
        mc:Ignorable="d"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">

    <Window.Resources>
        <HierarchicalDataTemplate x:Key="CheckedDataTemplate">
            <CheckBox VerticalContentAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" IsChecked="{Binding Path=IsChecked}">
                <CheckBox.Content>
                    <Label VerticalAlignment="Center" Content="{Binding Path=Name}"></Label>
                </CheckBox.Content>
            </CheckBox>
        </HierarchicalDataTemplate>

        <HierarchicalDataTemplate x:Key="DisplayDataTemplate">
            <Label VerticalAlignment="Center" Content="{Binding Path=Name}"></Label>
        </HierarchicalDataTemplate>

        <local:TreeViewItemTemplateSelector x:Key="ItemTemplateSelector"></local:TreeViewItemTemplateSelector>
    </Window.Resources>
    <DockPanel>
        <TreeView x:Name="TreeView" MinWidth="100" ItemTemplateSelector="{StaticResource ItemTemplateSelector}"></TreeView>

        <StackPanel DockPanel.Dock="Right">
            <Label Content="Name"></Label>
            <TextBox x:Name="Name"></TextBox>
            <CheckBox x:Name="CheckBox" Content="Is Checkable"></CheckBox>
            <Button Content="Add Node" Click="AddNode_OnClick"></Button>
        </StackPanel>
    </DockPanel>
</Window>

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;

namespace WpfApp1;

/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
    public TreeNode DataSource { get; }
    
    public MainWindow()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        DataSource = new TreeNode("Root", new ObservableCollection<TreeNode>());

        TreeView.ItemsSource = DataSource.Children;
    }


    public void AddNode(TreeNode? parent, TreeNode child)
    {
        (parent ??= DataSource).Children.Add(child);
    }

    private void AddNode_OnClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        var parent = TreeView.SelectedItem as TreeNode;

        var child = new TreeNode(Name.Text, new ObservableCollection<TreeNode>(), CheckBox.IsChecked ?? false);

        AddNode(parent, child);
    }
}

public class TreeNode
{
    public string Name { get; }
    public ICollection<TreeNode> Children { get; }

    public bool HasChildren => Children.Any();
    public bool HasCheckBox { get; set; }

    public TreeNode(string name, ICollection<TreeNode>? children, bool hasCheckBox = false)
    {
        Name = name;
        Children = children ?? new List<TreeNode>();
        HasCheckBox = hasCheckBox;
    }
}

public class TreeViewItemTemplateSelector : DataTemplateSelector
{
    public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(object item, DependencyObject container)
    {
        Window window = Application.Current.MainWindow;

        if (item is TreeNode node && node.HasCheckBox)
        {
            return window.Resources["CheckedDataTemplate"] as DataTemplate;
        }

        return window.Resources["DisplayDataTemplate"] as DataTemplate;

    }
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;

namespace WpfApp1;

/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
    public TreeNode DataSource { get; }
    
    public MainWindow()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        DataSource = new TreeNode("Root", new ObservableCollection<TreeNode>());

        TreeView.ItemsSource = DataSource.Children;
    }


    public void AddNode(TreeNode? parent, TreeNode child)
    {
        (parent ??= DataSource).Children.Add(child);
    }

    private void AddNode_OnClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        var parent = TreeView.SelectedItem as TreeNode;

        var child = new TreeNode(Name.Text, new ObservableCollection<TreeNode>(), CheckBox.IsChecked ?? false);

        AddNode(parent, child);
    }
}

public class TreeNode
{
    public string Name { get; }
    public ICollection<TreeNode> Children { get; }

    public bool HasChildren => Children.Any();
    public bool HasCheckBox { get; set; }

    public TreeNode(string name, ICollection<TreeNode>? children, bool hasCheckBox = false)
    {
        Name = name;
        Children = children ?? new List<TreeNode>();
        HasCheckBox = hasCheckBox;
    }
}

public class TreeViewItemTemplateSelector : DataTemplateSelector
{
    public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(object item, DependencyObject container)
    {
        Window window = Application.Current.MainWindow;

        if (item is TreeNode node && node.HasCheckBox)
        {
            return window.Resources["CheckedDataTemplate"] as DataTemplate;
        }

        return window.Resources["DisplayDataTemplate"] as DataTemplate;

    }
}

maybe rough is a better term no mvvm, pretty much wpf as winforms but the real concept is the hierarcal data template and the data template selector if I understand the problem your asking anyway

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Until your sample arrived, I thought you meant what I wanted was dirty.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

no, I mean my code is ugly now that I'm re-reading you may be asking for something slightly different

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Uh, what did you think I wanted?

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

displaying diffrent classes of nodes according to types ( or some other discriminator )

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Nope. There are some nodes that the user can't select. In Visual Studio's preferences window, there are tree elements that select the first child. In my case, it's similar, but I'd prefer to ignore the user's attempts to select some elements.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

oh, so if they select a node, based on some sieve you'd essentially ignore it? they can't select it at all?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Correct, or the tree ignores the click.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

hmmmm probably the easiest is to bind a command to the node and ignore the command if it doesn't fit the criteria I've not done wpf for a long time though

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

You use something newer?

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

nah, it was always a hobby framework for me and I got less interested in wpf Using the selected template you can get creative around which items are interactable so for instrance, I have an unused property called "HasChildren" which could be part of your template selector so for a container template it's display only and for other template types it's more interactive so the concept is similar,

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Hmm. I was going with one template as all entries in the source are wrapped in what I'm calling ViewTreeData instances. Though calling that property CanBeSelected is more appropriate. ViewTreeData has that now. My lone DataTemplate generates a specialized ViewTreeItem.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

I used to play something called legend of the five rings, which is a d10 pen and paper d&d game, but has pretty complex die rolling scenarios, so I grouped "scenarios" by containers in a tree And using the selector I could pick the appropriate "viewer" I think for containers my view was just editing the container name

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

@Mayor McCheese Basically, I wasn't planning on the tree items being much different other than if you can select them. Each would be a icon with text. I might end up causing the text color and/or style to change, but the icon for entries you can't select will always be special.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

Are you going the mvvm route?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Sort of. The ViewTreeData is serving as the View Model.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

Can you show your xaml?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Not at the moment. Wrong computer.

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

Np I'll take a look again a bit later today I'm on crisis schedule today

JakenVeina•9mo ago

my bad, I someow missed "WPF" in the title so, like you just want certain tree nodes to not be selectable?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Correct.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

what the trouble you're having with that?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Huh? Having trouble? I don't know how to prevent selection.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

is there not a styling property you can set?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

You mean a property in the tree? No. Ditto for a TreeItem.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

Focusable="false"?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

                    <TreeView
                        x:Name="treeLogicalSelector">
                        <TreeView.ItemTemplate>
                            <HierarchicalDataTemplate
                                DataType="TreeData:VisualTreeData"
                                ItemsSource="{Binding Children}">
                                <StackPanel
                                    Orientation="Horizontal"
                                    ToolTip="{Binding LocalizedLongDesc}">
                                    <Emoji:TextBlock
                                        Text="{Binding Icon}"
                                        VerticalAlignment="Center" />
                                    <Label
                                        Content="{Binding LocalizedName}"
                                        VerticalAlignment="Center" />
                                </StackPanel>
                            </HierarchicalDataTemplate>
                        </TreeView.ItemTemplate>
                    </TreeView>

                    <TreeView
                        x:Name="treeLogicalSelector">
                        <TreeView.ItemTemplate>
                            <HierarchicalDataTemplate
                                DataType="TreeData:VisualTreeData"
                                ItemsSource="{Binding Children}">
                                <StackPanel
                                    Orientation="Horizontal"
                                    ToolTip="{Binding LocalizedLongDesc}">
                                    <Emoji:TextBlock
                                        Text="{Binding Icon}"
                                        VerticalAlignment="Center" />
                                    <Label
                                        Content="{Binding LocalizedName}"
                                        VerticalAlignment="Center" />
                                </StackPanel>
                            </HierarchicalDataTemplate>
                        </TreeView.ItemTemplate>
                    </TreeView>

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

I'm at the gym; but remember when I said dirty? Naming controls is usually not needed in wpf It's kinda frowned on mostly But at a glance I like @V.EINA Jaken's focusable; but I'd use a template selector too to pick the data template; I don't like really long templates.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

definitely

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Why do I need more templates?

JakenVeina•9mo ago

because you have different types of items that you want to display differently you'll setup a HierarchalDataTemplate for the group items that have children, and you want to be not-selectable and you'll have a regular DataTemplate for the rest

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

No. I don't. All items are displayed the same. Some are selectable. Some aren't. Some items with children are selectable.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

what differentiates items from being selectable or not?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

They exist for grouping ONLY. The tree functions a little like a tab control. Only some items in the tree don't correspond to anything to be displayed next to the tree.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

yes, what differentiates those items?

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

I declared a CanBeSelected property. If it's true, the item is a group, but no more. There's nothing to display.

JakenVeina•9mo ago

bind that to Focusable

Mayor McCheese•9mo ago

For one, extending logic into xaml is a bad practice, it's difficult to debug and separates out concerns in unexpected ways But if it's always the one deal then sure just bind the property

Accord•9mo ago

Was this issue resolved? If so, run /close - otherwise I will mark this as stale and this post will be archived until there is new activity.

Will Pittenger•9mo ago

Thanks anyway. But after a few days thinking about it, the groups that can be selected no longer made sense. So I removed them.

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