Search code examples
wpfwpf-controlswpfdatagrid

DataGrid: Same Column, Different Input Methods?

I am not a WPF expert. After tinkering for a few projects, this is my first full-fleged attempt. It isn't as simple as "Windows Forms", but the flexibility more than makes up for it!

I have an entity that houses all application settings. The user interfaces with them via a DatGrid. The Column is TextBox, but the content could be anything that a string can represent (text/string, date, integer, double, etc.).

To make things very easy for the user, and less bug-prone, I'd like to offer a [User?] Control that is appropriate for the data to be inserted (fictional approach below, might be impossible/impractical... consider it pseudo-code-ish):

  • In a not visible column/attribute of the instance/entity I would specify "date"/"DatePicker", drop-down, etc.
  • The "value" column in the DataGrid would hold/accept the setting for that row.
  • If a date is involved, a datepicker would be made available for that row of the setting column.
  • A TextBox would look like a normal DataGrid cell... You get the idea...

  • I already have all the CRUD operations resolved, all the way back to the DB (that took a while to figure out, but with DBContext/Entities I am now a huge convert to WPF/EF6!

  • This app is in VB (VS2012Ult), but since I write in C# as well, I have no trouble converting any sample/example code.

disclaimer: This may seem clunky/silly as an approach, but users are notorious at entering things the wrong way, in the wrong format, etc. This approach is intended for non techies/coders to be able to reliably use the app without calling helpdesk as often.

note: A long time ago, this thread asked an extremely similar, if not identical, question. I am asking to see what has improved since then. I am not a WPF expert.

Solution

  • You're basically looking for a PropertyGrid, similar to this:

    enter image description here

    1 - Easy way out: Use the (free, open source) Extended WPF toolkit linked above.

    2 - Hard way out:

    Build it yourself so that you can learn a lot of beautiful WPF and adapt it to your specific needs.

    Use an ItemsControl and several DataTemplates (one for each Data Type). Start by reading the ItemsControl link.