wpf datagrid - Any way for the user to turn off and on column visibility

Question

I have a datagrid with many columns and I'd like to provide the users with a drop down that allows them to select which columns they can see. I'm using the .net 4 wpf datagrid in a desktop application.

Does anyone know of an easy way to accomplish what I am trying to do.

Thanks,

Richard

Answer 1

I do this as follows.

I derive from the grid an add an ICommand called HideShowColumnCommand that takes as its parameter a DataGridColumn (the one i want to hide or show) and hides the column if it is visible, and shows it if it is not.

then i use a tricky context menu that i attach to the column header that has a tick that shows the column visible/hidden state..

The context menu looks like so

                <ContextMenu
                   ItemsSource="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=Column.DataGridOwner.Columns}">
                   <ContextMenu.Resources>
                      <local:DataGridHeaderVisibilityToBooleanConverter
                         x:Key="visibilityConverter" />
                      <BooleanToVisibilityConverter
                         x:Key="VisibilityOfBool" />

                      <DataTemplate
                         DataType="{x:Type DataGridColumn}">
                         <ContentPresenter
                            Content="{Binding Path=Header}"
                            RecognizesAccessKey="True" />
                      </DataTemplate>

                   </ContextMenu.Resources>
                   <ContextMenu.ItemContainerStyle>
                      <Style
                         TargetType="MenuItem">
                         <!--Warning dont change the order of the following two setters
                                   otherwise the command parameter gets set after the command fires,
                                   not much use eh?-->
                         <Setter
                            Property="CommandParameter"
                            Value="{Binding Path=.}" />
                         <Setter
                            Property="Command"
                            Value="{Binding Path=DataGridOwner.HideShowColumnCommand}" />
                         <Setter
                            Property="IsChecked"
                            Value="{Binding Path=Visibility, Converter={StaticResource visibilityConverter}}" />
                      </Style>
                   </ContextMenu.ItemContainerStyle>
                </ContextMenu>

the converter like this

   public class DataGridHeaderVisibilityToBooleanConverter :IValueConverter{
      #region IValueConverter Members

      public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture) {
         try {

            Visibility visibility = (Visibility)value;
            if (visibility == Visibility.Visible) {
               return true;
            }
            else {
               return false;
            }
         }
         catch { }
         return null;
      }

      public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture) {
         throw new NotImplementedException();
      }

      #endregion
   }