In WPF, How to change ListBox and ListView selection rule as same way as WinForms?

Question

How to change ListBox and ListView selection rule as same way as WinForms?

In WPF, if already an item is selected in ListBox/ListView, even an empty area of the List is clicked, the selection is still remained. In WinForm/MFC, the selection is unselected when an empty area is clicked.

That is very useful especially for implementation-wise.

For example, when user double-clicked an item in ListBox, one of preferable behaviors is followings: -If user double-clicked an item, it is shortcut to modify the item, so configuration dialog will be opened. -If user double-clicked an empty are, it is shortcut to add an new item, so file selection dialog will be opened.

To implement this behavior, using hit-test to find clicked item would be preferable. But, since hit-test in WPF is not so easy to use comparing with WinForm, the easiest way is just checking selected item whenever user double-clicked the List.

It worked the application is made by WinForm/MFC, but not WPF because of the behavior difference of list item selection.

Is there any way to change list item selection to same way as WinForm/MFC? Or, should I choose different way to implement above behavior?

Wallstreet Programmer Wallstreet Programmer · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-31T16:38:51

The following listbox sample distinguishes between double clicks on item and listbox.

XAML:

<Window x:Class="ListBoxTest.Window1"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    Title="Window1" Height="300" Width="300">

    <ListBox 
        ItemsSource="{Binding Path=Data}" 
        MouseDoubleClick="OnListBoxMouseDoubleClick">
        <ListBox.Resources>
            <Style x:Key="{x:Type ListBoxItem}" TargetType="{x:Type ListBoxItem}">
                <EventSetter Event="PreviewMouseDoubleClick" Handler="OnItemPreviewMouseDoubleClick" />
            </Style>
        </ListBox.Resources>
    </ListBox>

</Window>

Code behind:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Input;

namespace ListBoxTest
{
    public partial class Window1 : Window
    {
        public Window1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            Data = new List<string>() { "AAA", "BBB", "CCC" };
            DataContext = this;
        }

        public List<string> Data { get; private set; }

        private void OnListBoxMouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Add new item");
        }

        private void OnItemPreviewMouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
        {
            string content = (sender as ListBoxItem).Content as string;
            MessageBox.Show("Edit " + content);
        }
    }
}

In WPF, How to change ListBox and ListView selection rule as same way as WinForms?

1 Answers