Question

I would like an array of 10 combo boxes on a wpf form.

The ItemsSource of the combo boxes are identical – an ObservableCollection of selectable Items.

Each Selected Item will bound to an item in a different ObservableCollection, imaginatively called ‘SelectedItems’..

What is the best way to do the array? I could of course have 10 separate combo boxes but this would be not very elegant..

I don’t think an ItemsControl template is what I’m after as the number of combo boxes is static.

Thanks

Joe

Answer 1

If I understand you right, you have 10 ComboBoxes with the same item list, but different data sources

In that case, I could create a common style for the ComboBox which sets the common properties such as ItemsSource (and SelectedItem if the binding is the same for all items), and then actually create the individual ComboBoxes on the form as needed.

<StackPanel>
    <StackPanel.Resources>
        <Style TargetType="{x:Type ComboBox}">
            <!-- Set the binding to wherever your ItemsSource resides. In this
                 case,I'm binding to a static class called Lists and a static 
                 property called ComboBoxItems -->
            <Setter Property="ItemsSource" 
                    Value="{Binding Source={x:Static local:Lists.ComboBoxItems}}" />

            <!-- Only use this setter if your binding is the same everywhere -->
            <Setter Property="SelectedItem" Value="{Binding SelectedItem}" />
        </Style>
    </StackPanel.Resources>

    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item1}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item2}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item3}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item4}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item5}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item6}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item7}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item8}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item9}" />
    <ComboBox DataContext="{Binding Item10}" />
</StackPanel>

Of course, if the DataSource for your ComboBoxes CAN be put in a collection, it is preferred that they are and that you use an ItemsControl to display the ComboBoxes

<ItemsControl ItemsSource="{Binding SelectedItems}">
    <ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <ComboBox SelectedItem="{Binding }"
                      ItemsSource="{Binding Source={x:Static local:Lists.ComboBoxItems}}" />
        </DataTemplate>
    </ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>