Question

I’ve several DataGrid in my application and they each have the same “template”. For example, here’s how each DataGrid is defined:

<DataGrid Style="{StaticResource MainGridStyle}">
    <DataGrid.Columns>
    <DataGridTemplateColumn CanUserResize="False"
        CanUserSort="False"
            CanUserReorder="False"
            CellStyle="{StaticResource RightCellStyle}">
...

How could I define the “DataGridTemplateColumn” as a Template in an external resource file, so I would simply have to write something like

<DataGridTemplateColumn Style={StaticResource MyFirstColumn}/>

In the “MainGridStyle” I define properties such “CanUserAddRows”, …

Thx in advance for your help.
Fred

Answer 1

Since DataGridTemplateColumn does not have a Style property, one thing you can do is create an attached property.

Following is an example :

[NOTE: You may need to change the following code to suit you project.]

Class with an attached property –

public class StyleExtensions
{
    public static Style GetStyle(DependencyObject obj)
    {
        return (Style)obj.GetValue(StyleProperty);
    }

    public static void SetStyle(DependencyObject obj, Style value)
    {
        obj.SetValue(StyleProperty, value);
    }

    public static void StyleChanged(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        Style style = e.NewValue as Style;
        if (style != null)
        {
            foreach (var s in style.Setters.OfType<Setter>())
            {
                d.SetValue(s.Property, s.Value);
            }
        }
    }

    // Using a DependencyProperty as the backing store for Style.  This enables animation, styling, binding, etc...
    public static readonly DependencyProperty StyleProperty =
        DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached("Style", typeof(Style), typeof(StyleExtensions), new UIPropertyMetadata(StyleChanged));
}

Definition of Style –

    <Style x:Key="MyFirstColumn">
        <Setter Property="DataGridColumn.CanUserResize"
                Value="False" />
        <Setter Property="DataGridColumn.CanUserSort"
                Value="False" />
        <Setter Property="DataGridColumn.CanUserReorder"
                Value="False" />
        <Setter Property="DataGridColumn.CellStyle"
                Value="{StaticResource RightCellStyle}" />
    </Style>

Use –

            <DataGrid>
                <DataGrid.Columns>
                    <DataGridTemplateColumn local:StyleExtensions.Style="{StaticResource MyFirstColumn}"></DataGridTemplateColumn>
                </DataGrid.Columns>
            </DataGrid>