wpf how to get mouse position in container when dragging controls inside? - wpf

Question

I want to get mouse position of container while dragging controls inside so I can add auto-scroll logic to container. However, MouseMove does not fired at all when dragging, DragOver fired only when dragging over controls inside.
test example
Draggable gizmo:
public class Gizmo : TextBlock
{
public Gizmo()
{
this.AllowDrop = true;
this.Background = Brushes.Gray;
this.Margin = new System.Windows.Thickness(6);
}
public Gizmo(string content) : this()
{
this.Text = content;
}
private bool isDragging;
private Point lastPressedLocation;
protected override void OnPreviewMouseMove(System.Windows.Input.MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.LeftButton == System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonState.Pressed)
{
if (!this.isDragging)
{
Point newLocation = e.GetPosition(this);
Vector offset = this.lastPressedLocation - newLocation;
if (offset.LengthSquared > 36)
{
this.lastPressedLocation = newLocation;
this.isDragging = true;
System.Windows.DragDrop.DoDragDrop(this, DateTime.Now, DragDropEffects.Move);
}
else
{
this.isDragging = false;
}
}
}
}
private bool canDrop;
protected override void OnPreviewDragEnter(DragEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("drag enter inside");
if (this.Text == "gizmo 1")
{
e.Effects = DragDropEffects.Move;
this.canDrop = true;
}
else
{
e.Effects = DragDropEffects.None;
this.canDrop = false;
}
e.Handled = true;
base.OnPreviewDragEnter(e);
}
protected override void OnPreviewDragOver(DragEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("drag over inside");
if (this.canDrop)
{
e.Effects = DragDropEffects.Move;
}
else
{
e.Effects = DragDropEffects.None;
e.Handled = true;
}
base.OnPreviewDragOver(e);
}
}
container:
public class Container : WrapPanel
{
protected override void OnInitialized(EventArgs e)
{
for (int i = 1; i <= 16; i++)
this.Children.Add(new Gizmo(string.Format("gizmo {0}", i)));
base.OnInitialized(e);
}
protected override void OnPreviewDragEnter(System.Windows.DragEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("drag enter outside");
base.OnPreviewDragEnter(e);
}
protected override void OnPreviewDragOver(System.Windows.DragEventArgs e)
{
//I want to get mouse postion here, but this will be called only when dragging over gizmo inside
Console.WriteLine("drag over outside");
base.OnPreviewDragOver(e);
}
}
running result and question
or it's just impossible?

Answer 1

The last function in your code should work. Alternatively (since there should be no other elements handling the event before you) you can use the OnDragOver method instead of the Preview.
protected override void OnDragOver(DragEventArgs e)
{
Point position = e.GetPosition(this);
}
If it doesn't work, that usually means that specific area of your control is not hit-test visible. Make sure IsHitTestVisible is true (has to be, otherwise child elements wouldn't work either) and that the Background of your control is not null. If you want no background and still be able to be hit-test visible, use Transparent for the background.